What ERC Ingolstadt does

ERC Ingolstadt Eishockeyclub GmbH is a privately held professional ice hockey club headquartered in Ingolstadt, Bavaria, Germany, that competes in the PENNY DEL (Deutsche Eishockey Liga), Germany's top-tier professional ice hockey league, entering its 25th season in 2026/27. The club plays its home games at the SATURN-Arena, a 4,579-capacity multi-purpose venue opened in September 2003 that features eight VIP loges, press facilities, and three catering stations. The organization operates through a professional team, a youth development pipeline via the Audi Sportakademie (which produced the 2023/24 U15 German Champion and U20 German Vice-Champion teams), and a registered foundation club (ERC Ingolstadt Panther e.V.). Under Managing Director Claus Liedy and Sport Director Tim Regan, the club runs a diversified revenue model spanning season and single-game ticket sales (priced €248–€1,150 across eight-plus tiers), VIP/hospitality packages, corporate sponsorships anchored by a Club 64 network of 30+ local businesses and named partners such as MediaMarktSaturn, Audi, and DB Regio Bayern, merchandise sales (own online shop, Fairplay Hockey Shop physical retail, game-worn eBay auctions), food and beverage, and arena operations including 576-space parking and venue rentals. Ticketing is distributed via the CTS Eventim online and phone channel plus on-site box office; fan engagement is supported by a mobile app, Panther TV video platform, social channels, and email. The club participates in the Champions Hockey League (CHL) for international competition and maintains a sustainability strategy aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals. The customer base is local and regional, segmented into individual fans, season ticket holders, and corporate partners, with no disclosed reliance on a single enterprise customer.

Name

ERC Ingolstadt

Legal name

ERC Ingolstadt Eishockeyclub GmbH

Website

https://erc-ingolstadt.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1964

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ERC Ingolstadt Eishockeyclub GmbH is a privately held professional ice hockey club based in Ingolstadt, Bavaria, competing in Germany's top-tier PENNY DEL. It serves regional fans, season ticket holders, and corporate partners through ticketing, VIP hospitality, sponsorships, merchandise, and arena operations at the 4,579-seat SATURN-Arena.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Ingolstadt

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue generated from single game tickets, season tickets (Dauerkarten), VIP tickets, and playoff tickets sold for home games at the SATURN-Arena. The club offers various pricing categories including standing room, seated categories 1-4, with discounts for students, seniors, and youth.
2. Sponsorships & Partnerships: Corporate partnerships through Club 64 membership program, named sponsors, arena naming rights (SATURN-Arena), and various commercial partnerships with local and regional businesses. The club has a dedicated sales team for partner acquisition.
3. Merchandise & Online Shop: Sales of fan merchandise including jerseys, apparel, and accessories through the online shop and the Fairplay Hockey Shop physical retail location.
4. Food & Beverage: Catering and hospitality services at games including three large catering stations and distributed beverage stands within the SATURN-Arena.
5. Arena Operations: Parking services (Parkhaus Arena with 576 spaces), VIP loge rentals (8 VIP loges), and event venue rentals for non-game events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

ERC Ingolstadt operates a professional ice hockey club competing in the PENNY DEL (Deutsche Eishockey Liga). The club sells single-game tickets, season tickets, and VIP hospitality packages for home games at the SATURN-Arena (4,579 capacity), and runs an online and physical merchandise shop. It also operates a youth development program (Audi Sportakademie), corporate partnership network (Club 64), and digital engagement channels including a fan app and Panther TV video platform.

Product overview

ERC Ingolstadt operates as a professional ice hockey club competing in the PENNY DEL (Deutsche Eishockey Liga), with its digital presence centered around erc-ingolstadt.de. The primary offerings include ticket products (single-game tickets, season tickets with early-bird and playoff options, VIP packages), an official online shop for merchandise and game-worn collectibles, the ERC Ingolstadt Fan-App for mobile engagement, and the Audi Sportakademie youth development program. The SATURN-Arena (4,579 capacity) serves as the home venue. A new resale platform for season tickets launches in 2026/27, and Panther TV provides video content including match highlights and press conferences.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Dauerkarte (Season Ticket) 2026/2027 Annual season ticket packages covering all ERC Ingolstadt home games at the SATURN-Arena during the 2026/2027 PENNY DEL season. Available in standing room, seating categories 1-4, wheelchair-accessible, and youth/family tiers, with early-bird discounts and optional playoff inclusion. For individual sports fans, families, and dedicated supporters in the Ingolstadt/Bavaria region.
• Einzelkarten (Single Game Tickets) Individual match tickets for ERC Ingolstadt PENNY DEL home games at the SATURN-Arena. Sold through the online Eventim ticket shop, telephone hotline, arena box office, and Fairplay Hockey Shop. For individual fans and casual attendees who do not commit to a full season ticket.
• VIP Tickets (VIP Karten) Premium hospitality tickets granting access to VIP areas and the eight VIP loges at the SATURN-Arena for individual fans, corporate guests, and premium hospitality clients attending PENNY DEL home games.
• ERC Ingolstadt Online Merchandise Shop Official e-commerce store at erc-ingolstadt.shop selling fan merchandise including jerseys, apparel, accessories, and game-worn collectibles (auctioned via eBay). For individual Panthers fans and collectors across the Ingolstadt/Bavaria region and beyond.
• Audi Sportakademie (Youth Academy) Youth development program under the ERC Ingolstadt Nachwuchs (youth) section, providing structured training, coaching, and competitive pathways across age categories (including U15 and U20 teams) to develop young hockey players for professional careers. Named in partnership with Audi.
• ERC Ingolstadt Fan-App Official smartphone application for iOS and Android providing news, exclusive content, competitions, prize draws, and updates for registered Panthers fans and season ticket holders.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SATURN-ArenacoreOthersMulti-functional arena venue (4,579 capacity) opened September 2003, serving as the home venue for ERC Ingolstadt. Features VIP areas, press facilities, and catering stations. Located at Bei der Arena 5, Ingolstadt.
• CTS Eventim AG & Co. KGaAcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPrimary ticketing platform partner for online ticket sales, handling single game tickets, season tickets, and playoff tickets. Provides telephone hotline services for ticket purchases.
• Fairplay Hockey ShopminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOfficial equipment and merchandise partner. Physical retail location also serves as outlet for single game tickets. Located in Ingolstadt area.
• Goals for KidsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial responsibility initiative. ERC Ingolstadt supports the Goals for Kids charity organization focusing on youth development and community engagement.
• MediaMarktSaturncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner for VIP loge sponsorship (MediaMarktSaturn-Loge), joint marketing activities including prize draws, fan engagement campaigns, and Xmas-Loge initiative.
• DB Regio BayernminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMobility partner for fan transportation. Co-sponsor of 'Panther des Jahres' (Player of the Year) award with travel vouchers as prizes. Partner for sustainable travel initiatives.
• Audi SportakademiecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth development academy partnership. Named sponsorship of the ERC Ingolstadt youth development program (Audi Sportakademie) for training and developing young hockey players.
• PENNY DELcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeague membership. ERC Ingolstadt is a member club of PENNY DEL (PENNY Deutsche Eishockey Liga), Germany's top professional ice hockey league, entering its 25th season.
• Champions Hockey League (CHL)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational club competition participation. ERC Ingolstadt participates in the Champions Hockey League, competing against European club champions.
• Club 64 MemberscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness partner network program with 30+ local companies including construction firms, service providers, retailers, hotels, healthcare providers, automotive businesses, and more. Provides mutual business networking and sponsorship benefits.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Kölner Haie: Long-established PENNY DEL club. Direct league peer with the same ticket/sponsorship/merchandise revenue model, competing for national sponsor share and league positioning.
• Augsburger Panther: PENNY DEL club and Bavarian regional peer. Competes for the same regional fan base, sponsors, and media attention within Bavaria, with a similar mid-market arena footprint and revenue mix.
• Adler Mannheim: Historic PENNY DEL powerhouse. Direct league competitor with multiple German titles; comparable ticket, sponsorship, and merchandise revenue architecture, but at materially larger scale.
• Straubing Tigers: PENNY DEL club referenced on ERC Ingolstadt's schedule. Mid-sized arena, comparable ticket/sponsorship revenue model, and similar dependence on local corporate partnerships.
• EHC Red Bull München: Fellow PENNY DEL club and direct on-ice competitor (referenced on ERC Ingolstadt's match schedule). Comparable in revenue model (tickets, sponsorships, F&B, merchandise) and in operating a single home arena in Germany; differentiated by a much larger budget and arena capacity.
• Grizzlys Wolfsburg: PENNY DEL club referenced on ERC Ingolstadt's schedule. Similar mid-market positioning, single-arena revenue model, and corporate sponsorship dependency anchored by a regional employer base.
• Iserlohn Roosters: PENNY DEL club and direct league peer. Comparable single-arena operations and revenue mix, with a similar regional sponsorship dependency and mid-tier market position.
• Nürnberg Ice Tigers: PENNY DEL club based in nearby Franconia/Bavaria, sharing regional sponsor and media overlap with ERC Ingolstadt. Operates a similar ticket, sponsorship, and merchandise revenue model around a single home arena.
• Löwen Frankfurt: PENNY DEL club in a major metropolitan market. Direct league competitor with comparable revenue streams; Frankfurt's larger metro base gives it a different scale dynamic versus ERC Ingolstadt's mid-sized regional footprint.

Broad incumbents

• Eisbären Berlin: One of Germany's most successful ice hockey clubs and a DEL incumbent. Operates the same revenue streams (tickets, sponsorships, F&B, merchandise) but at significantly larger scale and a major metropolitan arena.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ercingolstadt

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 ERC Ingolstadt