1. FC Heidenheim 1846

What 1. FC Heidenheim 1846 does

1. FC Heidenheim 1846 is a German professional football club headquartered in Heidenheim an der Brenz in the Ostwürttemberg region of Baden-Württemberg. The club traces its formal foundation to 1846 and operates as a member-owned eingetragener Verein (e.V.) with more than 12,000 registered members. The current professional football entity was carved out of the broader Heidenheimer Sportbund 1846 in 2007 as a separate competitive and commercial vehicle.

The club's revenue model combines matchday, broadcasting, sponsorship, merchandising, and hospitality income. Matchday operations are anchored at the Voith-Arena, which has a stated capacity of approximately 15,000, with ticketing processed via an online shop operated by CTS Eventim. Commercial partnerships include MHP, Voith, Zeiss, and Puma, and merchandise is retailed through a dedicated Liha Werbung-operated outlet. Digital infrastructure comprises an official website, a mobile application, a customer-service chatbot (Melibo), and a Twitch channel dedicated to eFootball competitions.

On the field, the club has experienced a sharp two-year cycle: Bundesliga promotion in 2023, UEFA Conference League participation in 2023/24, and Bundesliga relegation following the 2025/26 season. Notable personnel movements include the departures of Kevin Müller to Schalke and Thomas Keller to Dresden. Operational continuity has been maintained by long-tenured executives, including Holger Sanwald, who has served the club for more than 30 years.

Name

1. FC Heidenheim 1846

Legal name

1. Fussballclub Heidenheim 1846 e. V.

Website

https://fc-heidenheim.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1846

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

1. FC Heidenheim 1846 is a member-owned German football club based in Heidenheim an der Brenz with 12,000+ members. The club plays at the Voith-Arena and competes professionally following Bundesliga promotion in 2023 and subsequent relegation after the 2025/26 season.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Football Club / Sports Entertainment

NAICS

Sports Teams and Clubs (711211), Spectator Sports (7112), Sporting Goods Retailers (459110), Cafeterias, Grill Buffets, and Buffets (722514)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Sporting & Athletic Goods, Nec (3949), Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)

akta.pro primary industry

Association Football (Soccer) Leagues (MPAKAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Team Sports Matches (Club & National) (MPAGAMAB), Sports Hospitality & Premium Experiences (VIP, Suites, Fan Zones) (MPAGAMAJ), Team & League Branded Merchandise Retail (Non-Apparel) (CRAMAOAF), Concession & Stadium / Arena Catering (THAFAIAG)

Keywords

• Professional football club
• Matchday ticketing
• Club membership program
• Sports merchandise sales
• Youth football academy

Headquarters

HQ city

Stuttgart

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Match Ticket Sales: The club generates revenue from the sale of day tickets, season tickets (Dauerkarten), VIP tickets, and group/hospitality packages for home and away Bundesliga/2.Bundesliga matches, DFB-Pokal matches, and the Max Liebhaber-Pokal tournament. Tickets are sold via the online ticket shop (ticket-onlineshop.com, operated by CTS EVENTIM), physical fan and ticket shops, and at the stadium box office.
2. Merchandise Sales: The club sells official merchandise (kits, fan articles, accessories) through the online fanshop (merchandising-onlineshop.com) and physical outlets. Puma is the kit supplier. Liha Werbung serves as the club's merchandise production partner.
3. Club Memberships: The club generates recurring revenue from membership fees. The club had over 12,000 members as of February 2025, making it the largest club in Ostwürttemberg. Membership provides benefits including ticket pre-sale rights, discounts, and exclusive content.
4. Sponsorship & Advertising: The club earns revenue from sponsorship agreements with multiple partners at different tiers. Main sponsor: MHP (Management- und IT-Beratung). Stadium naming rights: Voith (Voith-Arena). Kit supplier: Puma. Other named partners: Zeiss, Hartmann (NLZ naming rights), Varta, Stuttgarter Hofbräu, Stadtwerke Heidenheim, Lotto Baden-Württemberg, ROMA, Liha-Werbung, Kreissparkasse HDH, 11 Teamsports, Bierschneider. Sponsorship includes LED advertising, banner placements, and logo visibility across the stadium, website, and team kits.
5. Hospitality & VIP: The club sells VIP tickets and Sparkassen BusinessClub (business hospitality) packages for matchdays, generating premium revenue above standard ticket sales.
6. Albstüble Stadium Restaurant: The Albstüble is a stadium restaurant and catering facility at the Voith-Arena open on matchdays and regular operating hours (Mon-Sat 11:00-22:00, Sun/public holidays 11:00-21:00). It generates catering revenue on matchdays and during regular operations.
7. Stadionführungen & Events: The club generates revenue from hosting events at the Voith-Arena beyond regular matchdays, including corporate events and special matchday events such as the Max Liebhaber-Pokal and FCH Familientag activities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

1. FC Heidenheim 1846 is a professional football club that competes in the Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga and sells live professional football matchday entertainment at the Voith-Arena in Heidenheim an der Brenz. It complements matchday operations with official merchandise (Puma kits and fan articles), paid club memberships, youth football development (Paule Bande kids club, Schlossberg Jugend, HARTMANN NLZ), corporate hospitality (Sparkassen BusinessClub, VIP tickets), and ancillary services such as the Albstüble stadium restaurant and fan welfare programs (PANAMA, Fanbeirat).

Product overview

1. FC Heidenheim 1846 is a German football club that operates a multi-channel digital product portfolio centered on its official website (fc-heidenheim.de), mobile app, and integrated service platforms. The core digital offering includes a ticket shop powered by Eventim, a merchandise online shop in partnership with Liha Werbung, FCH CLUB TV for video content, and a newsletter service via CleverReach. Supporting products include membership management (Campai), youth programs (Schlossberg Jugend, Paule Bande kids club), holiday football camps, fan services (PANAMA support), and stadium hospitality (Albstüble, Voith-Arena). The club maintains a digital ecosystem combining e-commerce, content delivery, fan engagement, and membership services across web, mobile, and email channels.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Schlossberg Jugend: Youth club for members aged 13-17 offering exclusive experiences and stadium events.
• Paule Bande
• FCH Fanbeirat
• Voith-Arena

Products and services

• Match Tickets (Bundesliga / 2. Bundesliga / DFB-Pokal / Max Liebhaber-Pokal)

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 12,000 members as of February 2025 — largest club in Ostwürttemberg
• +5 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration15 records

AI capability2 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and regional.

• MHP (Management- und IT-Beratung GmbH)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerMHP is the club's main sponsor (Hauptsponsor), appearing prominently on the front of the team kit and across the club's digital and physical assets. MHP's logo is featured at the top of the sponsorship pyramid on the club website and is the most visible sponsor brand.
• VoithcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVoith holds the naming rights to the club's home stadium (Voith-Arena, formerly Albstadion) and is a long-standing partner of the club. The stadium has been the club's home since 1972. Voith's logo appears in the primary tier of the sponsorship pyramid.
• ZeisscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerZeiss is a club partner with advertising banners on the club website. The partnership includes banner placements and branding across the club's digital channels.
• Hartmann (Hartmann International)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHartmann holds the naming rights to the club's HARTMANN NachwuchsLeistungsZentrum (NLZ / youth academy), which is a key strategic investment in youth development. The partnership reflects Hartmann's long-term commitment to the club's talent pipeline.
• PumacoreOthersPuma is the official kit supplier of 1. FC Heidenheim 1846, providing all match kits, training gear, and associated apparel for the professional team and staff. Puma kits are sold in the club's official merchandise store.
• VartaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVarta appears in the club's sponsorship pyramid and provides advertising support. The partnership contributes to the club's commercial revenue.
• Stuttgarter HofbräuminorGTM or Marketing PartnerStuttgarter Hofbräu is a beverage partner featured in the club's sponsorship pyramid with advertising presence at the stadium and on digital channels.
• Stadtwerke HeidenheimregionalGTM or Marketing PartnerStadtwerke Heidenheim is a regional utility partner of the club, appearing in the sponsorship pyramid. As a local public utility, the partnership reflects community ties.
• Lotto Baden-WürttembergregionalGTM or Marketing PartnerLotto BW is a state lottery partner of the club, featured in the sponsorship pyramid. The partnership includes logo visibility and community connection.
• ROMAminorOthersROMA appears as a club partner in the sponsorship pyramid. Nature of partnership (product/service or financial) is not specified.
• Liha WerbungcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLiha Werbung is the club's merchandise production partner, responsible for manufacturing official FCH fan articles including commercial-run fan merchandise. The partnership is co-developed with the active fanscene for fan-produced articles (up to 30 units per run exempt from commercial restrictions). Liha Werbung also operates the FCH Fanshop-Mobil at events.
• Kreissparkasse HDH (Kreissparkasse Heidenheim)regionalGTM or Marketing PartnerKreissparkasse HDH is a regional banking partner with a named presence (Sparkassen BusinessClub) in the club's hospitality offerings. The partnership reflects local financial institution support for the club.
• 11 TeamsportsminorOthers11 Teamsports appears as a club partner in the sponsorship pyramid.
• BierschneiderminorOthersBierschneider appears as a club partner in the sponsorship pyramid.
• CTS EVENTIM Sports GmbHcoreTechnology or IntegrationCTS EVENTIM operates the club's official online ticket shop (ticket-onlineshop.com) and provides the ticketing infrastructure for all matches. The partnership includes payment processing (SEPA direct debit, credit cards) and secondary market ticketing. EVENTIM also provides analytics tools used on the club's website.
• PAIR Finance GmbHminorOthersPAIR Finance is an debt collection agency used by the club when customers fail to pay for tickets, merchandise, or membership fees despite reminders. Data (name, address, claim amount, contract data) may be shared with PAIR Finance for the purpose of debt enforcement.
• audius GmbHminorOthersaudius GmbH (Mercedesstraße 31, 71384 Weinstadt) is the club's appointed Data Protection Officer (Datenschutzbeauftragter), as required under GDPR Art. 37.
• FKP ScorpiominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFKP Scorpio originally created the 'PANAMA' fan welfare concept for music festivals. The club adapted this concept for the stadium context in partnership with FKP Scorpio to provide a safe space for fans experiencing discomfort, threats, discrimination, or harassment at matches.
• ADFC Heidenheim / Stadt Heidenheim / Landkreis HeidenheimminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe club participates in the STADTRADELN campaign jointly organized by the Stadt Heidenheim, Landkreis Heidenheim, and ADFC Heidenheim in cooperation with the RadKULTUR initiative of the Baden-Württemberg transport ministry. The club fields its own cycling team for the 21-day campaign (13 June – 3 July 2026) to promote sustainable mobility and climate protection.
• Fanprojekt HeidenheimcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFanprojekt Heidenheim is a fan project organization that collaborates with the club on the Fanbeirat (fan council) and broader fan support initiatives. It is co-responsible for the Fan-Charta and participates in the Stadionverbotskommission (Stadium Ban Commission).
• Dr. Carsten Thiel von Herff (External Trust Lawyer)minorOthersDr. Carsten Thiel von Herff serves as the club's external trust lawyer (Vertrauensanwalt) for the whistleblower system (Hinweisgebersystem). He receives reports of misconduct confidentially, with anonymity guaranteed if desired, and operates independently from the club.
• Aktionsbündnis Fußball-Blinden-ReportageminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe club partners with the Aktionsbündnis Fußball-Blinden-Reportage to provide live audio commentary for blind and visually impaired fans at matches. Trained reporters narrate the game in real time, enabling visually impaired fans to follow the match experience.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• TSG 1899 Hoffenheim: Bundesliga club from a small Baden-Württemberg town (Sinsheim) with corporate backing (SAP/Dietmar Hopp). Comparable in small-town identity and regional corporate sponsor profile, though with materially larger financial resources.

Direct peers

• SC Freiburg: German Bundesliga club with a comparable small-city identity (Freiburg im Breisgau), strong community membership culture, owned stadium, and a track record of punching above its sporting weight relative to market size. Closest analogue to FCH's small-market Bundesliga-to-2.Bundesliga trajectory.
• FC Augsburg: Bavarian Bundesliga club competing from a smaller regional market with regional industrial sponsors. Like FCH, it has oscillated between Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga and operates with a community-first, member-supported model.
• 1. FC Union Berlin: Berlin-based club that rose from lower divisions to Bundesliga on the strength of a fan-owned e.V. structure and community engagement programs. Comparable to FCH in membership-driven governance and qualitative fan-engagement model.
• SpVgg Greuther Fürth: Small-market German club playing predominantly in 2. Bundesliga with limited catchment area, mirroring FCH's small-addressable-market profile and 2. Bundesliga status following relegation.
• SV Darmstadt 98: Small-market club that experienced a recent Bundesliga promotion and relegation cycle. Comparable to FCH's small-stadium, small-city profile and yo-yo trajectory between divisions.
• 1. FSV Mainz 05: Mid-sized Bundesliga club with a stable regional identity and member-owned e.V. structure, long-tenured management (analogous to FCH's 30+ year leadership), and a comparable commercial revenue profile anchored by regional industrial sponsors.
• FC Schalke 04: Large historical German club currently competing in 2. Bundesliga after relegation from Bundesliga — analogous sporting trajectory to FCH, and the specific destination of FCH's long-tenured goalkeeper Kevin Müller. Comparable in member-owned e.V. governance and 2. Bundesliga status.
• VfL Bochum: Smaller-market German club that has yo-yoed between Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga, with comparable matchday and community-driven revenue scale. A relevant comparable for FCH's near-term sporting outlook.

Regional players

• Karlsruher SC: Baden-Württemberg-based club playing in 2. Bundesliga. Same operating geography as FCH and a natural regional rival for sponsorship, media, and fan overlap within Baden-Württemberg.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/FCH1846
• YouTubeyoutube.com/FCHpodcast
• Facebookfacebook.com/FCH1846
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fch1846
• Instagraminstagram.com/fch_1846
• TikToktiktok.com/fch_achtzehn_46

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 1. FC Heidenheim 1846