Photo: archive German football club Fortuna Düsseldorf
Oliver Trust
BERLIN, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- German football club Fortuna Düsseldorf is continuing its "Fortuna for All" project to provide free tickets to its fans.
"I am positive about the continuation of our project next season and the possible increase in the number of matches," said the club's CEO Alexander Jobst.
Ahead of the second of three "free" sponsor-supported games this season against St. Paul on Jan. 27, the number of requests for tickets to the 54,600-seat stadium rose from 120,000 to more than 130,000. The third match is scheduled for April against Eintracht Braunschweig.
The second-tier team attracted worldwide attention by introducing a new strategy of providing free entry after fans made a request on a special platform.
Jobst talked about at least four games with free entry next season.
"We open our doors to anyone who wants to see a game," the CEO said, referring to a survey that found 63 percent of respondents said they could not afford a regular visit.
The experience after the first game on October 21, 2023 was overall positive, Jobst added.
Winner of the German Cup in 1979 and 1980, the sponsors have focused on the possibilities of a membership base to anchor the club closer to the city and its supporters.
Jobst spoke of the biggest transformation of a member club in professional football as the first intention was to keep the club and football for the people.
The project covers the needs of the football club to combine economic and sporting success and return to the top competition.
During the year-long process, Fortuna explored growth opportunities while negotiating under Germany's 50-plus-one rule, which forces clubs to hold a majority of shares.
Jobst said 20 per cent of the revenue will go into women's and youth football, with another 20 per cent going into the digital structure and arena, while social projects will also benefit.
The CEO says jersey sales are up 50 percent and arena revenue is up 42 percent, and they've also gained new customers and supportive VIPs.
"Fortuna for All" is a social commitment by the club, the city and the sponsors, while the sports magazine Kicker described the project as a "revolution in ticket sales". "It's a project we run together with our fans. For example, after discussions with the fan organisations, we have reduced the number of tickets available per person from five to four," Jobst said.
The CEO described the project as a success "even though we have only recently started".
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