elf5 Jena GmbH

What elf5 Jena GmbH does

elf5 Jena GmbH is a privately held German venue-management and sports-marketing company headquartered in Jena, Thuringia, operating three event locations: the ad hoc arena im Ernst-Abbe-Sportfeld (~900-person capacity, opened July 2024, ~1,500 m², including Stadionblick, Logenbereich, and IKONO Premium-Club areas), the Sparkassen-Arena Jena (~3,800-person capacity, ~3,200 m², home of Science City Jena basketball, with LED video cube and multiple lounges), and the historic Schlossberg Dornburg venue above the Saale valley. The company holds exclusive venue, sponsorship, and event-management rights for FC Carl Zeiss Jena (men's Regionalliga and women's 2. Frauen-Bundesliga football) and Science City Jena (easyCredit Basketball Bundesliga), and produces proprietary branded event IP including Weihnachtssingen (13,000 singers), Sternstunden, and Eiswelt Jena (~850 m² winter ice rink). Core venue infrastructure includes a 1.3 MWp rooftop photovoltaic installation (3,095 panels, ~6,200 m²) completed in April 2026.

Revenue is generated through five streams: venue rental (custom enterprise quotes), ticket sales (online via ticket-onlineshop.com and third-party platforms such as Eventim, with concert tickets at €69–€149), annual sports sponsorship packages (LED band, jersey, arena branding, VIP hospitality for FCC and Science City), full-service catering (per-person pricing for fingerfood, buffets, multi-course menus, and Thuringian specialties), and event-partnership programs for proprietary events. The company employs 13 people and completed its first full fiscal year in 2025/2026, signing its first apprentice (Veranstaltungskauffrau) in July 2026 to start in September 2026. The go-to-market is hybrid: enterprise field sales for B2B venue rental, sponsorship, and partnership deals (named contacts include Dominik Hoffesommer and Daniel Bottner for sponsorship, Jens Groß for ad hoc arena events, Thomas Kastl for Sparkassen-Arena/Dornburg events); inside sales for catering; and self-serve online ticketing for consumers. The leadership team is two Geschäftsführer (Managing Directors), Lars Eberlein (Geschäftsführender Gesellschafter) and Andreas Kuhn. Anchor partners include Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (beverage supply through 2029), GreenFOR and WEPA (circular-economy hygiene), D-I-E Elektro AG (solar build), ANTENNE THÜRINGEN (event co-marketing), and AOK PLUS / AWO (community events).

Name

elf5 Jena GmbH

Legal name

elf5 Jena GmbH

Website

https://elf5.de

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Event Venue & Sports Marketing Services

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (711310), Caterers (722320)

SIC

Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Arenas & Indoor Sports Centers (MPAKAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Arena & Stadium Operations (Large-Capacity Venues) (MPAGALAA), Concert Halls & Music Venue Operations (Symphony Halls, Recital Venues) (MPAGALAC), Venue Facilities, Maintenance & Capital Projects (Engineering, Renovations) (MPAGALAL)

Keywords

• Event venue management
• Sports sponsorship services
• Arena operations
• Event catering
• Corporate event hosting

Headquarters

HQ city

Jena

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Venue Rental: Rental revenue from hosting events at ad hoc arena, Sparkassen-Arena, and Schlossberg Dornburg. Venues accommodate events from 40 to 3,800+ attendees for corporate events, concerts, private celebrations, and sports matches.
2. Ticket Sales: Online ticket sales through integrated ticket shops for sports matches (FCC Jena, Science City Jena), concerts, comedy shows, and public events like Weihnachtssingen and Eiswelt Jena.
3. Sports Sponsorship & Marketing: Sponsorship packages for FC Carl Zeiss Jena (men's and women's teams) and Science City Jena basketball. Includes LED band advertising, jersey sponsorships, arena branding, VIP hospitality, and game-day marketing opportunities.
4. Catering Services: Full-service catering for events at company venues and external locations. Options include fingerfood, multi-course menus, buffets, and regional specialties. Revenue generated per event based on guest count and menu selection.
5. Event Partnerships: Brand partnership opportunities for proprietary events including Weihnachtssingen, Sternstunden, Eiswelt Jena, and concerts. Sponsors receive branding, activation, and audience engagement opportunities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

elf5 Jena GmbH operates and manages three event venues in Jena, Germany — the ad hoc arena im Ernst-Abbe-Sportfeld (opened July 2024, ~900 capacity), the Sparkassen-Arena Jena (~3,800 capacity), and the Schlossberg Dornburg historic castle venue. The company delivers venue rental, on-site catering, and event management for corporate events, concerts, sports matches, and private celebrations. It also manages sponsorship sales, arena marketing, and brand partnerships for FC Carl Zeiss Jena (men's and women's football) and Science City Jena (basketball).

Product overview

elf5 Jena GmbH operates as a unified venue management and sports marketing company offering an integrated portfolio of event locations, catering services, sponsorship management, and branded event experiences. The core offering centers on two premier event arenas (ad hoc arena and Sparkassen-Arena) plus the Schlossberg Dornburg venue, complemented by proprietary catering operations and sports sponsorship services for FC Carl Zeiss Jena and Science City Jena. The product portfolio includes branded recurring events (Weihnachtssingen, Sternstunden, Eiswelt Jena) alongside standard venue services (business events, trade shows, concerts, private celebrations). This is a single integrated platform combining physical venues with event services, sports partnerships, and catering.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ad hoc arena im Ernst-Abbe-Sportfeld Multi-purpose event arena within the Ernst-Abbe-Sportfeld complex, home to FC Carl Zeiss Jena, with three configurable event areas (Stadionblick, Logenbereich, IKONO Premium-Club) serving corporate events, conferences, sports matches, and private celebrations.
• Sparkassen-Arena Jena Multifunction arena with ~3,800 capacity and ~3,200 m² including Köstritzer Business Lounge, Elevion Lounge, Foyer, and Arena Haupthalle with LED video cube, serving as home venue for Science City Jena basketball and a venue for concerts and large events.
• Schlossberg Dornburg Historic castle venue overlooking the Saale valley next to the Dornburg castles, offering personal service and space for exclusive receptions, cultural formats, and special corporate events.
• elf5 Catering Premium catering service offering finger food buffets, multi-course menus, buffet and station concepts, and Thuringian specialties with regional ingredients, available for events at elf5 venues and external locations.
• Sports Sponsoring & Arena Marketing Sports sponsorship and arena marketing services for FC Carl Zeiss Jena and Science City Jena, including LED billboard advertising, jersey sponsorship, digital campaigns, and VIP hospitality experiences.
• Weihnachtssingen (Christmas Singing Event) Annual large-scale Christmas singing event held in the ad hoc arena where thousands of voices sing together, featuring artists, choirs, and musical ensembles in a festively lit stadium setting.
• Sternstunden (Star Moments) Event series commemorating great moments of Jena sports history, featuring legendary games, personalities, and club history, creating occasions for tradition, knowledge transfer, and community connection.
• Eiswelt Jena (Ice World Jena) Winter ice skating attraction featuring approximately 850 m² of real ice under a covered dome, operating from December to February with gastronomy area, Eisdisco events, and skating aids for beginners.

Quantifiable outcome

• Largest Christmas singing event in Thuringia with 13,000+ participants
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Coca-Cola Europacific Partners Deutschland GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 July 2026Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) is official beverage partner and supplier for FC Carl Zeiss Jena, Science City Jena, and both arenas until 2029. Partnership includes Coca-Cola portfolio (including Powerade and Monster Energy), modern dispensing technology in public areas, and long-term commitment to venue beverage services.
• GreenFOR (Gera)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 June 2026GreenFOR from Gera partnered with elf5 on circular economy project implementing sustainable washroom and hygiene solutions throughout ad hoc arena. Includes closed-loop paper recycling where used hygiene paper becomes raw material for new products. Partner WEPA is hygiene paper manufacturer in the circular economy concept.
• FC Carl Zeiss Jena (Men's)coreOtherself5 manages sponsorship, marketing, venue operations, and event services for FC Carl Zeiss Jena men's team competing in Regionalliga NO1. Club has multiple thousand members with high stadium utilization.
• FC Carl Zeiss Jena (Women's)coreOtherself5 manages sponsorship, marketing, and venue services for FCC women's team competing in 2. Frauen-Bundesliga (second tier German women's football).
• Science City JenacoreOtherself5 manages sponsorship, marketing, venue operations, and event services for Science City Jena basketball team in easyCredit Basketball Bundesliga (top tier German basketball).
• ANTENNE THÜRINGENminorGTM or Marketing PartnerANTENNE THÜRINGEN radio partnered with elf5 to bring UNHEILIG concert to Ernst-Abbe-Sportfeld. Partnership for joint event promotion and marketing in Thuringia.
• AOK PLUSminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHealth insurance partner for AOK AktivTag community health event featuring yoga, Zumba, and AWO Kicker-Cup children's football tournament in ad hoc arena.
• AWO Regionalverband Mitte-West-Thüringen e.V.minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSocial welfare organization co-hosting AOK AktivTag and AWO Kicker-Cup youth football tournament with 16 children's teams.
• DRK Jena (German Red Cross)minorOthersBlood donation campaign partner hosting DRK blood donation events in ad hoc arena. Also includes Deutsche Stammzellspenderdatei for bone marrow donor typing.
• KfH-Nierenzentrum für Kinder und JugendlicheminorOthersPediatric nephrology center partnered for Sternfahrt charity event bringing 64 trucks and sick children to model building fair in Erfurt.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Olympiastadion Berlin GmbH: Olympiastadion Berlin is a 74,000-capacity German arena and event venue hosting Hertha BSC, concerts, and corporate events with full venue management services. Comparable to elf5's arena operations model combining sports tenancy with entertainment event hosting, though at national/international scale with much larger infrastructure.
• AEG Europe (Anschutz Entertainment Group): AEG operates a global network of arenas and venues including Barclays Arena Hamburg and Mercedes-Benz Arena Berlin, with integrated sponsorship, ticketing, and event management. Comparable business model to elf5 (arena operations + sponsorship + event hosting), but at significantly larger scale and with international touring artist relationships.

Direct peers

• Brose Bamberg (Bamberg Baskets): Brose Bamberg is a German Basketball Bundesliga club operating its own arena (Brose Arena) with venue-based sponsorship, hospitality, and event services. Direct peer to elf5's Science City Jena arena operations, both being BBL clubs with venue-driven sponsorship models, though Brose Bamberg operates at larger scale.
• SPORTFIVE: SPORTFIVE is one of Europe's largest sports marketing and sponsorship agencies, monetizing rights for football clubs, federations, and venue operators across Germany. Directly comparable to elf5's sponsorship management and arena marketing business for FC Carl Zeiss Jena and Science City Jena, though operating at vastly larger scale.
• DEAG Deutsche Entertainment AG: DEAG is a German live entertainment company promoting concerts, tours, and events across multiple German venues. Comparable to elf5 in operating a portfolio of event venues and hosting touring concerts, comedy shows, and musicals, though DEAG also acts as a promoter/agent for artists rather than only operating venues.
• Lanxess Arena Köln (Koelnmesse): Lanxess Arena is a 20,000-capacity German multi-purpose arena operated by Koelnmesse, hosting concerts, sports, and corporate events with full catering and hospitality services. Comparable to elf5's Sparkassen-Arena as a German arena operator with concert tours, sports tenants, and B2B event hosting, though at much larger scale.

Regional players

• Messe Erfurt GmbH: Messe Erfurt is a regional trade fair and event venue operator located in Thuringia (same state as elf5). Comparable as a regional Thuringian venue operator hosting trade shows, corporate events, and conferences, though Messe Erfurt is a trade-fair specialist without the sports club anchor model elf5 operates.

Others

• CTS Eventim AG & Co. KGaA: CTS Eventim is Europe's largest ticketing and live entertainment platform, distributing tickets for elf5's concerts and hosting third-party ticketing infrastructure for the Sparkassen-Arena. Comparable as an event-industry ecosystem partner rather than direct competitor; both companies serve the same audience for touring concert ticket sales.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/elf5

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 elf5 Jena GmbH