What ESV Kaufbeuren does

ESV Kaufbeuren (nicknamed 'Buron Joker') is a German ice hockey club founded in 1946 and operated commercially through ESVK Spielbetriebs GmbH & Co KG, headquartered at Bahnhofstraße 11, 87600 Kaufbeuren, Bavaria. For the 2026/2027 season the club competes in the DEB-Oberliga Süd (the third tier of German ice hockey) following relegation from DEL2, playing home matches at the energie schwaben arena — a 3,136-seat venue (recently expanded from 3,100) located at Berliner Platz in Kaufbeuren. The club operates a multi-stream sports entertainment business that monetizes ticketing (single-game, season, group, VIP), merchandise via esvk-shop.de, VIP-Lounge and VIP-Kabine corporate hospitality, and a five-tier sponsorship program (Diamond, Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze) plus Top 100 Club and 40+ partner sponsors, alongside media partnerships with Allgäuer Zeitung, Allgäu.tv, Radio Allgäu Hit, Sportdeutschland.tv, and others.

The club's core technical assets include a 35m² video cube mounted under the arena roof, Full-HD live-stream production via SpradeTV, a cashless in-arena payment system, and a digital platform stack comprising the Ticket-OnlineShop ticketing engine, ESVK.TV video content hub, the HOIGATA podcast (named after the Allgäu dialect word for entertainment), and a multi-channel social presence across Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and WhatsApp. Community engagement is delivered through the 'Der ESVK macht Schule' school program and an active fan-club network (Rote Teufel Gönztal, Jokeria Kaufbeuren, Eisritter Kaufbeuren, ESVK-Fanclub Westallgäu, Rot-Gelb Buronia). The 25-person volunteer bankdienst (game operations team) is recognized as among the best in Germany by ice hockey officials.

ESVK's customer base splits between local individual fans (residents of Kaufbeuren and the broader Allgäu region), who drive ticket and merchandise revenue, and regional corporate sponsors spanning automotive (Autohaus Haeberlen, BMW Widmann Winterholler, Ford Kaufbeuren, Autohaus Allgäu), financial services (Sparkasse Allgäu, VR Bank, Allianz, Zurich), construction/real estate (Kutter Bauunternehmung, Dobler Bau, Königsperger Bau), F&B/beverage (Aktienbrauerei, V-Markt), energy (Erdgas Schwaben, VWEW Energie, Varmeco), tourism (Karwendel, Berchtold Reisen), and media (Allgäuer Zeitung, Mindelheimer Zeitung). GTM is event-driven: live games drive acquisition and conversion, with online ticketing, e-commerce, social media, podcast, and school outreach programs serving as supporting channels to build year-round engagement. Leadership is headed by Managing Director (Geschäftsführer) Tobias Peukert, Media/Marketing Officer Philippe Bader, and Head of Game Operations Jonas Schwarzfischer.

Name

ESV Kaufbeuren

Legal name

ESVK Spielbetriebs GmbH & Co KG

Website

https://esvk.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1946

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ESV Kaufbeuren (Buron Joker) is a German ice hockey club founded in 1946, operating in the DEB-Oberliga Süd and playing at the 3,136-seat energie schwaben arena, serving local fans in Kaufbeuren/Allgäu with ticketing, merchandise, VIP hospitality, and a multi-tier sponsorship program supported by livestream and digital content.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Kaufbeuren

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from single-game tickets, season tickets (Dauerkarten), group tickets, and VIP packages for home games at the energie schwaben arena.
2. Merchandise Sales: Online fan shop selling clothing, accessories, and ESVK branded merchandise through esvk-shop.de.
3. Sponsorship: Multi-tiered sponsorship program including Diamond, Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze sponsors, plus Top 100 Club members and partner sponsors.
4. VIP Services: VIP-Lounge and VIP-Kabine packages for corporate hospitality and premium seating experiences.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

ESV Kaufbeuren operates a professional men's ice hockey team competing in Germany's DEB-Oberliga Süd, playing home games at the energie schwaben arena in Kaufbeuren. The club sells match tickets (single-game, season, group, gift certificates), VIP hospitality packages, fan merchandise through an online shop, and operates supporting digital fan-engagement products including ESVK.TV live streaming and the HOIGATA podcast.

Product overview

ESV Kaufbeuren (known as Buron Joker) is a German ice hockey club that operates as a multi-platform sports entertainment organization. The core offering consists of professional ice hockey competition in the DEB-Oberliga Süd, supplemented by digital content products including ESVK.TV for video streaming, the HOIGATA Podcast for audio content, and an e-commerce Online Shop for merchandise. The club manages the energie schwaben arena venue, operates a comprehensive Online Ticket System, and runs community programs such as 'ESVK macht Schule' for youth engagement. Digital infrastructure includes SpradeTV for live game streaming.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• HOIGATA Podcast: The official podcast format of ESV Kaufbeuren, discussing current developments around the club during the summer break. Named after the Allgäu word 'Hoigata' meaning entertainment or sitting together.
• ESVK.TV

Quantifiable outcome

• Arena capacity expanded to 3,136 seats
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration10 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major, supporting and minor.

• Diamond Sponsors (Autohaus Haeberlen, Karwendel)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerTop-tier Diamond sponsors receiving maximum brand visibility and corporate hospitality benefits. Autohaus Haeberlen is an automobile dealership; Karwendel is a outdoor/tourism company based in the region.
• Platinum Sponsors (multiple)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerPlatinum level sponsors including Finsterwalder, Warrior Europe, VWEW Energie, Erdgas Schwaben, Berchtold Reisen, AEF Estriche, Sparkasse Allgäu, Ernst Hörbelt, Auto Singer, Aktienbrauerei.
• Gold Sponsors (multiple)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerGold tier sponsors including Papillo, AXA Koller, Langhof Metallbau, Armin Prem Steuerberater, KWS Steuerberatungsgesellschaft, ABW Bodensysteme, V-Markt, BMW Widmann Winterholler, Ford Kaufbeuren, Stumpe Glas, Good Connected, Autohaus Seitz, A+O Hörsysteme, Forsberg, Kutter Bauunternehmung, Kemas Autohaus Allgäu, Yes Company, Chr. Mayr, Pelzer Management, Dobler Bau, Autohaus Dokic, Jall Irsee, Wittlinger Sanitätshaus, Weikmann, Imes Kaufbeuren, Ski Hütte Oberbeuren.
• Silver Sponsors (multiple)supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerSilver tier sponsors including Vogt Bestattungen, Haustechnik Schreiber, Kranprofis Allgäu, Allianz, BuL Logistics, Malzkorn Bau, CSC GmbH, Lotto Bayern, Franz Simm, Inning Holzbau, Königsperger Bau, Malermeister Boeckler, EDEKA Ebner, Stadt Kaufbeuren, Conductor Allgäu, Mariner Bau, Augenarzt Peter Otte, STW Sensor-Technik Wiedemann, Dicker Hund, Fitness und Rehapark, Mitschke Kunststoffwerk, Teppich Sailer, Marco Richter Finanzarchitekt, Hübner IT, Hartig Allgäuer Insektengitter.
• Bronze Sponsors (multiple)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerBronze tier sponsors including Autohaus Nieberle, Kälte Riefler, Käskuch, Zurich Gilg, Soundbar Glocke, Brunnenapotheke, WA Connections, Elektro Zech, Vino Kaufbeuren, Alpina Kälte, Sven Mayer Allfinanz, Haumayr Versicherung, Hörbiger, Zappe Kaufbeuren, Mouldtech, Maler Glas, Binzer Trockenbau, Baywa Haustechnik, Allgäuer Bauprofis, Baur Metzgerei, Nothelfer Landtechnik.
• Partner Sponsors (40+ local businesses)supportingGTM or Marketing Partner40+ local and regional businesses including Agip ENI gas station, Sixt Kaufbeuren, PVZ Rechtsanwälte, Konrad Kleiner, Heimtierbedarf Jahn, Taxi Kaufbeuren, Gasthof Stegmühle, Holz Kreuzer, Textilhaus Bonaventura Stammel, Martin Jäger GmbH, Jürgen Sellmann GmbH, and many more.
• Medienpartner (Media Partners)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partners providing extended coverage: Allgäuer Zeitung (newspaper), Allgäu.tv, ilumy.de, Radio Allgäu Hit, Sportdeutschland.tv, Wir Sind Kaufbeuren. Services include game reporting, advertising for home games, ticket giveaways, special publications, professional photography, trailers and image films, live streaming, and game summaries.
• Top 100 Club MembersmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerMembers of the ESVK 'Top 100 Club' including Bürsten Walter, Mindelheimer Zeitung, Körperwerk Mauerstetten, Lotto Bayern Vivell, Ernst Hörbelt, CTF Computerhaus, Varmeco, Allgäeu Solution, InsideAll Agentur, Möbel Herbein, Covereo, Elektro Blösch, Eisen Fendt, Mevosys, Die Orthopädie, Sprint, SteRa Immobilien, PanoCap, FIENG Services, Pelzer Bau, Wepro, Haba Immo, Stadtmüller Burkhardt Graf Architekten, Daurer Haase, WA Connections, Rotima, Lucki Sound, Optik Kutter, Herter, SAF Versicherungsmakler, Autohaus Allgäu, VR Bank Augsburg-Ostallgäu, Felix Hotels, McDonald's, Ansorge Logistik, Linara, AK Industry, Landgasthof Hubertus, Tratberger, ATG, Michael Kasper, Raiss Baustoffe, Öko Haus, MINCK Elektrotechnik.
• SpradeTVcoreTechnology or IntegrationOfficial streaming partner for live broadcasts of all home games. Provides Full-HD livestream production from the energie schwaben arena.
• Ticket-OnlineShopcoreTechnology or IntegrationOfficial online ticket sales platform partner for ESVK ticket distribution.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubesprade.tv/de
• Facebookfacebook.com/ESVKNachwuchs
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/esvk-spielbetriebs-gmbh
• Instagraminstagram.com/esv_kaufbeuren
• TikToktiktok.com/@esv_kaufbeuren46
• Xx.com/ESVKaufbeuren

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 ESV Kaufbeuren