Ticket revolution in German professional football: Second division team Fortuna Düsseldorf wants to grant all spectators free entry to home games in the future. This emerges from a letter sent by the club to its partners on Tuesday, which is available to the Sport Information Service (SID).
On Wednesday (2.30 p.m.) the Rhinelanders have invited to a press conference, which will be attended by sports director Klaus Allofs. The new way runs under the motto “Fortuna for everyone”.
“Our goal is therefore to enable all fans to enter league home games free of charge, regardless of whether they are Fortuna members, season ticket holders, organized support, regular stadium visitors or guest fans,” the letter said. The project is to be implemented in a pilot phase in individual home games as early as next season. According to WDR information, it should initially affect three matches.
This revolutionary approach is made possible by “strategic partners who, together with us, are convinced that football primarily belongs to the fans and will support our new path in the long term”. The future sponsoring income generated via the new method is to be distributed according to a specific key.
Further incentives for fans planned
In addition to investments in the professional squad, 20 percent should flow into young people and women’s football. A further 20 percent is earmarked for the digital infrastructure and the arena, in which EM games will also take place in 2024. With ten percent, mass sport in the city and sustainability projects are to be funded.
In addition to free entry, further incentives for fans are being considered. They should be able to play an active role and have a say in the new path. “We want to listen and create together,” the letter says.
Fortuna is convinced that “the club will be future-proof”. At the same time, it is conceded that “the unique concept” also raises questions. The pilot phase will therefore be used “to try out and sharpen”.
Dusseldorf definitely wants to return to the Bundesliga. This season, the promotion train has already departed nine points behind the relegation place with five games left.
The average attendance in the current second division season is around 29,000. Most recently, the arena was sold out for the home game against Hamburger SV on March 31 with 52,200 visitors.