FC Bayern München AG had a very successful year in terms of both sport and finances, announcing new record figures for the 2015/16 fiscal year. This also benefits the members' club, FC Bayern München eV. At Friday evening's Annual General Meeting at the Audi Dome president Karl Hopfner and his two vice-presidents Rudolf Schels and Prof Dr Dieter Mayer announced outstanding figures in front of the 7,152 members present.
The "impressive figure" (Hopfner) of 284,041 members means an increase of more than 13,000 on last year's 270,329 members, confirming the club's position as the world's biggest sports club. "That's what we are today and what we'll continue to be," said a visibly proud Hopfner.
In the fiscal year from 1 July 2015 to 30 June 2016, the strong membership roll enabled FC Bayern eV to report income of €11.9 million from its core activities, a four percent increase compared to last year's 11.5 million. "Your FC Bayern is in a splendid situation, as is almost always the case," stressed outgoing senior vice-president Rudolf Schels: "A warm thank you to you all!"
Youth Academy as 'pioneering talent pool'
As usual the main source of revenue was the dividend payout by FC Bayern München AG, €5.625 million. The club's capital reserves rose to €92.319 million (2014/15: 81.737 million), meaning the club has an impressive equity ratio of 94.4 percent. Overall, FC Bayern eV announced a surplus of €10.58 million.
In his last address as club president Hopfner stressed the significance of the new sports facility including the Youth Academy at Ingolstädter Strasse, calling it "a milestone in our club's history" and "a new, pioneering talent pool." The project is on target in terms both of construction and finances. Hopfner said he was "very confident we'll be able to open it at the beginning of the 2017/18 season."
Massive youth programmes
FC Bayern eV deputy vice-president Prof Dr Dieter Mayer gave an overview of developments in the amateur sections (refereeing, veterans' football, sports skittles, table tennis, handball, chess), stressing the highly successful youth programmes in all sections. For instance, 15 teams took part in competitive events in table tennis, "more than ever," according to Mayer.
The previous year yielded many titles, at all ages and in all sections. For example, Mayer mentioned the individual Bavarian championship title for women and men in chess, the Bavarian team championship title in rapid chess and a total of 18 titles for the veteran footballers, including the German championship title for the A seniors and the South German championship title for the B seniors. "Impressive," praised Mayer.
Basketball on track
Senior vice-president Schels, resposible for basketball, drew a positive conclusion too, even if the review of the previous season "hasn't fully satisfied" him. The home defeat in the cup final and the semi-final exit in the play-offs for the German championship title against Bamberg, who went on to win the title, marred Schels's conclusion a little.
Schels was full of praise for the basketball section's outstanding youth programmes, which "continue to give us plenty to smile about." Numerous call-ups for national teams, the promotion of the reserves from the Regionalliga to Bundesliga 2, the second German championship title in a row for the U-14s and the Bavarian championship title for the U-12s confirm his statement. The Basketball section is also on target in the current season, according to Schels.