According to German newspaper Bild, Schalke 04 will earn between 5 and 9 million euros this year by renting out their home stadium for concerts, matches, and various events.
Media calculations indicate that Schalke 04’s debt has reached 168 million euros, with the team having paid over 8 million euros in interest last season. Consequently, the club has no choice but to step on the gas in the new season, employing various methods to improve its balance sheet. One of these methods is renting out the Veltins-Arena, their home ground. It is understood that the stadium will host 13 concerts alone, including three performances by Taylor Swift in July.
In addition to concerts, the stadium has already hosted four European Championship matches this year and will serve as the home venue for Shakhtar Donetsk’s Champions League matches. It will also host the Biathlon World Team Challenge and the European Rugby League final.
Schalke owns the Veltins-Arena and the catering rights within it, so they will receive all rental and catering revenues. It is understood that Schalke charges approximately 200,000 euros per concert, while UEFA compensates 350,000 euros for each European Championship match. Additionally, they expect to make 1.5 to 2 million euros from hosting Shakhtar Donetsk’s Champions League home matches.
Regarding catering revenue, taking AC/DC’s two concerts here in May as an example: a total of about 202,500 bottles of beer were sold during the two concerts, each priced at 7 euros, generating about 1.4 million euros in revenue. The upcoming three concerts by Swift are expected to bring even greater returns for the club.
Moreover, fan support for the team remains strong. It is understood that tickets for the home matches of the second Bundesliga in the first half of the new season were sold out within a few hours of going on sale.