Sturm Graz is courting the stadium

Gross value added of almost 42 million euros was calculated for the period under consideration of the 2022/23 financial year. The club’s activities brought the public sector 20.2 million euros in taxes and duties.

The people from Graz presented further record results that underline “growth in every respect”: Among other things, new highs were recorded in the areas of subscribers (plus 44 percent), stadium visitors (+17), merchandising (+67) as well as sponsorship and broadcast rights (+30). . In the last point, European Cup income is also taken into account.

The 20 million transfer from Rasmus Höjlund to Atalanta Bergamo also contributes to the record year (for comparison, 2021/22: 26.8 million euros). The transfer balance amounts to 6.3 million euros. “We have invested hugely in our team. The sums that are sometimes rumored are gross sums and distort reality a little,” explained club president Christian Jauk.

Transfer profits necessary

According to Jauk, regular transfer profits are necessary to compensate for competitive disadvantages of an infrastructural nature: As a subtenant in the Graz Merkur Arena, he struggles Storm for years about sovereign rights. The wish is to act as the sole tenant in the stadium, which is currently also used by arch-rival GAK. The club leadership describes the so-called two-stage solution as “no alternative”. “It cannot be the case that the second largest city in Austria is in last place among the state capitals when it comes to stadium infrastructure,” said Jauk.

However, implementation is not possible without public investment. The debate about this is accompanied by skepticism, especially in times of inflation. This is probably why Thomas Tebbich, the business manager of Storm: “The growth in every respect shows that we play an important role in the city of Graz and the state of Styria. With a value creation of around 42 million euros Storm Graz is extremely relevant for the region not only emotionally but also economically.”

For 2022/23, the black and whites would have utilized 462.5 full-time equivalent jobs. “The subsidy coefficient is over 72. For one euro of public funding, 72 euros of direct, indirect and induced added value are generated,” explained René Peter Thaller from FH Campus 02. The business college was founded together with the Institute for Economic and Location Development The Styrian Chamber of Commerce commissioned the study.