What Krefeld Pinguine does

Krefeld Pinguine (legal entity: KEV Pinguine Eishockey GmbH) is a professional German ice hockey club headquartered at Westparkstraße 111, 47803 Krefeld, North Rhine-Westphalia. Founded in 1936, the club competes in the PENNY DEL — Germany's top-tier ice hockey league — having secured its license in June 2026 after four seasons in the second-tier DEL2. Home games are played at the 8,029-seat YAYLA Arena, where average attendance during the 2025/26 DEL2 season was 6,248 (~78% capacity). The club also operates the integrated amateur/youth program KEV 81 under the joint #unserweg brand, creating a talent pipeline from grassroots to professional level, and a renewed cooperation with Oberliga Nord club Hammer Eisbären for additional development minutes.

The product portfolio centers on live event experiences and is organized in three layers: (1) core competitive product — professional league matches and related content distributed via PinguineTV (YouTube); (2) direct ticketing and hospitality — single-game Tageskarten across seven price categories (PK1-PK7 at €8-€49), full Dauerkarten (€184-€1,127) including free ÖPNV in VRR, Friday/Sunday partial-season tickets, VIP seats and Logen (10-50 person capacity), and bundled hospitality packages with Hotel Krefelder Hof; (3) membership and community — PinguineClub (€69/year + €10 fee, 2,718 members) and KEVin KidsClub (€36/year + €5 fee). Supplementary offerings include arena tours, WhatsApp-delivered Stadiongruss announcements, and merchandise via the Westparkstraße fanshop.

The business model is multi-stream B2B/B2C with revenue from ticket sales (transaction), sponsorship (recurring tiered partnerships), memberships (subscription), and hospitality (one-off packages). Sponsorship is organized through a multi-tier structure anchored by main sponsor SWK (Stadtwerke Krefeld), with 10+ premium partners (Sparkasse Krefeld, Helios, Wohnstätte Krefeld, VW-Audi Borgmann, Fischbach Gruppe, etc.), team partners, KEV partners, businessclub partners, and media partners (Rheinische Post, Westdeutsche Zeitung, Sportdeutschland.tv). Customer segments span individual hockey fans and families (B2C), corporate sponsors seeking brand visibility and networking (B2B), and VIP/hospitality clients. Go-to-market combines sales-led direct acquisition (sponsoring team: Sören Mumme, Timo Lompa, Nina Werner) with community-led engagement through WhatsApp, PinguineTV, and membership programs. Distribution runs through the club's online ticket shop, YAYLA Arena box office, physical fanshop, and the TEAM PINGUINE SMB partnership program administered with BAES Deutschland GmbH.

Name

Krefeld Pinguine

Legal name

KEV Pinguine Eishockey GmbH

Website

https://krefeld-pinguine.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1936

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Krefeld Pinguine (KEV Pinguine Eishockey GmbH) is a professional German ice hockey club in Krefeld, newly promoted to the PENNY DEL for 2026/27, operating the 8,029-seat YAYLA Arena and serving fans, families, and corporate sponsors across North Rhine-Westphalia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Ice Hockey

NAICS

Spectator Sports (71121), Other Spectator Sports (711219)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Ice Hockey Leagues (MPAKAAAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Team Sports Matches (Club & National) (MPAGAMAB), Professional Live Sports Leagues & Tours (MPAGAMAA), Sports Events & Match Tickets (THAJAFAE)

Keywords

• Professional ice hockey
• Live sports entertainment
• Sports ticketing services
• Corporate sports sponsorship
• Fan membership programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Krefeld

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Single game tickets (day tickets) at various price categories (PK1-PK7), season tickets (Dauerkarten), Friday/Sunday season tickets, VIP seats and loges
2. Sponsorship & Partnerships: Main sponsor (SWK), premium partners, team partners, KEV partners, businessclub partners, and media partners at multiple tiers with corporate branding and networking benefits
3. Club Memberships: PinguineClub adult membership (69€ annually + 10€ one-time fee) and KEVin Kids Club (36€ annually + 5€ one-time fee) with benefits including free game entry, discounts, pre-sale rights
4. Hospitality Services: VIP seats, VIP loges (10-50 persons), hospitality packages including hotel accommodation with partner Hotel Krefelder Hof

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Krefeld Pinguine operates as a professional ice hockey club competing in the PENNY DEL (Germany's top league), playing home games at the 8,029-seat YAYLA Arena in Krefeld. The club sells live event experiences through single-game tickets, season tickets (full, Friday-only, and Sunday-only), VIP and hospitality packages, and arena tours, alongside adult and youth fan membership programs (PinguineClub and KEVin KidsClub) and corporate sponsorship packages under the TEAM Pinguine program.

Product overview

Krefeld Pinguine is a professional German ice hockey club competing in the PENNY DEL (Germany's top professional league) based in Krefeld, North Rhine-Westphalia. The organization's product portfolio centers on live event experiences at the YAYLA Arena (capacity 8,029) and comprises three layers: the core product (the professional ice hockey team and competitive match calendar), direct ticket and hospitality products (single-game Tageskarten, season Dauerkarten, Friday/Sunday-specific season tickets, VIP Seats and Logen, and Hospitality packages), and membership and community programs (PinguineClub for adult fans and KEVin KidsClub for youth). Supplementary offerings include arena tours, WhatsApp-based stadium greeting announcements, and PinguineTV video content. Corporate engagement is structured through the TEAM Pinguine sponsorship program with three partnership tiers. Ticket distribution is handled through an external online ticketing platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• TEAM PINGUINE: A business partnership program offering sponsorship packages in three tiers: Verbundenheit (Connectedness), Leidenschaft (Passion), and Tradition. Targeted at small and medium-sized businesses seeking engagement with the club.
• #unserweg
• PinguineClub
• KEVin KidsClub
• PinguineTV

Products and services

• Krefeld Pinguine Professional Ice Hockey Team The professional ice hockey team competes in the PENNY DEL at the YAYLA Arena in Krefeld, providing live professional hockey entertainment to fans in the North Rhine-Westphalia region.
• Tageskarten (Single Game Tickets) Single-game tickets sold across seven price categories (PK1-PK7) covering seated, standing, kids block, and wheelchair-accessible options, with a surcharge for top matches. Sold online, at the fanshop, and at the arena box office.
• Dauerkarte (Season Tickets) Full-season ticket packages for all home games in the 2026/27 PENNY DEL main round, priced across seven categories (PK1-PK7), including standing and wheelchair-accessible options, with free public transport (ÖPNV) in the VRR area.
• Freitags- und Sonntagsdauerkarte (Friday/Sunday Season Tickets) Specialized season tickets valid only for Friday (9 games for the price of 8) or Sunday (10 games for the price of 9) home games, with reduced pricing across all seven price categories.
• VIP-Tickets und Logen Premium seating experience including padded leather business seats, three-course buffet catering, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, separate entrance, live game broadcast in the business club, player appearances after matches, and reserved VIP parking for groups of four or more.
• Hospitality-Paket All-inclusive match experience bundled with overnight accommodation at Hotel Krefelder Hof, including game tickets, stadium tour on match day, and single or double room options for premium guests.
• PinguineClub Membership Official adult membership program priced at €69 annually plus €10 one-time fee, offering free entry to KEV 81 home games, shop discounts, ticket pre-sale rights, exclusive events, birthday surprise, and access to members-only experiences.
• KEVin KidsClub Membership Youth membership program for children up to age 17, priced at €36 annually plus €5 one-time fee, offering ticket pre-sale rights, exclusive club gifts, and family-oriented hockey experiences.
• Stadionführung (Arena Tours) Guided behind-the-scenes tours of the YAYLA Arena on match days, providing access to the penalty box, ice surface insights, and locker room atmosphere. Bookable in combination with day or season tickets.
• Stadiongruß (Stadium Greeting) Personalized public address greeting service allowing fans to submit a message that is delivered live by the stadium announcer during game stoppages via WhatsApp.
• TEAM Pinguine Business Partnership Program Corporate partnership program offering three tiers (Verbundenheit, Leidenschaft, Tradition) with networking opportunities, branded marketing placements, and lead generation services for small and medium-sized businesses, administered in partnership with BAES Deutschland GmbH.
• PinguineTV YouTube-based video content platform featuring behind-the-scenes footage, player interviews, match highlights, sustainability challenges, and original programming such as 'Das 4. Drittel', produced by the club's media team.

Quantifiable outcome

• Average 6,248 fans per home game during 2025/26 DEL2 season
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Hammer EisbärencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 July 2026Cooperation partnership in Oberliga Nord for player development. Young talents receive playing time and experience even when not in PENNY DEL roster. Entering second consecutive season of collaboration.
• KEV 81coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBase/stamm club partnership through #unserweg program. Integrated youth development concept combining amateur and professional hockey. Creates local talent pipeline and community identity. Fifth-star program on and off ice.
• SWK (Stadtwerke Krefeld)flagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerMain sponsor (Hauptsponsor). Long-term energy partner providing financial support. Active in Krefeld and Niederrhein markets with utilities, waste management, and transport services.
• Hotel Krefelder HofminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHospitality partner for away fans and hospitality packages. Offers hotel accommodation with arena proximity for game-day experiences.
• BAES Deutschland GmbHminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSpecialist for sponsor acquisition and lead generation in professional sports. Helps identify and acquire new TEAM PINGUINE corporate partners.
• PronovaBKKminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHealth partner supporting Pinktober & Movember cancer prevention initiatives and general health awareness campaigns.
• Hockey is DiversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership promoting diversity, inclusion, and social responsibility in hockey through action game days.
• Premium PartnerscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMulti-year sponsors including VW-Audi Borgmann, EGN Entsorgung Niederrhein, Fischbach Gruppe, Helios Gesundheit, Keppner Schulverpflegung, Kineto Physio, Mauritz Maschinenbau, Sparkasse Krefeld, Wohnstätte Krefeld, WS Bau Handel.
• Media PartnersminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCrevelt Media, ExtraTip, Rheinische Post, Sportdeutschland.tv (SETV), Störer, Westdeutsche Zeitung (WZ) providing media coverage and content distribution.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Iserlohn Roosters: PENNY DEL club from a comparable mid-sized German city, similar regional economic profile and arena capacity. Strongest like-for-like mid-tier peer for Krefeld Pinguine.
• Adler Mannheim: One of Germany's most storied PENNY DEL clubs operating in a similar mid-size market (Mannheim). Comparable in offering league play, season tickets, hospitality, and corporate sponsorships at a larger scale.
• Düsseldorfer EG: Historic German ice hockey club in nearby North Rhine-Westphalia. Direct PENNY DEL competitor with shared regional sponsorship market and comparable fan-base/membership history.
• Straubing Tigers: PENNY DEL mid-tier club with a comparable small-city market profile and corporate-driven revenue mix. Frequently used as a benchmark for sustainable mid-tier German ice hockey operations.
• Augsburger Panther: PENNY DEL club operating in a comparable mid-sized German city with similar attendance and sponsorship profile. Direct competitor in league play and in the second-tier sponsorship tier.
• Grizzlys Wolfsburg: PENNY DEL club backed by a major OEM sponsor (Volkswagen), demonstrating the corporate-anchor model that Krefeld employs with SWK. Direct comparable for sponsor-driven business structures.
• ERC Ingolstadt: PENNY DEL club from a similar mid-sized German industrial city. Comparable arena economics, corporate sponsor base, and member-driven community model.
• Eisbären Berlin: Historic PENNY DEL powerhouse and Germany's most successful modern ice hockey brand. Direct competitor in the league and operates the same product stack (tickets, season passes, VIP, sponsorships, memberships).
• Fischtown Pinguins Bremerhaven: Direct PENNY DEL competitor sharing the \"Pinguine\" branding. Other mid-tier German pro hockey club with similar arena capacity, sponsorship-driven business model, and regional fan base. Most direct comparable for Krefeld given parallel competitive positioning.

Regional players

• Löwen Frankfurt: PENNY DEL club from the Frankfurt/Rhine-Main region operating a similar arena-based live sports entertainment product. Comparable in size and recently promoted to PENNY DEL, providing a parallel market trajectory to Krefeld.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/KR.Pinguine

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 Krefeld Pinguine