What Esporte Clube Bahia does

Esporte Clube Bahia, founded in 1931 and headquartered in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, is a professional football club operating under the Sociedade Anônima do Futebol (SAF) corporate structure since 2023 and competing in the Brasileirão Série A. The club is affiliated with City Football Group, the global multi-club ownership network that includes Manchester City, NYCFC, Girona, Melbourne City, and Yokohama F. Marinos, giving Bahia access to international scouting, youth development methodology, and cross-club player pathways. Bahia operates men's, women's (Mulheres de Aço), and under-20 (Pivetes de Aço) teams and trains at the CT Evaristo de Macedo facility in Dias d'Ávila, with matchday operations at the Itaipava Arena Fonte Nova under a naming-rights agreement with Casa de Apostas.

The club runs a diversified digital ecosystem anchored by the EC Bahia mobile application, the Sócio Esquadrão subscription membership program (with tiers Esquadrão de Aço, Na Fonte, and da Sorte), the TV Bahêa YouTube content platform, and the Bahêa TV+ subscription streaming service. Commercial operations include 11 owned physical retail stores across Bahia state, the Loja Esquadrão e-commerce platform, a Bahia Experience premium hospitality service, and a licensed merchandise network of more than 40 active partners covering apparel, accessories, food/beverage, and novelty items. The Bahia Census fan intelligence platform and Esquadrão Zone engagement platform extend the data and digital surface area.

Revenue is generated across four primary streams: recurring membership fees, matchday ticketing, merchandise sales, and a multi-sector sponsorship portfolio that includes Puma (kit supplier), Esportiva Bet, Casa de Apostas, BYD, BMG, Neoenergia, and AXI. Community-facing initiatives include the Bora Bahêa Meu Bairro social program serving approximately 1,200 children aged 6-14 across Salvador neighborhoods and the Bahia na Comunidade platform, which support ESG positioning and brand differentiation. Leadership is headed by CEO Raul Aguirre, with men's team coaching led by Rogério Ceni.

Name

Esporte Clube Bahia

Legal name

Esporte Clube Bahia SAF

Website

https://esporteclubebahia.com.br

Company type

Private

Founded year

1931

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Esporte Clube Bahia is a Brazilian professional football club founded in 1931 in Salvador, Bahia, competing in the Brasileirão Série A as part of the City Football Group network, serving fans through matchday operations, a multi-tier membership program, merchandise retail, and diversified sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional football club (sports entertainment and licensed merchandise)

NAICS

Sports Teams and Clubs (711211)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Team Sports Matches (Club & National) (MPAGAMAB)

Keywords

• Professional football club
• Sports entertainment
• Fan membership programs
• Licensed sports merchandise
• Football content streaming

Headquarters

HQ city

Camaçari

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees (Sócio Esquadrão): Recurring membership program with multiple tiers (Esquadrão de Aço, Esquadrão Na Fonte, Esquadrão da Sorte) offering exclusive benefits, priority access to tickets, and discounts on merchandise.
2. Matchday Revenue: Ticket sales for home matches at Arena Fonte Nova, including premium seating and hospitality packages.
3. Merchandise Sales: Official licensed merchandise through physical stores and e-commerce platform, with licensing program for third-party products.
4. Sponsorships: Sponsorship agreements with sports betting, automotive, financial services, energy, and consumer brands displayed on team kit and in-stadium.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Esporte Clube Bahia is a professional football club that competes in Brasileirão Série A with men's, women's, and youth teams. The club sells memberships through its Sócio Esquadrão program, official merchandise through physical stores and e-commerce, premium hospitality through Bahia Experience, and subscription video content through Bahêa TV+. It also operates a licensed product network, matchday ticketing at Arena Fonte Nova, and sponsorship inventory on team kits and in-stadium assets.

Product overview

Esporte Clube Bahia operates a comprehensive digital ecosystem centered around its football club operations. The core offering consists of the EC Bahia official mobile application, which serves as the primary fan engagement platform integrating news, match coverage, ticketing, and merchandise access. Supporting digital services include TV Bahêa for video content distribution, Bahêa TV+ for premium subscription content, and the Sócio Esquadrão membership program providing exclusive fan benefits. Commercial services encompass official merchandise retail through Loja Esquadrão (physical stores and e-commerce), Bahia Experience for premium hospitality, and entertainment platforms like Esquadrão Zone and Esquadrão Arena Kids. Community initiatives include the Bora Bahêa Meu Bairro social project. The club also maintains the Mundo Bahia media platform and Bahia Census fan intelligence tool.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• EC Bahia Official Mobile App

Quantifiable outcome

• 37.3 tonnes CO2 avoided through renewable energy certification
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

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

• AXIcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAxi is an online Forex and CFD trading company that maintains a sports sponsorship partnership with Esporte Clube Bahia. The partnership is part of Axi's strategy to associate with major football clubs globally, including Manchester City, Man City Women, Girona FC, and Bahia.
• City Football GroupflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity Football Group is the parent company of Esporte Clube Bahia SAF. The group operates a network of football clubs including Manchester City FC, New York City FC, Melbourne City FC, Girona FC, Yokohama F. Marinos, and others. Bahia benefits from global methodology, youth development systems, and international player pathways.
• NeoenergiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnergy partnership where Neoenergia supplies 100% renewable energy to CT Evaristo de Macedo through the Free Energy Market. This partnership enabled Bahia to achieve I-REC certification for renewable energy and avoid 37.3 tonnes of CO2 emissions in 2025.
• QPC IncorporadoramajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for development of City Football Academy Bahia and adjacent residential project. A nursery of 3,000 native seedlings has been inaugurated on the site. Project includes environmental regeneration and community legacy components.
• PumacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial kit supplier and sponsor providing match kits, training apparel, and official merchandise production with Puma branding.
• Casa de Apostas Arena Fonte NovacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerNaming rights partner for the stadium and official ticket sales platform for home matches. Operates matchday ticket sales through dedicated platform.
• Esportiva BetcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSports betting sponsor with logo placement on team kit.
• BYDmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerAutomotive sponsor with branding on official channels.
• BMGmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerFinancial services sponsor with logo placement on official platform.
• ITS BrasilminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTechnology/connectivity partner providing services to club.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Santos FC: Santos FC is a traditional Brazilian Série A/B club with a globally recognized player-development brand (notably Pelé, Neymar). It is highly comparable to Bahia in operating model: professional football, multi-tiered membership, merchandise, and heavy reliance on player trading for revenue.
• Clube Atlético Mineiro: Atlético-MG is a top-tier Brazilian football club competing in Brasileirão Série A with a strong commercial operation, modern arena (Arena MRV), and active membership and merchandise programs. Comparable to Bahia as a Série A peer with similar product/market focus, though at materially larger scale.
• Cruzeiro Esporte Clube: Cruzeiro is a major Brazilian football club that converted to the SAF structure in 2024, similar to Bahia's 2023 restructuring. Comparable in operating model (Série A football, SAF corporate structure, commercial partnerships, membership program) and serves as a relevant benchmark for the post-SAF valuation trajectory of a large Brazilian club.
• Club Athletico Paranaense: Club Athletico Paranaense is a Série A Brazilian club known for its modern Arena da Baixada, sophisticated membership program, and strong commercial operation. Comparable to Bahia as a top-tier Brazilian club focused on commercial optimization and brand development beyond matchday.
• Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas: Botafogo is a Rio-based club that converted to SAF structure in 2022 and was acquired by an external investor group, attracting significant capital and competitive upside. It is the closest comparable to Bahia in terms of mid-tier Brazilian club with modernized corporate structure and external capital partnership, and a useful reference for SAF-era commercial performance.
• São Paulo FC: São Paulo FC is one of Brazil's traditional top-tier clubs with extensive membership, sponsorship, and merchandise operations. The presence of Rogério Ceni (former São Paulo legend) as Bahia's head coach creates a direct operational link and a strong benchmark for upper-tier Brazilian commercial football.
• Esporte Clube Vitória: EC Vitória is Bahia's principal regional rival based in Salvador, Bahia, competing in the same Campeonato Baiano state league and historically in the Brasileirão. It is the most direct comparable in terms of city, regional fan base, and competitive context, particularly for the Ba-Vi derby.
• Grêmio FBPA: Grêmio is a major Brazilian Série A club that transitioned to SAF in 2023. It is directly comparable to Bahia in operating model (top-tier football, SAF structure, multi-channel revenue, regional powerhouse brand) and provides a relevant commercial benchmark for post-SAF Brazilian clubs.

Broad incumbents

• Clube de Regatas do Flamengo: Flamengo is Brazil's largest football club by fan base and revenue, competing in Brasileirão Série A. While much larger than Bahia, it is the benchmark Brazilian club for commercial model: membership (Sócio-Torcedor), digital ecosystem, multi-vertical sponsorships, and merchandise — all of which Bahia is scaling toward.

Regional players

• Sport Club do Recife: Sport Club do Recife is a Brazilian football club from the Northeast (Pernambuco) that has historically competed in Brasileirão Série A and B. It is comparable to Bahia as a regional Northeast club with passionate fan base, traditional brand, and similar commercial structure around memberships and matchday revenue.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@TvBahea
• Xx.com/ecbahia
• Facebookfacebook.com/ecbahia
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/esporte-clube-bahia

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Esporte Clube Bahia