The situation of FC Schalke 04 seems hopeless, relegation to the Bundesliga threatens. That would have consequences for all teams in the league.
Gelsenkirchen – FC Schalke 04 is about to be relegated to the Bundesliga for the fourth time. In view of nine points after 22 match days, a rescue seems utopian. This is also shown by a look at the history. Should the S04 actually go into the second division, this would also have an impact on other clubs – especially in financial terms.
| society | FC Schalke 04 |
| Trainer | Christian Gross |
| Stadium | Veltins Arena |
| capacity | 62,271 spectators |
| place | Gelsenkirchen |
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FC Schalke 04: The S04 is currently even worse than in the previous three Bundesliga relegations
The S04 derby against BVB on Saturday (February 20) could have been the last duel between the two district clubs for a long time. A comparison shows how badly FC Schalke 04 is doing in the current Bundesliga season. In the three relegations in 1981, 1983 and 1988, the Royal Blues had on the 22nd game day, converted to the three-point rule, 21, 17 and 24 points. Now there are nine.
So far the worst first division team ever was Tasmania Berlin with the equivalent of ten points in the 1965/66 season. Even if FC Schalke 04 were to make it to 20 points, the S04 would be among the ten worst relegated in the Bundesliga.
FC Schalke 04: A descent of the S04 would have an impact on the entire Bundesliga
The S04 is currently planning its squad for the 2nd division, due to the situation the Royal Blues have to plan in two directions. The players are still making public hopes of staying up. But in view of nine points behind the rescue bank and only one victory on the account, the undertaking seems rather unlikely.
Instead, FC Schalke 04 is actually threatened with the fourth Bundesliga relegation in the club’s history. And that would have an impact on the entire league.
FC Schalke 04 are facing their fourth Bundesliga relegation in history. That would have an impact on the entire league.
© Anke Waelischmiller / Sven Simon / Kirchner-Media
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“For the attractiveness of the league, Schalke’s relegation would be a drama,” said BVB managing director Hans-Joachim Watzke (61) kicker. Ex-S04 striker Vedad Ibisevic (36), who recently heavily criticized Manuel Baum (41), said: “The club belongs in the Bundesliga.”
FC Schalke 04: Around 24 million people in Germany are interested in the S04
The statement by Hans-Joachim Watzke is supported by many figures, such as the one Spiegel reported. According to a representative survey by the market research institute, they are interested Allensbach around 24 million of the 71 million Germans aged 14 and over for FC Schalke 04, 7.44 million “very special”. Only FC Bayern and BVB have better numbers.
The values of Hamburger SV, which was relegated from the Bundesliga for the first time in 2018, are only slightly lower than those of S04. The numbers of FC Schalke 04 are no wonder given the membership of over 155,000 people. Only FC Bayern has more members (293,000).
That alone does not give the other Bundesliga clubs any financial advantages. But FC Schalke 04’s image also ensures that the league’s TV rights have a certain value. Because according to the industry service Meedia.de on request of Spiegel The number of viewers for games of the S04 on Sky is even higher this season than last year.
FC Schalke 04: Over 1.2 million viewers follow the S04 in the derby against BVB
For example, 1.24 million people watched the derby against BVB on February 20th and almost 900,000 spectators watched the duel with Union Berlin on February 13th Sky communicated. This put the S04 in third place in the Sky audience table at the end of the 2019/20 season, just behind FC Bayern and Borussia Dortmund. The same picture emerged a year earlier.
The S04 is and remains a crowd puller, even in front of the television. Thanks also to the royal blues, the 1.2 billion euros per season in TV money currently represent a major source of income for the clubs. Should FC Schalke 04 stay in the second division for the long term and, for example, Hamburger SV also fail to rise, interest in the broadcasting rights could decline. Before the summer of 2025, the DFL will have to renegotiate as a marketer.
Schalke cheers in front of full ranks: The S04 is a crowd puller in the Bundesliga.
© Christopher Neundorf/Kirchner-Media
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The income for the second division could increase, but the games in the Bundesliga lower house are worth less than the games in the top German division. Ultimately, it would still be a losing business for the whole league.
FC Schalke 04: No second division has such a high average attendance as the S04
The high capacity utilization of the stadiums also plays a role in the marketing of the Bundesliga. If spectators were allowed, the Veltins-Arena in Gelsenkirchen would be almost sold out at every game. The S04, with a capacity of 62,271 fans, has had an average of over 60,000 fans in its stadium since the arena opened in 2001.
No second division can match these numbers. This is why the former CEO of Eintracht Frankfurt, Heribert Bruchhagen (72), told Spiegel: “In the long run, clubs like Schalke and HSV are indispensable for the Bundesliga.”
List of rubric lists: © Jürgen Fromme / firosportphoto via Kirchner-Media
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