SV Darmstadt 1898

What SV Darmstadt 1898 does

SV Darmstadt 1898 e.V., commonly known as "Die Lilien" (The Lilies), is a member-owned German professional football club founded on 22 May 1898 and domiciled in Darmstadt, Hesse. It competes in the 2. Bundesliga and plays home matches at the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor (approximately 17,000 capacity). The club operates as a registered association (eingetragener Verein) governed by a Präsidium led by President Markus Pfitzner, with approximately 9,000 members holding democratic control; there is no external equity owner or parent company. Stadium operations are conducted through a wholly-owned subsidiary, SV Darmstadt 1898 Stadion GmbH. Headcount is reported as 11–50 employees.

The club's product portfolio centers on the professional football team and is monetized across seven revenue streams: matchday ticketing (single-match, season/Dauerkarten, VIP/hospitality), sponsorship and advertising (Merck, Craft, Krombacher, Entega, Software AG, Suzuki, NEO.bet, Haftpflichtkasse), DFL media and broadcasting rights (performance-adjusted share), transfer fees and player trading, merchandise (online shop and physical retail at shop.sv98.de), annual membership fees (WirLilien portal via Unidy at sv98.unidy.de), and third-party stadium events. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via the club's owned ticket shop, online merchandise store, and Unidy fan portal; commercial partnerships are sold through the in-house business development team. The Junglilien youth academy (NLZ), Merck-Lilien-Fußballcamps, and the eFOOTBALL esports division extend the product surface into talent development, youth engagement, and digital competition.

Commercially, the 2025/26 season closed with a 5th-place finish (52 points, +10 vs prior season) and record single-window transfer revenue from the sales of Fraser Hornby and Isac Lidberg, described by the President as a supporting pillar of long-term financial planning. Recent squad activity for 2026/27 includes five free-transfer signings, one contract extension, two youth promotions, and entry into the new Bundesliga Talent Series. International outreach is anchored by a strategic cooperation with Spurs Sports & Entertainment / San Antonio FC (since 2024), building on the 2017 Darmstadt–San Antonio sister-city relationship. The club has no disclosed revenue figures and is not publicly traded.

Name

SV Darmstadt 1898

Legal name

SV Darmstadt 1898 e.V.

Website

https://sv98.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1898

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SV Darmstadt 1898 e.V. is a member-owned German professional football club founded in 1898, competing in the 2. Bundesliga from Darmstadt, Hesse. It serves fans, members, and commercial sponsors through ticketing, sponsorship, media rights, merchandise, player transfers, and the ~17,000-seat Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Football Club / Sports Entertainment Services

NAICS

Sports Teams and Clubs (711211)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Team Sports Matches (Club & National) (MPAGAMAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sports Venue Operations for Live Games (Stadiums/Arenas) (MPAGAMAG), Sports Events & Match Tickets (THAJAFAE)

Keywords

• Professional football club
• Matchday ticketing services
• Fan merchandise retail
• Youth football academy
• Sports sponsorship services

Headquarters

HQ city

Darmstadt

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, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Matchday Revenue (Ticketing): Revenue from ticket sales for home matches at the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor, including matchday tickets, season tickets, and VIP hospitality packages. A sell-out crowd at the stadium generates significant matchday income.
2. Sponsorship & Advertising: Revenue from main and kit sponsors including Merck (stadium naming rights), Craft Sportswear (kit supplier), Krombacher (beer sponsor), Entega, Software AG, Suzuki, NEO.bet, and Haftpflichtkasse. Premium partner arrangements and logo placements across stadium and digital channels.
3. Media & Broadcasting Rights: Revenue from DFL media and broadcasting rights shared among 2. Bundesliga clubs based on sporting performance and commercial value. Performance in the league directly affects the share of central media revenue.
4. Transfer Fees & Player Trading: Transfer fees generated from the sale of players to other clubs. The club has generated record transfer revenue in a single window through sales of Fraser Hornby and Isac Lidberg, representing a key pillar of long-term financial planning.
5. Merchandise & Fan Articles: Revenue from the official online shop selling jerseys, fan merchandise, accessories, and commemorative items. The club operates physical shop locations with stated opening hours.
6. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees from the WirLilien fan and member portal, offering benefits including priority ticket access, exclusive merchandise offers, and fan community participation.
7. Event & Stadium Hire: Revenue from third-party events hosted at the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor, including concerts such as the Lionel Richie Tribute Night, corporate events, and stadium tours.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

SV Darmstadt 1898 is a professional German football club competing in the 2. Bundesliga. The club sells matchday tickets, season tickets, and VIP/hospitality packages for home games at the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor; operates an online fan merchandise shop; runs an annual membership program via the WirLilien portal; delivers youth football development through the Junglilien academy and Merck-Lilien-Fußballcamps; and offers corporate sponsorship and partnership packages to commercial brands.

Product overview

SV Darmstadt 1898 is a 2. Bundesliga football club offering a portfolio of sports, fan engagement, and commercial products centered around its professional football team. The core offering is its professional football team competing in the 2. Bundesliga. The club operates the SV 98 Online Shop (e-commerce for official merchandise including CRAFT-brand jerseys and the SV 98 x L&L Datterich collection), an Online Ticket Shop for matchday and season tickets, a membership program via the Wir Lilien portal (managed by Unidy), and hospitality/VIP services at the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor. The Junglilien youth academy (NLZ) develops talent through age-group teams and participates in the new Bundesliga Talent Series. The club also offers corporate sponsorship packages and runs the Merck-Lilien-Fußballcamps during school holidays. The team plays at the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor, which also hosts third-party events including concerts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Junglilien: Youth academy and talent development program of SV Darmstadt 98
• Bölle Bande
• Merck-Lilien-Fußballcamps
• WirLilien

Products and services

• SV 98 Online Shop Official e-commerce store selling SV Darmstadt 98 fan merchandise including home and away jerseys (CRAFT brand), kids apparel, accessories, collectibles, and the SV 98 x L&L Datterich collaboration collection. Physical retail locations also operate with stated opening hours.
• Online Ticket Shop Digital ticketing platform for matchday tickets, season tickets (Dauerkarten), away match tickets, and VIP day passes, with a waiting list system for season tickets and priority pre-sale access for club members.
• Mitgliedschaft (Club Membership) Official annual club membership program delivered through the Wir Lilien portal (sv98.unidy.de), offering personal accounts, subscription management, single sign-on, priority ticket access, exclusive merchandise offers, and fan community participation benefits.
• Merck-Lilien-Fußballcamps Youth football camps run by the club during school holidays (including Hessian summer holidays), operated through the NLZ (Nachwuchsleistungszentrum), with exclusive price benefits for Bölle Bande members.
• Hospitality & VIP Services Corporate hospitality offerings at the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor including VIP day passes, loge (hospitality suite) access, and business entertainment packages for home matches.
• Commercial Sponsorship Packages Tiered sponsorship offerings for corporate partners ranging from main and kit partners to premium partners and standard sponsors, with stadium, digital, and matchday visibility and activation options.
• Junglilien (Nachwuchsleistungszentrum) Youth development academy operating age-group teams with the goal of progressing talent into the professional squad; participates in the new Bundesliga Talent Series U21 competition launching for the 2026/27 season.
• eFOOTBALL Esports Team Competitive eFootball department fielding SV Darmstadt 98-branded teams in digital football competitions.
• Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor Venue Hire Stadium venue hosting 2. Bundesliga home matches and rentable for third-party events including concerts (e.g., Lionel Richie Tribute Night), corporate events, and stadium tours. Approximate capacity 17,000.

Quantifiable outcome

• Season 2025/26: 52 points, 5th place in 2. Bundesliga, 10 more points than previous season
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration11 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core, premium and minor.

• MerckflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerMerck holds the stadium naming rights for the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor, making it the club's most prominent commercial partner. The stadium hosts 2. Bundesliga matches, concerts, and third-party events. Merck's association with the club dates back multiple seasons.
• Craft SportswearcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerCraft Sportswear is the official kit supplier and equipment partner for SV Darmstadt 98, providing match kits, training apparel, and fan merchandise. The partnership also extends internationally with Craft Sportswear North America supporting the club's US activities in San Antonio.
• KrombacherpremiumChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKrombacher is a premium sponsor and beer partner of SV Darmstadt 98, prominently featured in stadium advertising and hospitality areas. Krombacher has supported the club across multiple seasons.
• Spurs Sports & EntertainmentflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerSince 2024, SV 98 cooperates with Spurs Sports & Entertainment, the operating company of San Antonio FC and the San Antonio Spurs. This partnership has grown from the sister-city relationship between Darmstadt and San Antonio (since 2017) and includes soccer camps in San Antonio, panel discussions on sports diplomacy, and cross-cultural football activities. The cooperation has been described as 'exemplary' by both parties.
• HAIXminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHAIX is an equipment sponsor providing footwear, appearing as a sponsor partner on the club's website. HAIX is a German manufacturer of professional footwear.
• SuzukipremiumChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSuzuki is a premium partner and automotive sponsor of SV Darmstadt 98, featured on the club's website partner section. The partnership includes vehicle sponsorship and branding across digital channels.
• EntegapremiumChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEntega is a premium energy partner of SV Darmstadt 98. As a regional energy provider based in Darmstadt, Entega's partnership aligns with the club's sustainability strategy.
• Software AGpremiumChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSoftware AG is a premium technology partner of SV Darmstadt 98, headquartered in Darmstadt. The partnership has been longstanding, and Software AG was among the early corporate supporters during the club's challenging periods.
• NEO.betpremiumChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNEO.bet is a sports betting partner of SV Darmstadt 98, appearing as a partner on the club's homepage with branding and digital activations.
• HaftpflichtkassepremiumChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHaftpflichtkasse is a liability insurance provider and partner of SV Darmstadt 98. The partnership includes joint initiatives such as the annual Ehrenamtspreis (volunteer award) recognizing outstanding voluntary work in local sports clubs.
• Unidy GmbHcoreTechnology or IntegrationUnidy GmbH provides the fan and customer portal infrastructure (WirLilien) for SV Darmstadt 98, including membership management, ticketing, subscriptions, and fan profile data. The club hosts its official portal at sv98.unidy.de using Unidy's technology platform.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• 1. FC Magdeburg: 1. FC Magdeburg plays in the 2. Bundesliga and runs a similar mid-budget German football operation with comparable ticketing, sponsorship, and member-driven governance structures to SV Darmstadt.
• Eintracht Braunschweig: Eintracht Braunschweig is a 2. Bundesliga side with comparable scale, regional sponsor base, and member association structure to SV Darmstadt 1898.
• 1. FC Kaiserslautern: 1. FC Kaiserslautern is a historic German club currently in the 2. Bundesliga with a similar member-led tradition, Bundesliga pedigree, and large fan base comparable to SV Darmstadt's profile.
• SC Paderborn 07: SC Paderborn 07 is a fellow 2. Bundesliga operator with a similar revenue base, recurring Bundesliga-challenge cycle, and reliance on player trading economics directly comparable to SV Darmstadt 1898.
• Karlsruher SC: Karlsruher SC competes directly with SV Darmstadt in the 2. Bundesliga, operating a comparable mid-tier German professional football club with similar matchday, sponsorship, and transfer-revenue economics.
• SpVgg Greuther Fürth: SpVgg Greuther Fürth is a 2. Bundesliga peer with a comparable budget tier, stadium scale, and reliance on player development and trading, mirroring SV Darmstadt's commercial profile.
• 1. FC Nürnberg: 1. FC Nürnberg is a fellow 2. Bundesliga traditional German club with a historic Bundesliga pedigree and similar matchday revenue and sponsorship dynamics to SV Darmstadt.

Broad incumbents

• FC Augsburg: FC Augsburg is a current Bundesliga club of comparable stadium size and regional economic profile that represents the typical promotion destination and direct comparator for SV Darmstadt's commercial upside scenario.
• Hamburger SV: Hamburger SV is a historic Bundesliga name currently competing in the 2. Bundesliga with broader national brand reach and higher absolute revenue, providing an upside benchmark for SV Darmstadt's commercial trajectory.
• FC Schalke 04: FC Schalke 04 is a large, historic Bundesliga/2. Bundesliga incumbent with extensive member infrastructure that SV Darmstadt's e.V. governance path partially resembles at greater scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sv98
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/sv98
• Facebookfacebook.com/SVDarmstadt1898eV
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sv-darmstadt-1898-e-v-
• Instagraminstagram.com/sv98
• TikToktiktok.com/@sv98

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries4 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 SV Darmstadt 1898