Foreign visitors help boost Real Madrid ticket revenue

September 8, 2010

Spanish La Liga football club Real Madrid has reported an almost 50 per cent increase in ticket revenue thanks mainly to an increase in foreign visitors to its Bernabeu Stadium.

The nine-time European champions made €27 million (US$34.4 million) in ticket revenue for the year to 30 June –  a 48 per cent increase on the previous 12 months, health according to its annual report.

The report also said that Spanish-based season ticket holders handed back more than 100,000 match tickets for resale over that period, while sales to visitors from the UK and US climbed.

The club sold 15,500 match tickets abroad last season, which was a 29 per cent increase.

Spain is currently coming out of its worst economic slump in 60 years, with an unemployment rate of 20 per cent.

CEO of Spanish marketing agency Prime Time Sports, Esteve Calzada, said: “More tickets are available to foreigners because of the economic crisis.”