The Borussia Dortmund Group generated revenue of EUR 418,239 thousand in the 2022/2023 financial year, representing an increase of EUR 66,594 thousand or 18.94%. The increase in revenue was recorded in all revenue streams.
The performance of the individual revenue items is described in the following:
Income from match operations
Income from match operations increased by EUR 20,869 thousand to EUR 43,524 thousand in financial year 2022/2023.
For the Borussia Dortmund Group, all home matches in the 2022/2023 season were played to nearly sell-out crowds at SIGNAL IDUNA PARK. In the previous year, the Borussia Dortmund Group welcomed a mere average of approximately 42,000 spectators to the 17 Bundesliga home matches played at SIGNAL IDUNA PARK due to changes in the Corona Protection Regulations and the associated restrictions. Consequently, income from match operations for domestic competitions rose by EUR 13,158 thousand to EUR 30,888 thousand.
Income from domestic and international cup competitions increased by EUR 6,795 thousand to EUR 10,962 thousand.
The Borussia Dortmund Group generated income of EUR 1,674 thousand from friendlies and ticket proceeds generated by the club’s other teams in this financial year (previous year: EUR 758 thousand). In a departure from the previous season’s preparations, Borussia Dortmund’s senior team embarked on a pre-season tour of Asia to play various friendlies.
Income from advertising
The Borussia Dortmund Group generated advertising income of EUR 142,271 thousand in the past financial year (previous year: EUR 126,124 thousand), corresponding to growth of 12.80% and a 34.02% share of total revenue.
The strategic partnerships with the two primary sponsors Evonik Industries AG and 1&1 Telecommunication SE as well as with the equipment supplier, PUMA SE, remain the foundation for sponsorship income. Income from advertising in this financial year was once again primarily generated with the holder of the stadium’s naming rights, SIGNAL IDUNA (long-term partnership until 30 June 2031), General Logistics Systems Germany GmbH & Co. OHG (GLS) and eight further Champion Partners.
Advertising income rose in particular due to the year-on-year increase in income from Champion Partners, Premium Partners and Partners on the basis of new partnerships entered into in the past financial year. Income from kit and equipment sponsorship deals also increased.
Furthermore, advertising income includes bonuses for sporting success, in particular the second-place Bundesliga finish, which directly qualified the team for the group stage of the UEFA Champions League in the 2023/2024 season, and for advancing to the round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League in the 2022/2023 season. Accordingly, advertising income increased year on year.
Income from TV marketing
In financial year 2022/2023, income from TV marketing once again represented the highest share of revenue (37.66%) and increased by EUR 12,437 thousand year on year to EUR 157,507 thousand. The increase is attributable primarily to international TV marketing.
Income from domestic TV marketing amounted to EUR 79,900 thousand (previous year: EUR 78,503 thousand), up EUR 1,397 thousand against the prior-year reporting period. The 2022/2023 season was the second covered by the media rights allocated by the German Football League (DFL Deutsche Fußball Liga GmbH) for seasons from 2021/2022 to 2024/2025, under which income averaging EUR 1.1 billion (total of EUR 4.4 billion) was generated for the clubs, with the distributions increasing with each passing season. While Borussia Dortmund’s share of the income generated from the sale of the German-language media rights increased in the 2022/2023 season, the income from the DFL Deutsche Fußball Liga GmbH’s international TV marketing distributions decreased. Therefore, a slight overall year-on-year increase was reported.
Income from international TV marketing for competing in the UEFA Champions League amounted to EUR 74,468 thousand in the past financial year (previous year: EUR 62,741 thousand). The year-on-year increase of EUR 11,727 thousand is due primarily to the team reaching the round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League. In the previous year, Borussia Dortmund did not make it past the knockout round play-offs of the UEFA Europa League.
Borussia Dortmund’s run in this season’s DFB Cup ended in the quarter-finals. In the previous year, the team was eliminated from the competition in the round of 16. Due to lower total distributions, income from the national cup competition amounted to EUR 3,139 thousand (previous year: EUR 3,790 thousand).
Merchandising
Income from merchandising increased by EUR 1,560 thousand to EUR 33,359 thousand in the past 2022/2023 financial year (previous year: EUR 31,799 thousand). Although high inflation stymied general demand in the retail sector, kit sales declined slightly at the beginning of the 2022/2023 season following Erling Haaland’s departure, and sales slipped during the Christmas holidays due to the 2022 World Cup, which had been held in the winter, this was more than made up for by the sale of a new special edition kit and the demand for home kits for the 2023/2024 season following the extremely close title race. The brick-and-mortar fan shops saw revenue increase as against the previous year. By contrast, revenue in the online business declined due in part to the higher revenue at the brick-and-mortar fan shops.
Conference, catering and miscellaneous income
The Borussia Dortmund Group’s conference, catering and miscellaneous income increased by EUR 15,581 thousand from EUR 25,997 thousand in the previous year to EUR 41,578 thousand. This also included revenue from advance booking fees, rental and lease income, release fees for national team players, income from players on loan, and training compensation.
Conference and catering income, which comprises income generated by the hospitality areas, public catering services and events, increased by EUR 9,115 thousand from EUR 11,708 thousand in the previous year to EUR 20,823 thousand.
Income from hospitality catering and in particular public catering increased by a total of EUR 7,669 thousand to EUR 16,735 thousand thanks to the gradual lifting of all restrictions on Borussia Dortmund’s business activities. While the hospitality areas were operating at full capacity in the previous year, a mere average of approximately 38,000 spectators were allowed in to SIGNAL IDUNA PARK. Events outside of match operations such as private celebrations, corporate events, trade fairs and stadium tours also resumed without any restrictions in the past financial year, which caused this income to increase by EUR 1,446 thousand year on year to EUR 4,088 thousand.
Advance booking fees and postage for match and season tickets generated income of EUR 4,149 thousand in this financial year (previous year: EUR 3,766 thousand).
Release fees for national team players amounted to EUR 5,754 thousand in the reporting period (previous year: EUR 4,694 thousand).
The income from players on loan, training compensation and the FIFA solidarity mechanism increased by EUR 719 thousand year on year to EUR 1,956 thousand. This comprised mainly the loan of the player Thorgan Hazard to PSV Eindhoven and various payments received in connection with the FIFA solidarity mechanism. In the previous year, this comprised mainly the income from the loan of the player Ansgar Knauff to Eintracht Frankfurt.
Net transfer income
Net transfer income rose by EUR 9,640 thousand to EUR 72,531 thousand.
This includes primarily transfer proceeds from the departures of the players Erling Haaland and Manuel Akanji (Manchester City), Steffen Tigges (1. FC Cologne), Ansgar Knauff (Eintracht Frankfurt) and Bradley Fink (FC Basel) as well as subsequent transfer proceeds less residual carrying amounts and other derecognised items and selling costs incurred.
Gross transfer proceeds amounted to EUR 97,116 thousand (previous year: EUR 105,241 thousand). The residual carrying amounts and other derecognised items amounted to EUR 20,663 thousand (previous year: EUR 18,341 thousand) and transfer costs amounted to EUR 3,922 thousand (previous year: EUR 24,009 thousand).
In the previous year, net transfer income included primarily transfer proceeds from the departures of the players Jadon Sancho (Manchester United), Leonardo Balerdi (Olympique Marseille), Thomas Delaney (Sevilla FC), Sergio Gómez (SD Huesca), Chris Führich (SC Paderborn) and Tobias Raschl (Spielvereinigung Greuther Fürth) as well as subsequent transfer proceeds less residual carrying amounts and other derecognised items and selling costs incurred.
Other operating income
Other operating income decreased by EUR 18,762 thousand year on year to EUR 6,818 thousand. In the current reporting period, this primarily includes gains from the reversal of valuation allowances, gains on the derecognition of liabilities and gains from reimbursement for granting contractual marketing rights. The decrease is due primarily to the fact that, in contrast to this financial year, subsidies awarded in the previous year were received. Other operating income includes prior-period income in the amount of EUR 3,113 thousand (previous year: EUR 13,492 thousand).