Bundesliga COVID-19 Resumption of Financial Impact Limited

Accountancy firm Deloitte has published its annual report on the Football Money League. This year’s report is the first to highlight the financial impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. According to the report, the top 20 clubs generated $ 9.39 billion combined in 2019/20, down 12% on the previous season ($ 11.2 billion). The four Bundesliga teams in the top 20, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Schalke, and Eintracht Frankfurt were also affected.

The revenue loss of $ 1.3 billion across the top 20 clubs is broken down as follows. The largest $ 1.1 billion of that revenue loss comes from a decline in broadcasting revenue. That loss, however, was not fairly distributed. Ligue 1, for example, has had major problems with television rights holders. Meanwhile, DFL CEO Christian Seifert managed to sign a long-term contract that has seen only a small drop in television revenue over the next four years.

A day-visit income should make a big impact on the Bundesliga at first glance. Over the top 20 teams in the ranking, however, that loss in revenue was just $ 311m, a 17% drop in the table. That, however, was offset by increased commercial revenue, which grew 3% across all clubs.

With an 83,000-seat stadium, the loss of maternal income should have had a profound effect on Dortmund. But Borussia Dortmund’s revenue fell just $ 7.3m (2%) to $ 442m, the smallest revenue decline across the Silver League. He explains why Dortmund was able to spend $ 52.6 million without selling superstar Jadon Sancho last summer.

Champions League football, in particular, will have helped Dortmund. The impact of international football is visible just 25km from SIGNAL IDUNA Dortmund Park. Located in Gelsenkirchen, Schalke has struggled over the past few years, losing out on European football, and this season is on the verge of a downturn. Schalke saw its revenue fall $ 124m (31%) to $ 269m.

Eintracht Frankfurt appeared in the Silver League for the first time with annual revenues of $ 211m, down 5% from the previous year. The club benefited from a timely end to the Bundesliga season, which allowed all domestic broadcasting revenues to be recognized within the financial year ending 2020, while at the same time gaining circulation. more domestic that was able to achieve in UEFA club competitions.

And the Rekordmeister? Bayern Munich saw their revenues fall just 4% this year from $ 800m to $ 769m. Despite the effects of COVID-19, Bayern Munich saw an increase in commercial revenue of € 4m to $ 436m, representing 57% of total revenue. Like Dortmund, Bayern Munich benefited from an early Bundesliga restart, victory in the Champions League, and a new television contract that is only slightly smaller than the previous Bundesliga contract.

Overall, the Bundesliga saw the smallest revenue decline of the major leagues. The report notes that the league’s timely decision saved much of the league’s revenue. Considering the big test, DFL boss Seifert and the Bundesliga, in general, received a lot of criticism when the league became the first major professional league to start playing. That gambit has paid off and not only saved the league’s finances but perhaps professional sports across the board.

Manuel Veth is the editor-in-chief of the Futbolgrad Network and U.S. Area Manager at Transfermarkt. It was also published in the Guardian, Newsweek, Howler, Pro Soccer USA, and several other places. Follow him on Twitter: @ManuelVeth