Schalke 04 publish biannual figures for 2020

However, thanks to a fast response which included extensive cost-cutting measures – such as salary cuts into professional players and other areas of the corporation, as well as reducing employee hours and putting investment projects on hold – the Royal Blues have managed to limit the consequences of the pandemic. The shortfall for the first half year amounts to €9.7 million (first half year 2019: €18.3 million). Net debt increased slightly to €120.8 million in the first half of 2020 (€118.7 million as of 31st December, 2019). Current and non-current liabilities as of 30th June, 2020 amount to €205.3 million (31st December, 2019: €197.9 million).

The decline in turnover compared with the first half of 2019 is mainly due to lower income from the marketing of media rights (€48.0 million compared to previous year €61.9 million), due to the participation in the UEFA Champions League in the 2018/2019 season, transfer income  (€4.8 million compared to previous year: €14.1 million) and the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic in the second quarter of 2020. As a result of the four home games which were played without spectators due to the Coronavirus, matchday revenues fell to €9.2 million (previous year: €19.2 million). This also had an impact on sponsorship income, as the hospitality and box marketing divisions were also unable to generate revenues from these matches (€28.7 million, previous year: €35.6 million). The same applies to catering revenues (€2.5 million, previous year: €8.3 million) and merchandising revenues (€5.7 million, previous year: €6.7 million) – in each of these areas, business operations came to a complete or partial standstill in the second quarter of 2020. The decline in other revenues (€3.2 million previous year: €5.5 million) is mainly due to the lack of rental income generated through the staging of major events in the VELTINS Arena.

Due to the further impact of the Coronavirus pandemic as well as lower revenues generated through media, the Royal Blues are forecasting revenue of €160-200 million and a net loss for the year in the mid eight-figure Euro range for the full year 2020. Liabilities will increase by a mid eight-figure Euro sum until 31st December 2020, mainly due to a loan taken out as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic and the planned drawdown of the loan taken out in connection with the Berger Field II construction project.

The financial report 2020 of FC Schalke 04 is now available on schalke04.de.