VfR Aalen 1921

What VfR Aalen 1921 does

VfR Aalen 1921 e.V. is a registered association (eingetragener Verein) and traditional German football club based in Aalen, Baden-Württemberg, founded in 1921. After winning the Oberliga Baden-Württemberg in the 2025/26 season, the club secured promotion to the Regionalliga Südwest for the 2026/27 season and plays its home matches at the CENTUS Arena. The club operates a multi-vertical product portfolio anchored on its senior men's team and a structured youth development programme running from U11 through U19, delivered through the Widmann Fußballtalentzentrum and the forthcoming Fußball Eliteschule (applications opening 2027), with an annual summer football camp for children aged 6–13 and the Limes Helden kids club for ages 0–13.

The commercial model blends matchday revenue (single tickets and Nordtribüne/Ost season tickets, plus VIP packages for special events such as the 26 June 2026 legends match versus VfB Stuttgart), merchandising (online fan shop, matchday kiosks, gift cards), membership fees, and football camp participation fees, with corporate sponsorship as a primary revenue pillar. Sponsorship is structured across multiple tiers (Hauptsponsor Buduri, kit supplier Derbystar, exclusive partners ZEISS, Kreissparkasse Ostalb, Autohaus Widmann and Stadtwerke Aalen, plus the ~50-company 1921 Business Club), and the club operates a cross-promotional Jobbörse with sponsor job listings. Distribution is direct: online ticketing via Reservix, day-of-game cash desks at the CENTUS Arena, an in-house online fan shop, and a personalised direct-sales sponsorship team, all supported by a TYPO3 CMS website, CleverReach newsletters, and standard social media and stadium newspaper channels.

Name

VfR Aalen 1921

Legal name

VfR Aalen 1921 e.V.

Website

https://vfr-aalen.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1921

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

VfR Aalen 1921 e.V. is a traditional German football club in Aalen competing in the Regionalliga Südwest (2026/27), running a senior team, U11–U19 youth academy via the Widmann Fußballtalentzentrum, and supporter, merchandise, and sponsorship products for the Ostalb regional market.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Football Club

NAICS

Sports Teams and Clubs (711211), Spectator Sports (7112), Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Local Amateur Clubs & Community Sports Organizations (MPAKACAE)

Keywords

• Professional football club
• Youth football academy
• Match ticket sales
• Club merchandise
• Corporate sponsorship

Headquarters

HQ city

Aalen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Single-match day tickets (seat and standing) and season tickets (Nordtribüne, Stehplatz Ost) sold via online ticketing platform (Reservix) and at day-of-game cash desks. Revenue from regular matchday admissions and premium/VIP ticket packages for special events (e.g., legend matches).
2. Sponsorship & Advertising: Corporate sponsorship packages providing stadium brand presence (static banners, LED boards, Presenting Sponsor), VIP/business area access, print and online media exposure, and event entitlements. Sponsors categorized as Hauptsponsor (main sponsor), Exklusiv Partner, Ostalb Partner, VfR Partner, 1921 Business Club member, and VfR Unterstützer. Also includes job board (Jobbörse) sponsors featuring partner companies' job listings on the VfR website.
3. Membership Fees: Annual membership dues for club members. Kids-Club 'Limes Helden' membership for children aged 0–13 at €60/year with a one-time €15 enrollment fee, with a €43 discount if the child already has a standard club membership.
4. Merchandise & Fan Shop: Sale of club merchandise including jerseys, scarves, and other fan articles through an online fanshop, the matchday on-site fan shop, and the club office. Gift cards (Wertkarten) also available.
5. Youth Academy & Football Camp Fees: Revenue from the Widmann Fußballtalentzentrum (youth talent center) and the annual summer football camp for children aged 6–13, which charges a participation fee of €189 per camper.
6. Youth Team Hiring (Volunteer/Staff): The club recruits volunteer and paid positions for its youth academy (FTZ) — including head coaches, assistant coaches, fitness coaches, supervisors, scouts, and shuttle drivers — through an online application process on its website.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

VfR Aalen 1921 is a traditional German football club (eingetragener Verein) that fields a competitive men's first team in the Regionalliga Südwest, sells match tickets and season passes, runs a youth talent center (Widmann Fußballtalentzentrum) for ages U11 to U19, organizes football camps and kids-club events (Limes Helden), and offers fanshop merchandise, fanclub memberships, and corporate sponsorship packages. The club also operates community programs such as Stadion Blättle and Legendenspiel matches.

Product overview

VfR Aalen 1921 e.V. is a traditional German football club offering a unified portfolio centered on its professional football team competing in the Regionalliga Südwest. The club's product portfolio spans: (1) the 1. Mannschaft as the core competitive offering; (2) comprehensive youth development through the Jugend academy covering U11-U19; (3) seasonal football camps and the Limes Helden kids club for youth engagement; (4) matchday tickets, merchandise, and the stadium newspaper as supporter offerings; and (5) corporate sponsorship and advertising packages as revenue-generating products. All offerings converge at the CENTUS Arena, the club's home stadium.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Widmann Fußballtalentzentrum: Youth football talent center operated by VfR Aalen for developing regional football talents from youth to the senior team.

Products and services

• Regionalliga Südwest First Team Football Competitive men's first-team football matches in the Regionalliga Südwest, sold to local and regional football supporters as live sports entertainment at CENTUS Arena in Aalen.
• Match Tickets and Season Passes

Named customers12 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered primary, core, minor and secondary.

• BuduriprimaryGTM or Marketing PartnerBuduri is the main sponsor (Hauptsponsor) of VfR Aalen. As Hauptsponsor, Buduri receives primary branding presence on team kits and stadium assets, representing the club's most prominent commercial partner.
• DerbystarprimaryGTM or Marketing PartnerDerbystar is the official equipment supplier (Ausrüster) of VfR Aalen, providing match and training apparel for the club's teams.
• Autohaus WidmanncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAutohaus Widmann is an exclusive partner of VfR Aalen and co-operates the Widmann Fußballtalentzentrum, a dedicated youth football talent development center run in partnership with the club to identify and develop regional football talent.
• Kreissparkasse Ostalb (KSK Ostalb)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerKreissparkasse Ostalb is an exclusive partner of VfR Aalen. As a regional savings bank, KSK Ostalb supports the club and in turn receives prominent branding at the stadium and in club media.
• media touchcoreTechnology or Integrationmedia touch is the exclusive web development and hosting partner of VfR Aalen, responsible for the technical implementation and ongoing maintenance of the club's official website. Located in Aalen, media touch specializes in modern web development.
• ZEISScoreGTM or Marketing PartnerZEISS is an exclusive partner of VfR Aalen and also features its job and apprenticeship vacancies on the club's job board. ZEISS is a global optics and optoelectronics company headquartered in the region around Aalen.
• Stadtwerke AalencoreGTM or Marketing PartnerStadtwerke Aalen (municipal utility) is an exclusive partner of the club and also posts job vacancies on the VfR Aalen job board, cross-promoting career opportunities to the club's audience.
• VfB StuttgartminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVfB Stuttgart participated in a legend match against VfR Aalen on 26 June 2026 at the CENTUS Arena. The event brought together two Swabian football traditions for a commemorative weekend celebrating the club's return to the Regionalliga.
• 1921 Business Club MemberssecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerPremium sponsor tier consisting of approximately 50 regional companies including Kreisbau Ostalb, Abele, OKGO AG, Peschel Kran, BMA Anlagentechnik, Domo-Therm, Solar Zipser, EDEKA Miller, Goa Online, Jeutter, PWT Digital, and others. These members pay elevated sponsorship fees for enhanced visibility and networking at the club's B2B events.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• SV Waldhof Mannheim: Traditional Baden-Württemberg football club operating between 3. Liga and Regionalliga with a strong community supporter culture and tier-comparable matchday economics. Comparable in operating model and tier-ambition profile.
• SSV Ulm 1846 Fußball: Competing in the same Regionalliga Südwest from a comparable Swabian/Württemberg regional base, with similar community-rooted identity, youth academy footprint, and corporate sponsorship model. Closest tier-and-geography comparable.
• SG Sonnenhof Großaspach: Regionalliga Südwest club from Baden-Württemberg with a similar small-town identity, comparable sponsor pyramid, and youth development focus. Direct competitive peer for regional fan engagement and corporate sponsorship.
• Kickers Offenbach: Traditional German club at Regionalliga/3. Liga level with strong community roots, comparable membership model, and similar youth development emphasis. Tier-and-business-model peer.
• Bahlinger SC: Regionalliga Südwest club from a small Baden town, demonstrating the small-community football model with regional sponsors. Highly comparable in size, governance, and revenue mix.
• TSV Steinbach Haiger: Regionalliga Südwest club with community-rooted identity and tier-equivalent matchday economics. Comparable in sponsorship tier structure and youth academy operations.

Broad incumbents

• 1. FC Heidenheim 1846: Baden-Württemberg club now in the Bundesliga, demonstrating the upper-bound trajectory for ambitious regional Swabian clubs. Comparable in regional origin and youth-first philosophy, though at substantially greater scale.
• VfB Stuttgart 1893: Bundesliga club sharing the Swabian identity and regional Ostalb catchment. Competitor for regional sponsors and emotional fan mindshare; the recent legend match shows the direct cultural connection.
• SV Sandhausen: Baden-Württemberg club recently competing in higher tiers, comparable regional governance and sponsor structure. Useful as a near-upper-bound trajectory comparable.

Regional players

• Wormatia Worms: Regionalliga Südwest competitor from neighboring Rhineland-Palatinate with comparable small-city community football model and youth development orientation. Tier-comparable, regional peer.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/vfraalen1921

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 VfR Aalen 1921