Aktif Bank, the largest privately-owned investment bank in Turkey, scrutinized the revenues and economic view of Turkish Football.

Published under the name of "EkoLig", the report, providing the financial data of Turkish Football in comparison with the leading leagues in Europe, revealed that Turkish football has grown by 5 folds in the last decade and that the total revenues have exceeded the threshold of TRY 2 billion. In the report stating that the concept of "transparency" gained importance upon the increase experienced in financial figures of football, the most important revenue items of the sports clubs and the outstanding figures as well as the financial achievement stories of Spor Toto Super Lig, are also involved.

Contributing greatly to Turkish Sports not only with its knowledge but also its financing, Aktif Bank drew up the most comprehensive report in Turkey assessing the present situation of Turkish Football Economy. EkoLig - Football Economy Report, has been released at a meeting hosted by the CEO of Aktif Bank Dr. Serdar Sumer and Passolig General Manager Ceyhun Kazanci on Thursday, October 13, 2016. The officials of Turkish Football Federation (TFF) and representatives of many clubs attended the meeting held in Swissotel. According to the report revealing the revenues and economic map of Turkish Football, the value of our football sector has exceeded the threshold of TRY 2 billion. Moreover, the report emphasizes that the most important 3 main revenue items of football sector are the broadcasting revenues, matchday revenues and commercial revenues, stating that Turkish Football is the 6th largest league in Europe in terms of revenues.

Contributing greatly to Turkish Sports not only with its knowledge but also its financing, Aktif Bank drew up the most comprehensive report in Turkey assessing the present situation of Turkish Football Economy. EkoLig - Football Economy Report, has been released at a meeting hosted by the CEO of Aktif Bank Dr. Serdar Sumer and Passolig General Manager Ceyhun Kazanci on Thursday, October 13, 2016. The officials of Turkish Football Federation (TFF) and representatives of many clubs attended the meeting held in Swissotel. According to the report revealing the revenues and economic map of Turkish Football, the value of our football sector has exceeded the threshold of TRY 2 billion. Moreover, the report emphasizes that the most important 3 main revenue items of football sector are the broadcasting revenues, matchday revenues and commercial revenues, stating that Turkish Football is the 6th largest league in Europe in terms of revenues.

Ceyhun Kazanci: "Turkish Football Economy, worth of TRY 2 billion, continues to grow"

Sharing the remarkable results of the report with the press members, Passolig General Manager Ceyhun Kazanci said: "We are equipped with important data and knowledge on Turkish Football. We considered sharing these data and knowledge upon consolidation is a responsibility of us, as the biggest supporter of football. Our purpose was to present the revenue map of Turkish Football in comparison to the leading football economies in the world, and to create a resource that would facilitate to develop opinion and solution for football managers and opinion leaders.

The material value of our football sector is now more than TRY 2 billion.  The investment in football, the interest in new stadiums and commercial products will increase the revenues of ticket sales and products further".

Average attendance rate and matchday revenues increase in Super Lig

According to the report, the average attendance figure of 6,225 for Super Lig in the season 2014-2015 rose to 8,395 in the season 2015-2016. In the 2015-2016 season, the attendance number increased by 32 % in comparison to the previous season. It is anticipated that the new stadiums and investments will increase the attendance number and the average attendance rate. Turkey ranks 6 among the European leagues with this average attendance rate. As of the season 2015-2016, the matches are played with the average attendance numbers of 43,300 in the uppermost German Bundesliga, 36,452 in English Premier League, 28,168 in Spanish La Liga, 22,544 in Italian Serie A and 22,215 in French Ligue, respectively.

vvIt is seen that the most important 3 main revenue items of Turkish football are the matchday revenues, broadcasting revenues, and commercial revenues. In the light of the report, the total matchday revenue of 63 million Euros was acquired in Spor Toto Super Lig throughout the season 2014-2015. The report states that the matchday revenues of English Premier League, in the position of the most valuable league in Europe, account for 768 million Euros for the same season. In terms of matchday revenues, England is followed by Bundesliga with 521 million Euros, La Liga with 435 million Euros, Serie A with 221 million Euros and Ligue 1 165 million Euros, respectively.

It is seen that Spor Toto Super Lig lags far behind the other leagues in Europe in terms of revenues; however, it stands out that Super Lig is at the same level with the countries like Italy and France, when the revenues in proportion to the gross national product (GNP) are taken into account. On the basis of the matchday revenues in proportion to GNP, it is understood that La Liga has the most revenue with the percentage of 0.04 %. La Liga is followed by English Premier League with the percentage of 0.03%, Bundesliga with the percentage of 0.02% and Italy, France and Turkey with the percentage of 0.01%, respectively.

30% of broadcasting revenues is shared by the Big Three

In the report, the factors affecting the matchday revenues are listed as follows: stadium, agenda, fan-group culture, means of transportation, sportive success, efficient club management, economic parameters and club popularity. It is also stated that matchday revenues provide rational data in order to assess the relationship between the football clubs and their fans. 30% of the live broadcasting revenues is shared by 3 major clubs. Fenerbahce, Galatasaray and Besiktas acquired a total amount of TRY 261.1million for the season 2015-2016 from the live broadcasting revenues. In the last 2 seasons, Fenerbahçe, Galatasaray and Besiktaş obtained TRY 180 million, TRY 166 million and TRY 161 million, respectively, through broadcasting revenues. Atiker Konyaspor and Medipol Basaksehir are the two clubs exceeding the threshold of TRY 50 million in terms of the broadcasting revenues. In the last 2 years, Medipol Basaksehir became the club obtaining the highest broadcasting revenue with TRY 99.2 million, following the Big Three.

Atiker Konyaspor and Antalyaspor draw away in terms of increase in revenues

In the report involving the success stories of Super Lig, success stories of Atiker Konyaspor and Antalyaspor which acquire the most revenue increase in the last 2 seasons take their place. In this respect, Atiker Konyaspor completing the season 2015-2016 in the 3rd rank increased its live broadcasting revenues by 65.7 percent to TRY 62.5 million from TRY 37.7 million.

The commercial revenues of the club increased by around 40% to TRY 20.2 million from TRY 14.6 million. Matchday revenues of Atiker Konyaspor rose to TRY 6 million from TRY 5 million. Moreover, Atiker Konyaspor became the leader of Anatolia in the Passolig Card League with the Passolig Card holder number of 102 thousand for the season 2015-2016 and 73 thousand for the season 2014-2015.

With its promotion to Super Lig, Antalyaspor increased its live broadcasting revenues to TRY 41.2 million from TRY 3.2 million. The proportion of the broadcasting revenues in the total revenues of the club rose to 55 percent from 29 percent. The commercial revenues of Antalyaspor rose by 281 percent in comparison to the previous season while matchday revenues increased by 31 folds with the effect of the new stadium. Antalyaspor acquiring matchday revenues of TRY 162 thousand for the season 2014-2015 hit matchday revenue of TRY 5million after the opening of Antalya Arena.

EkoLig in Figures

• The highest average attendance number: 2014/2015 Galatasaray (21 thousand) – 2015/2016 Fenerbahce (24.9 thousand)
• The most ticket sales: 2014/2015 Besiktas (379 thousand) - 2015/2016 Besiktas (321 thousand)
• The highest attendance number: 2014/2015 Besiktas - Club Brugge (64 thousand) - 2015/2016 Fenerbahce - Galatasaray (45 thousand)
• Revenue per ticket: 2014/2015 Galatasaray (TRY 111) - 2015/2016 Fenerbahce (TRY 161)
• Derby revenue per ticket: 2014/2015 Galatasaray (TRY 233) - 2015/2016 Fenerbahce (TRY 196)
• The most season ticket sales: 2014/2015 Galatasaray (37 thousand) – 2015/2016 Fenerbahce (38 thousand)
• The most online ticket sales: 2014/2015 Besiktas (183 thousand) - 2015/2016 Besiktas (224 thousand)
• The highest increase in match revenues: Besiktas (83.5 %)
• The highest price per ticket for the matches against 4 major clubs: 2014/2015 Kasimpasa (TRY 88) - 2015/2016 Antalyaspor (TRY 77)
• The cheapest ticket of Real Madrid: EURO 35.6
• The cheapest ticket of Chelsea: EURO 71
• The highest average attendance number in Europe: Borussia Dortmund (80 thousand)
• The proportion of season ticket holders in the total attendance number in Bundesliga is 42 percent.
• The jersey sponsorship revenue of Premier League: 213 million dollars
• The most sponsorship revenue in Europe: Manchester United (140 million dollars)