Cercle des Nageurs de Marseille

What Cercle des Nageurs de Marseille does

Cercle des Nageurs de Marseille (CNM) is a French non-profit aquatic sports association founded in 1921 and headquartered at 1 Rue des Catalans, Marseille. The club fields competitive programs in swimming and water polo across an age pipeline that begins with the open-access Ecole Aquatique for children born 2017–2021 (€290/year), runs through Natation Jeunes / Water-polo Jeunes youth programs and Ecole de Natation / Ecole de Water-polo development stages, and culminates in the Natation Elite and Water-polo Elite teams that compete in French national championships, the Coupe de France, the EuroCup, and the Champions League. CNM is the most titled sports club in France in water polo, holding 43 French Championship titles (5 consecutive as of May 2025), 16 Coupe de France trophies, and 2 EuroCup titles (2019 and 2026). It produced a record 21 athletes for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

The club operates Olympic-standard training infrastructure, including the Bassin Pierre Garsau as a competitive water-polo venue capable of hosting European-level fixtures. Surrounding the sports core, CNM runs an ancillary commercial stack: an on-site restaurant (O Cercle), a Shopify-based e-shop for branded merchandise, a club museum, venue/event rental, and ticketed matchday operations via Billetweb. Revenue diversification is supplemented by a deep sponsorship portfolio — flagship partners CMA CGM, PUMA, and ARENA, plus mid-tier and minor partners across financial services (Crédit Agricole Alpes Provence, CIC, Caisse des Dépôts, Smalt Capital), industrials (EDF, Eiffage, Corsica Linea, Nestlé Waters, Pernod Ricard), and public-sector grants from the Ville de Marseille, Conseil Départemental des Bouches-du-Rhône, and Région Sud Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur. The 2026 extension into premium hospitality — an Air France ephemeral restaurant on the club terrace in July–August 2026 — illustrates an explicit effort to leverage the venue asset beyond traditional sport ticketing.

CNM's go-to-market is community-led and location-anchored: membership enrollment is performed at the reception desk or via the Odoo member portal, event tickets are sold through Billetweb, and reach is amplified by earned media around championship runs and Olympic participation. Pricing is publicly disclosed only for the entry-level Ecole Aquatique tier; general and elite-program pricing is not published.

Name

Cercle des Nageurs de Marseille

Legal name

Cercle des Nageurs de Marseille

Website

https://cnmarseille.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Cercle des Nageurs de Marseille (CNM) is a 1921-founded French non-profit aquatic sports club in Marseille operating swimming and water-polo programs from youth entry through elite professional level, supported by ticketed events, an on-site restaurant, a merchandise shop, and flagship sponsors including CMA CGM, PUMA, and ARENA.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aquatic Sports Club Services

NAICS

Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (71394), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131), All Other Amusement and Recreation Industries (71399)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Sailing & Water Sports Teams/Clubs (Sailing, Rowing, Surfing) (MPAKABAH)

Keywords

• Swimming club
• Water polo club
• Aquatic sports training
• Youth swimming programs
• Competitive swimming team

Headquarters

HQ city

Marseille

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: Annual membership fees for club members, including the Ecole Aquatique (aquatic school) at 290 euros per year including club merchandise (cap and Puma t-shirt). Covers swimming and water polo instruction for children and adults across all skill levels.
2. Event ticketing: Revenue from ticketed events including elite water polo matches (French Championship, European Champions League), swimming competitions, and gala evenings. Tickets sold via online platform (Billetweb).
3. O Cercle restaurant operations: The club operates an on-site restaurant (O Cercle) open to members and the public, generating F&B revenue. The restaurant also hosts ephemeral dining experiences such as the Air France pop-up restaurant (July-August 2026).
4. Merchandise and e-commerce: Club merchandise sold through the CNM e-shop (cn-marseille.myshopify.com), including branded apparel and accessories.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Cercle des Nageurs de Marseille is a non-profit aquatic sports club that delivers swimming and water polo programs across youth, recreational, and elite tiers, supplemented by ticketed competition events, an on-site restaurant, club merchandise, and venue rental. The club's activities are anchored at 1 Rue des Catalans, Marseille, and encompass the Ecole Aquatique for children aged 5-9, performance squads (Natation Elite, Natation Jeunes, Water-polo Elite), and entry into French national and European-level competitions.

Product overview

Cercle des Nageurs de Marseille (CNM) is a sports club offering competitive and recreational aquatic sports programs. The portfolio includes: swimming programs (Natation Elite, Natation Jeunes, Ecole de Natation), water-polo programs (Water-polo Elite, Water-polo Jeunes, Ecole de Water-polo), and an Ecole Aquatique for children. Supporting services include a museum, restaurant (O Cercle), e-shop, and venue rental for events and seminars. The club operates as a unified sports organization with membership-based access to facilities and programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Natation Elite 2025/2026 Elite competitive swimming program for top-level athletes representing the club in national and international competitions.
• Natation Jeunes Youth swimming development program for young athletes progressing through competitive training.
• Ecole de Natation Swimming school for beginners and intermediate swimmers learning foundational aquatic skills.
• Water-polo Elite 2025/2026 Elite water polo team competing in French national championships and European competitions including Champions League.
• Water-polo Jeunes Youth water polo development program for young players.
• Ecole de Water-polo Water polo school introducing children to the sport fundamentals.
• Ecole Aquatique Aquatic school for children born 2017-2021, teaching the four competitive swimming strokes (freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly) and water polo fundamentals. Annual membership costs 290 euros including club cap and Puma t-shirt.
• Sports Loisirs Recreational sports activities for leisure members, including fitness swimming and leisure water polo.
• Musée du CNM Club museum showcasing the history and heritage of Cercle des Nageurs de Marseille, open to visitors.
• Location / Venue Rental Facility rental services for events, seminars, and private functions at the club's infrastructure.
• Restaurant O Cercle On-site restaurant at the club's Marseille facility, open to members and the public, also hosting ephemeral dining events such as the Air France pop-up restaurant (July-August 2026).
• CNM E-Shop Online store for club merchandise and branded apparel, operated through Shopify.
• Jacques Bianchi Marseille Swim Cup Annual swimming competition event hosted at the CNM venue, featuring top swimmers from Nice, Rennes, Paris and Marseille in evening races and dual competitions.

Quantifiable outcome

• 43 French Championship titles in water polo — most of any French sports club, all federations combined
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers7 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

Partnerships

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

• Ville de MarseillecoreOthersThe City of Marseille is a primary institutional partner and supporter of CNM, providing municipal backing for the club's operations, facilities, and community sports programs. The club's headquarters at 1 Rue des Catalans is within the city's jurisdiction.
• Conseil Départemental des Bouches-du-Rhône (13)coreOthersThe Bouches-du-Rhône Department Council is a major institutional partner providing regional public funding and support for the club's sports programs and facility operations.
• Région Sud Provence-Alpes-Côte d'AzurcoreOthersThe Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Regional Council is a key regional government partner supporting the club's development and sports initiatives across the territory.
• CMA CGMflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerCMA CGM is a flagship sponsor of CNM, one of the world's leading shipping companies headquartered in Marseille. The partnership provides significant financial and marketing support for the club's elite sports programs.
• PUMAflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerPuma is the official equipment and apparel sponsor of CNM, providing branded sportswear and equipment. Puma-logo merchandise is included with Ecole Aquatique membership. The partnership covers all club teams and competitive programs.
• ARENAflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerArena is the official swimwear partner of CNM, providing competition swimwear and aquatic equipment for all club swimmers and water polo players.
• Mutuelles du SoleilmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerMutuelles du Soleil is a regional health insurance provider and CNM partner, supporting the club's community health and sports wellness initiatives.
• EDFminorGTM or Marketing PartnerElectricité de France (EDF) is an energy sector partner of CNM.
• EiffageminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEiffage, a major French construction and concessions group, is a partner of CNM.
• PERNOD RICARDminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPernod Ricard, the global spirits and wine company, is listed as a partner of CNM.
• CBREminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCBRE, the global commercial real estate services firm, is a partner of CNM.
• Nestlé WatersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNestlé Waters is a beverage partner of CNM.
• Corsica LineaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorsica Linea, the Corsican ferry operator, is a partner of CNM.
• O Cercle (Club restaurant)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerO Cercle is the club's on-site restaurant operated within CNM's facilities at Marseille. It hosts regular dining service and special pop-up events including the Air France ephemeral restaurant (July-August 2026) with Michelin-starred chefs.
• Air FranceflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerAir France partnered with CNM to host a pop-up restaurant on the club's terrace from July 14 to August 9, 2026, featuring Michelin 3-star chef Régis Marcon and pastry chef Nina Métayer. The collaboration positioned CNM as a premium hospitality destination.
• Société Eau de Marseille MétropoleminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSociété Eau de Marseille Métropole, the regional water utility, is listed as a partner of CNM.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• CN Barcelona: CN Barcelona is a leading Spanish water polo club that CNM faced in the 2023 Champions League, where CNM's home win set an attendance record at Bassin Pierre Garsau. Directly comparable as a top-flight Spanish/European water polo club.
• Wasserfreunde Spandau 04: Spandau 04 is a multi-time German water polo champion and LEN European competition participant. Comparable as a heritage continental European water polo club with elite competition pedigree.
• VK Jadran Split: Croatian water polo powerhouse and the opponent CNM defeated to win its second EuroCup in June 2026. Comparable as a flagship Adriatic-region water polo club competing in LEN European competitions.
• Club Natació Atlètic-Barceloneta: CN Atlètic-Barceloneta is one of Spain's historic water polo clubs and a regular in Spanish and European competitions. Comparable as a heritage swimming/water polo club with elite water polo credentials.
• AN Brescia: AN Brescia is a top Italian water polo club competing in Serie A1 and in LEN European competitions. Comparable as another elite Southern-European water polo club in the same competitive bracket as CNM.
• Olympiacos Water Polo: Olympiacos's water polo team is a multi-time European champion and LEN Champions League staple. Comparable as a Greek multi-sport club with an elite water polo program competing at the same European tier as CNM.
• Pro Recco: Pro Recco is the most decorated club in European water polo, with multiple LEN Champions League titles. It is the most direct competitive benchmark for CNM in elite men's water polo, contesting the same LEN-organized European competitions.
• Ferencváros TC (water polo): Ferencváros's water polo section is a regular LEN Champions League participant and a historical rival CNM has faced in European competition (defeated FTC Budapest en route to the 2025 Final Four). Comparable as a multi-sport club with a top-tier water polo program.
• Cercle 93 (Natation): Cercle 93 is a Paris-based aquatic club that lost to CNM in the 2024 French Championship final. Comparable as a French water polo rival contesting the same national title and Coupe de France.

Regional players

• Pays d'Aix Natation: Pays d'Aix Natation is a top French swimming and water polo club based in the Provence region. Comparable as a regional French aquatic club competing in the same national swimming championships and water polo divisions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cercle-des-nageurs-de-marseille

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Cercle des Nageurs de Marseille