The four most important questions: This is behind the FCB numbers

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From January 1, Red-Blue hunts for a huge structural deficit year after year. Resources: The guaranteed income before the start of the financial year is smaller than the expenditure. This is calculated without special effects and without player transfers.

In fiscal year 2022, the shortfall was about CHF 30 million. That won’t change anytime soon. “We are in better shape than a while ago and are on the right track,” CEO Chris Kauffmann (52) said during a media roundup on Tuesday. But despite everything, he was not euphoric. The successful European campaign in the Conference League did little to change that.

Adding special effects from transfers would give the ailing box office even more breathing space. Nevertheless, “Breaking zero is unrealistic at the end of the financial year,” clarifies the German manager, who has lived in Switzerland for more than 15 years.

With player sales and European Cup income. But it’s not that easy. “We developed different scenarios,” says Kauffmann. Above all is the word cost discipline.

In addition, the club recently announced a price increase in ticketing and hospitality. It shouldn’t have been the last time. Despite this step, Kauffmann expects numbers to start growing again after years of decline. “Our goal is to sell more than 16,000 season tickets.” Last season, FCB only had about 15,000 season ticket holders.

The CEO repeatedly mentions how important viewer income is. He also wants a full cabin in everyday competitive life and not just in Europe. «The bread and butter trade remains the competition. We want to see the same spectacle as in Europe.” That is why we have decided to continue to invest in the stadium experience. Please note, with the available resources. “The mega screens come down and are replaced by larger ones. That will be a qualitative upgrade.”

The FCB is looking for new sources of income and at the same time wants to improve the cost structure. That is why he advocates a reorganization of the academy, so that players can increasingly come from their own youth at low cost, instead of from expensive abroad. The Bebbi also invest in women’s football.

He recently slashed costs with a series of layoffs. However, further cuts in office personnel costs are not planned. “We turned over the big stones,” emphasizes Kauffmann.

“We always assume the worst,” says Kauffmann with a smile. The intention is that FCB will start the new financial year with “a halving of the current structural deficit”. That means it should be 15 million francs. Ultimately, however, it should level off at around five million francs. You can do business with it without taking out loans every year or depending on millions of investors to cover the loss.

Source : Blick