Given the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic became endemic during the financial year and all associated restrictions on Borussia Dortmund’s business activities have been lifted, Borussia Dortmund does not expect to be directly impacted by any pandemic-related effects or for its business to be impeded in any way in financial year 2023/2024.
Contrary to the COVID-19 pandemic, there are no signs that the war in Ukraine will de-escalate and thus that the overall economic situation in Germany – where consumers are seeing their purchasing power diminish in the face of rising commodity, energy and food prices and consequently higher inflation as a result of the conflict – will improve any time soon. Borussia Dortmund is also affected by the negative trend in the economy, which could hamper revenue potential in certain cases, and in particular the sharp increase in commodity, energy and food prices, which is driving up costs. Rising commodity, energy and food prices are driving up costs for Borussia Dortmund. The caps on electricity, gas and heating prices adopted by the German federal government will help companies, including Borussia Dortmund, to partially absorb the impact of these price increases. The threat of recession, which could in particular also have an adverse effect on sponsorship interest, merchandising and demand for tickets, has not yet been completely averted, even though fears of a deeper recession are not currently proving to be true and expectations have been lowered.
On the pitch, Borussia Dortmund finished the 2022/2023 season in second place with 71 points, qualifying directly for the lucrative group stage of the UEFA Champions League in the coming season. Borussia Dortmund has thus qualified for an international cup competition for the fourteenth time in a row since the 2010/2011 season. However, the club traditionally pursues a more conservative approach when factoring success on the pitch and any associated earnings contributions into the forecast. Borussia Dortmund expects to reach the round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League in the 2023/2024 season. As well as setting the course for sporting success, Borussia Dortmund has also made a material contribution to earnings at the beginning of the 2023/2024 financial year with the transfer of player Jude Bellingham to Real Madrid.