Conference league success hardly helps against deficit: Such are FCB’s finances

class=”sc-29f61514-0 kHgAwW”>

A month ago, David Degen spoke about the most difficult year in FCB’s history when asked about the 2023 fiscal year. To improve the situation in the long term, the Basel-based company brought Chris Kauffmann on board as CEO in early March. He must help ensure that from 2025 the club functions fully according to the business model of Degen’s team and is self-sufficient.

Now the German, who has been living in Switzerland for more than 15 years, has answered questions from the media people. And by way of introduction, Kauffmann says, “We are in better shape than we were some time ago.” But despite everything, he was not euphoric.

“Black zero is unrealistic”

The club started the current year with a structural deficit of CHF 30 million. “In the new financial year, we aim to halve the structural deficit.” On the other hand, it is already unrealistic to close the financial year with a black zero.

The extremely successful Conference League campaign has done little to change that. And next European season will see little change as they reach the Conference League group stage. Income is too small at this stage. That is why the FCB is looking for other sources of income and improvement of the cost structure. “It’s important to find and improve new sources of income,” says Kauffmann. The price increases in ticket sales and in the catering industry should be evaluated in this context.

No personnel changes are planned

Despite higher prices, Kauffmann expects numbers to grow again after years of decline, partly as a result of the European season. “Our goal is to sell more than 16,000 season tickets. But the bread and butter trade remains the competition. We want to see the same spectacle as in Europe.”

On the other hand, personnel costs in the office would not fall any further. “We turned the big stones. It’s hard to say if we’re finally done. But I don’t see any major changes at the moment.”

Source : Blick