RTC | Management & Sports

“Women’s football needs to be separate from men’s for it to be successful.” 1.12 billion people tuned in for the FIFA Women's World Cup™ in 2019. In 2023, viewership surged to over 2 billion #viewers. Average #revenues of the top 15 women’s football clubs in Europe grew by 61% over the last year. Women’s football is now perceived as one of the fastest growing markets worldwide. Accordingly, clubs all over the world have realized that their men’s team needs a women’s counterpart to accommodate to the rapid growth. This realization led to a visible #transformation, especially in the German women’s football landscape. Just 10 years ago, the Frauen #Bundesliga accounted for six women’s teams that were either a pure women’s club or from clubs only having an amateur men’s side. Fast forward to today, SGS Essen remains the lone survivor of pure women’s football clubs in the Frauen Bundesliga after former WCL winner 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam 71 e.V. were relegated in the past season. In a first attempt to promote women’s football, clubs have started to acquire stand-alone women’s clubs to associate them to the same #brand and name, consequently also to the same #organization. On the one hand, this allows for quick #investments and more #professionality, on the other hand, women’s football risks adopting an identical #businessmodel as the men’s and being placed in a “forever second priority”. For organizations and individuals interested in investing in women’s football, this approach would merely allow #sponsoring, but no #equity investments. This is starting to change, as a new “wave” of believers in women’s football is emerging. Mercury/13, an investment group that has raised 100 million dollars to transform the landscape of women’s football, have invested in #FCComoWomen. By acquiring solely independent women’s clubs, their goal is to leverage the commercial influence and provide a nurturing environment for players to flourish in their careers. Michele Kang, majority owner of #NWSL club Washington Spirit and #OlympicLyonnaisFéminin (OLF), is also an advocate of this new approach, prioritizing independent women's clubs. The above-noted quote is Her’s from a panel discussion of this year’s Financial Times Business of Football #Summit, and she has added further value to the #development of women’s football: “One of the first things that I am doing is training women players as women”, hinting towards the fact that 94% of performance data and research in sports is dedicated to men. Kang is additionally promoting football boots made specifically for women’s feet. In Germany, FC Viktoria Berlin are the prime example of a separate, women- led entity, promoting the development of women’s football autonomous from the traditional men’s construct. What do you think? Should Women’s football be integrated in the existing men’s football ecosystem, should it separate itself completely, or is a mixture of both the key to #success? Comment below!

Three ways how the German football landscape takes part in MCO, despite the 50+1 rule ⚽💡 Multi-Club Ownership (MCO) has become an everyday term in football business. City Football Group, Red Bull, and 777 Partners have been joined by other big players like RedBird Capital Partners Capital (AC Milan, Toulouse), 𝗩 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀 (Aston Villa, Vitoria de Guimaraes), and newly formed Red&Gold Football (FC Bayern, LAFC) that stir up international news on football club ownership. But Germany and its iconic 50+1 rule notably prevents majority control in clubs of outside entities and investors, in the best interest of the fans. So, are German clubs just left out completely or how do they take part in modern football club network building? 1️⃣     Giving investors minority or majority ownership following the 50+1 rule   777 Partners hold a majority capital stake in Hertha BSC GmbH & Co. KGaA (78,8%), but with only 2/5 seats in the supervisory board, the original association (3/5 seats) still has the voting rights majority and controls the club. Another example is David Blitzer and the Bolt Football Holdings owning a 45% stake in FC Augsburg 1907 with the according voting rights and thus merely taking an advisory role.   2️⃣      Establishing cooperations or partnerships   VfL Wolfsburg has chosen this option to partner with MLS side Orlando City SC regarding talent development, infrastructure, and marketing topics. Since 2021, the Austrian 2nd division side SKN St. Pölten has taken an additional development team role for Wolfsburg.   3️⃣      Becoming an investor yourself   FC Bayern München Bayern decided to choose this role when they founded Red&Gold Football in collaboration with Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC). Together with the former MLS champions, Bayern Munich aims to build a global network of teams to identify and promote young talents. Racing Club de Montevideo is the first club in South America now owned by Red&Gold, which is registered at Säbener Str. In Munich – Bayern Munich’s headquarters. #footballbusiness #multiclubownership

The Baller League and new football formats explained in 3 minutes ⚽ ⌛ Football, a sport deeply rooted in tradition, is witnessing a groundbreaking transformation with the emergence of innovative formats like the "Kings League" in Spain and the "Baller League" in Germany. Traditionally, the 90-minute game with 11 players on each side has been considered untouchable. However, these new leagues are challenging the status quo to inject dynamism and entertainment into the beautiful game. The "Kings League," pioneered by Gerard Pique, founded in November 2022, aims to captivate a younger audience by playing the game in a 7vs7 format and introducing elements like tie-breaker penalty shootouts, unlimited substitutions, and the implementation of “secret weapons” that spontaneously alters the games rules or format. By involving renowned football and social media personalities, the league seeks to offer an alternative way of consuming football, breaking away from the conventional norms. In Germany the "Baller League", founded by Thomas de Buhr and Felix Starck and led by Mats Hummels and Lukas Podolski, is aiming to mirror the Spanish model with more quick-paced football, unconventional rules and including internet personalities (Trymacs, Montana Black) that spark the matchday experience. It is played 6vs6 and implements surprises, such as “Gamechangers” appearing in the last three minutes of each played half in a match, introducing rule modifications selected by a wheel of fortune. Prominent team managers like Christoph Kramer, Alisha Lehmann, and Felix Lobrecht generate reach by attracting more viewers to the league with their huge following base. On Monday, the first matchday of the Baller League garnered over 100k viewers on Twitch over the course of six hours, showcasing a blend of excitement, yet with some criticism from fans. While some hailed the concept as a breath of fresh air, others raised valid concerns, calling for removing the offsides rule, playing with walls to avoid the ball going out of bounds, and general suggestions like implementing music for improved atmosphere. The Baller League will face another challenge when Pro Football players David Alaba and Toni Kroos team up with social media influencer Elias Nerlich to launch the “Icon League” after this years Euro Championship. It will be a direct competitor as it will follow similar principles: smaller pitch, a more quick-paced game and rule changes to enhance viewing experience. In conclusion, these football transformations are a testament to the sport's adaptability and the organizers' willingness to experiment. For football enthusiasts, it is essential to keep an open mind and embrace the evolution of the game we love.