FC St. Pauli: Over 21,000 members for the cooperative!

FC St. Pauli: Over 21,000 members for the cooperative!

An exciting development is emerging at FC St. Pauli. The football cooperative “Football Cooperative Sankt Pauli 2024 eG” has opened its waiting list, and since the end of March more than 1,500 people have already registered to purchase shares in the cooperative. This initiative aims to lead the club towards a financially healthy future and to involve fans and members more closely in decision-making. The shares are allocated in the order in which they are registered. However, interested parties must first verify themselves on the subscription platform with an identification document, which, according to Christopher Heinemann, eG board member for IT issues, only takes a few minutes and significantly simplifies the process.

By generating up to 30 million euros through the sale of these shares, debts are to be reduced and the Corona aid repaid. Andreas Borcherding, board member of the eG, reports that over 21,000 members were accepted by mid-September, which illustrates the great interest in this form of fan participation. The cooperative not only plans to acquire shares in the Millerntor Stadium and the youth training center, but also long-term financial stability without dependence on large investors.

A model with a future

The cooperative model has caused a stir in the industry and attracted international attention, including coverage in The New York Times. The idea of ​​fans and members acting as key players in financing is seen as promising but challenging by business experts such as Deloitte's Stefan Ludwig. The advantages are obviously unmistakable: cooperatives are considered grassroots-oriented, democratic and, above all, crisis-proof.

The price for a share is 850 euros, of which 100 euros will be deducted as fees. The aim is for up to 30,000 shares to be sold. Despite potential risks, such as redemption obligations and unclear rules on returns, the chances of a positive contribution to the club are high. The cooperative will give members a vote, regardless of the number of shares, which represents a further step towards co-determination.

On the way to financial independence

The cooperative structure allows the share of 750 euros to be repaid if the members terminate their participation on time. The funds raised should not flow into the player squad, but rather into the repayment of stadium loans and the repayment of Corona loans. President Oke Göttlich emphasizes that this does not represent a big step for the Bundesliga, but rather a new path for FC St. Pauli to stabilize itself financially while maintaining the club's identity.

Overall, the founding of the Football Cooperative Sankt Pauli shows that FC St. Pauli is tackling the challenges with a clear concept. Board member Miriam Wolframm describes the project as a “lighthouse project” and highlights its uniqueness, which could help the association usher in a new era of association financing. The first steps have been taken and the path to a hopefully prosperous future has been paved. Further information about the cooperative can be found here, here and [here](https://www.tagesspiegel.de/sport/fussball-bundesligist-will- Debts-mining-st-pauli-sets-auf-genossen-statt-grossinvestoren-12543392.html).