1. FC Union Berlin

What 1. FC Union Berlin does

1. FC Union Berlin is a German professional football club registered as an eingetragener Verein (e.V.), a membership-based legal form that precludes traditional shareholding and external equity ownership. The club fields two professional first teams — a men's squad competing in the Bundesliga (Germany's top football division, where they finished 11th in the 2025/26 season) and a women's squad in the Frauen-Bundesliga — alongside a youth academy covering U21 through younger age groups. Home matches are played at the club-owned Stadion An der Alten Försterei in Berlin-Köpenick, a venue with approximately 22,000 capacity recognized for its distinctive supporter atmosphere.

The club's commercial operations are structured around a multi-vertical fan engagement model. Direct-to-consumer revenue is generated through an online ticket shop (newly relaunched for the 2026/27 season), a membership program that confers voting rights at general meetings, and the Union Zeughaus physical and online fan shop where adidas-manufactured kits are sold at price points ranging from €64.95 (children's goalkeeper kit) to €130 (60th anniversary edition). Corporate revenue is diversified across at least eleven named sponsors and partners spanning kit supply (adidas as core), financial services (Raisin SE, Mittelbrandenburgische Sparkasse), energy (M4Energy), retail (REWE), beverage (Berliner Pilsner), trading (eToro), sustainability (Avaay), travel (home to go), and facility services (WISAG, Kermi). The club distributes content through AFTV (Alte Försterei TV), official social channels, and email newsletters.

Strategically, the club has invested in talent acquisition, youth infrastructure, and digital channels in the 2026 off-season, including the appointment of a new men's head coach (Mauro Lustrinelli, formerly of Swiss champion Thun), the signing of Belgian defender Zeno Van Den Bosch, entry into the new DFL U-21 Bundesliga Talent Series, and the high-profile scheduling of Inter Milan as the women's season opener. The e.V. legal form and membership governance structure distinguish the entity from investor-owned European football clubs, constraining equity capital access but supporting deep community embedding.

Name

1. FC Union Berlin

Legal name

1. FC Union Berlin e.V.

Website

https://fc-union-berlin.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

1. FC Union Berlin is a German e.V.-structured professional football club operating men's Bundesliga and women's Bundesliga teams from Stadion An der Alten Försterei in Berlin, monetizing through ticketing, membership, adidas-merchandise, and a broad corporate sponsorship portfolio.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Football Club Services

NAICS

Sports Teams and Clubs (711211), Spectator Sports (71121)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Team Sports Matches (Club & National) (MPAGAMAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Professional & Major League Stadiums (MPAKAEAA), League/Team-Owned Digital Broadcast Networks (MPAKAOAC)

Keywords

• Professional football club
• Matchday ticketing services
• Fan merchandise retail
• Club membership program
• Sports entertainment venue

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Others

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

1. FC Union Berlin operates a professional men's football team in the German Bundesliga and a women's team in the Frauen-Bundesliga, both playing home matches at Stadion An der Alten Försterei in Berlin. The club sells match tickets, official adidas-branded merchandise, annual memberships, and stadium tours, and produces club video content through its AFTV platform. Revenue is supplemented by corporate sponsorships, hospitality packages, and a youth academy developing talent for professional football.

Product overview

1. FC Union Berlin is a football club offering a comprehensive portfolio of sports entertainment and fan services. The core offering consists of two professional football teams: the Men's First Team competing in the German Bundesliga and the Women's First Team in the Frauen-Bundesliga, supported by a Youth Academy developing talent from U21 down through younger age groups. The club operates its home venue, Stadion An der Alten Försterei, as a multi-purpose facility hosting matches, events, and stadium tours. Direct fan engagement is facilitated through the Union Zeughaus official merchandise shop (featuring adidas-branded kits and apparel), an online Ticket Shop for match tickets and hospitality, and a Membership Program with governance participation rights. AFTV (Alte Försterei TV) provides video content including match highlights and the Highlight Show series. These products and services together create an integrated fan experience spanning matchday entertainment, merchandise, digital content, and club membership.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Men's First Team (Bundesliga) The professional men's football team of 1. FC Union Berlin, competing in the German Bundesliga and playing home matches at Stadion An der Alten Försterei in Berlin-Köpenick. The team finished 11th in the 2025/26 Bundesliga season and features 14 international players.
• Women's First Team (Frauen-Bundesliga) The professional women's football team of 1. FC Union Berlin, competing in the Frauen-Bundesliga and ranked 9th in the 2025/26 season with international players and youth prospects.
• Union Zeughaus (Official Fan Shop) The official merchandise and fan shop of 1. FC Union Berlin, selling official adidas-branded kits, apparel, accessories, and memorabilia for men, women, and children, available online and at physical locations.
• Ticket Shop (Match Tickets & Hospitality) Online platform for purchasing match tickets, stadium tours, and hospitality packages for home and away matches at Stadion An der Alten Försterei, including business seats, lounges, and corporate events.
• Club Membership Program Official annual club membership offering benefits including voting rights at general meetings, priority ticket access, and participation in club governance under the e.V. membership structure.
• Stadion Tours Guided tours of Stadion An der Alten Försterei, offering visitors access to areas including the players' tunnel, changing rooms, and pitch-side views.
• Youth Academy (Nachwuchs) Youth development program including U19, U17, and U21 teams, developing young talent for professional football careers at 1. FC Union Berlin.
• AFTV (Alte Försterei TV) The club's official video content platform featuring match highlights, player interviews, behind-the-scenes footage, and the Highlight Show series, distributed free to fans via the club's digital channels.

Quantifiable outcome

• Historic appointment of Marie-Louise Eta as first female head coach in Europe's top five leagues
• +1 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• adidascoreOthersGlobal sportswear brand serving as official kit supplier. Provides all playing kits, training apparel, and merchandise collaboration including exclusive club merchandise lines.
• Kermi GmbHminorOthersHeating technology company sponsoring Union Berlin through visible branding at the stadium and digital platforms.
• Raisin SEminorOthersFinancial services company appearing as sponsor on club communications and merchandise.
• Berliner PilsnerminorOthersLocal Berlin beer brand providing beverages and sponsoring matchday hospitality experiences.
• eToro Group LtdminorOthersTrading and investment platform appearing as sponsor on club digital channels.
• AvaayminorOthersSustainability-focused company partnering with Union Berlin on environmental initiatives.
• M4Energy - Eiserner StromminorOthersEnergy provider offering electricity services to the club, branded as Eiserner Strom (Iron Electricity).
• REWE Markt GmbHminorOthersRetail chain providing food and beverage services and appearing as sponsor.
• WISAG Dienstleistungsholding GmbHminorOthersService company providing facility management and cleaning services to the club.
• Mittelbrandenburgische SparkasseminorOthersRegional savings bank serving as financial services partner for the club.
• home to gominorOthersHoliday accommodation platform appearing as digital sponsor.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Borussia Mönchengladbach: Traditional German club with a passionate fan base, member-influenced governance, and historical Bundesliga pedigree. Comparable to Union Berlin's tradition-rich identity and community-rooted supporter culture.
• SC Freiburg: Member-owned Bundesliga club known for a smart talent-development model and a smaller stadium. Comparable to Union Berlin in governance philosophy (e.V.), youth academy emphasis, and capacity-constrained matchday economics.
• Werder Bremen: Member-owned German club with a strong youth tradition and recent experience navigating promotion/relegation dynamics. Comparable as a traditional club with similar governance and scale.
• Hertha BSC: Berlin's other professional football club, directly competing for local fan support, sponsorships, and media attention in the same metropolitan market — historically the larger of the two but currently in a lower German division, making it the closest geographic and category peer.
• FC Augsburg: Small-market Bundesliga club with limited stadium capacity that consistently finishes mid-table. Comparable in scale constraints and reliance on smart recruitment rather than financial firepower.
• TSG Hoffenheim: Newer entrant to the Bundesliga with a smaller stadium, strong commercial backing, and a focus on talent development — comparable to Union Berlin's relatively recent elevation to top-flight status.
• Eintracht Frankfurt: Traditional Bundesliga club with strong community/ultras culture, mixed men's/women's programs, and similar mid-table to upper-mid-table position. Comparable to Union Berlin in terms of fan-driven identity and scale of commercial operations.
• 1. FSV Mainz 05: Mid-sized Bundesliga club with a smaller stadium and strong academy focus, regularly finishing mid-table. Similar in scale, revenue profile, and competitive position to Union Berlin.
• VfL Wolfsburg: Bundesliga club with both men's and women's teams, the latter historically competing at the top of the Frauen-Bundesliga. Provides a useful comp for Union's women's program growth trajectory and dual-team operations.

Broad incumbents

• VfB Stuttgart: Larger traditional Bundesliga club with bigger stadium capacity, deeper commercial partnerships, and European competition history. Useful as an aspirational comp for where Union Berlin's trajectory could lead under successful sporting execution.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/1.FCUnionBerlin
• Xx.com/fcunion

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about 1. FC Union Berlin