What FC Santa Cruz does

FC Santa Cruz (Futebol Clube Santa Cruz) is a Brazilian football club founded on March 26, 1913, headquartered in Santa Cruz do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul. The club operates with a 1-10 person staff and plays its home matches at Estádio dos Plátanos, a venue with approximately 3,500 spectators, positioning it firmly in the micro-club tier of Brazilian football. It fields senior teams in the Campeonato Gaúcho system and a Sub-17 team reinstated into the state youth championship in partnership with Centro Esportivo Santa Cruz.

The club's revenue model combines four streams: (1) the Sócio Galo Carijó paid membership program, with annual tiers priced at R$480 and R$600; (2) merchandise sales, including official kits starting at R$159.90 and a 2025 commemorative product line tied to the club's 112-year anniversary; (3) matchday ticketing handled through the ElevenTickets platform; and (4) local sponsorship arrangements. Member-owned governance and a renewed executive team under president Tiago Rech (elected June 2024) frame the current operating context.

Operationally, the club outsources core digital functions: the official website is built by CenterTech, member management runs on the Clube Certo mobile platform (extending reach beyond the immediate catchment), and youth development is delivered in collaboration with Centro Esportivo Santa Cruz. Kit supply is handled through SS Sports. Recent sporting milestones — the Copa FGF title in 2020, the Série B Gaúcha in 2021, and promotion back to the elite Campeonato Gaúcho via the 2023 Série A2 — anchor the current turnaround narrative.

Name

FC Santa Cruz

Legal name

Futebol Clube Santa Cruz

Website

https://fcsantacruz.com.br

Company type

Private

Founded year

1913

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

FC Santa Cruz is a 112-year-old member-owned Brazilian football club based in Santa Cruz do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, operating fan membership, merchandise, and ticketing around its 3,500-capacity Estádio dos Plátanos and competing in the Campeonato Gaúcho.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Santa Cruz do Sul

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Merchandise Sales: Sale of official club merchandise including uniforms, jerseys, apparel, accessories (hats, caps, thermal mugs, cuias, stadium cushions), and commemorative items through the club's virtual store (Loja Virtual). Prices range from approximately R$55 to R$260.
2. Membership / Sócio Torcedor: The club operates a membership program called 'Sócio Galo Carijó' with two annual payment options (R$480 in up to 12x or R$600 in up to 12x). Members receive benefits including access to all home games, exclusive prize draws, partner discounts, and merchandise discounts.
3. Ticket Sales: Revenue from ticket sales for home matches at Estádio dos Plátanos, available through the ElevenTickets platform. Membership provides discounted or free entry to games.
4. Sponsorships: Sponsorship revenue from partner companies including Cristal da Terra (water), Shopping Car fuel station network, Schuck Bebidas, Miller Supermercados, Hbier, Radson, LKC Transportes, and Gasima Materiais Elétricos, among others. The club's stadium is also used for partner activation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

FC Santa Cruz is a professional Brazilian football club founded in 1913, based in Santa Cruz do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul. The club operates a professional football team that competes in state-level competitions including the Campeonato Gaúcho and Copa FGF, alongside a youth academy (Categorias de Base) and a veterans department. The club monetizes its sporting activities through match ticket sales, official merchandise (jerseys, apparel, accessories) sold via its online Loja Virtual, and the Sócio Galo Carijó membership program offering year-round fan benefits.

Product overview

FC Santa Cruz operates a football club with an e-commerce merchandise platform (Loja Virtual) selling official club products organized into three main categories: Uniformes (uniforms including official 2025 shirts, goalkeeper shirts, and reserve shirts), Vestuário (clothing including commemorative t-shirts, parkas, hoodies, caps, and beanies), and Diversos (accessories including stadium cushions, thermal cups, and traditional mate gourds). The club also offers a membership program (Sócio Galo Carijó) with tiered annual plans providing game access, partner discounts, and exclusive benefits, supported by the Clube Certo mobile app for nationwide member discounts. The product portfolio centers on the football team's competitive activities and supporter engagement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Camiseta Oficial F.C Santa Cruz 2025 Official match-worn uniform shirt for the 2025 season, sold to fans and supporters through the club's online store. Available in multiple sizes with optional player number or name customization.
• Camiseta Oficial F.C Santa Cruz 2025 - Modelo Especial Catedral Special edition 2025 official uniform shirt with proceeds directed to the renovation of São João Batista Cathedral, sold to fans through the online store.
• Camiseta Goleiro F.C. Santa Cruz - Titular Official goalkeeper shirt for the 2024 season, sold to supporters with optional personalization.
• Camiseta Goleiro F.C. Santa Cruz - Reserva Reserve goalkeeper shirt for the 2024 season, sold to supporters with optional personalization.
• Camiseta Reserva Oficial F.C. Santa Cruz 2024 Reserve team official uniform shirt for the 2024 season, sold to fans.
• Camiseta Comemorativa 110 Anos - Galo Commemorative t-shirt marking the club's 110th anniversary, sold to fans and supporters.
• Camiseta Comemorativa aos 200 Anos da Imigração Alemã - Galo Commemorative t-shirt celebrating 200 years of German immigration to Brazil and 175 years of German arrival in Santa Cruz do Sul.
• Jaqueta Parka Futebol Clube Santa Cruz - Galo Official club parka jacket sold to supporters in black color, available in multiple sizes.
• Moleton Personalizado do Futebol Clube Santa Cruz - Galo Personalized club hoodie/sweatshirt sold to supporters in black color, available in multiple sizes.
• Camiseta Personalizada Taças - Galo Personalized t-shirt featuring club trophies, sold to fans.
• Boné Futebol Clube Santa Cruz Official club cap sold to supporters in multiple colors.
• Touca Futebol Clube Santa Cruz Official club knit cap/beanie sold to supporters in black and white colors.
• Almofada para Arquibancada Personalizada - Galo Personalized stadium cushion sold to match-going supporters in gray color.
• Copo Térmico Personalizado - Galo Personalized thermal cup/tumbler featuring official club branding, sold to supporters.
• Cuia Personalizada do Galo Traditional southern Brazilian mate gourd (cuia) personalized with club branding, available in varnish and white finishes.
• Sócio Galo Carijó Membership Annual club membership program for supporters providing access to all home games, exclusive prize draws, partner discounts (fuel, IT services, supermarkets, electrical materials), and 10% discount on official merchandise. Available in two annual payment options: R$480 or R$600, both payable in up to 12 installments.
• Match Tickets (ElevenTickets) Match tickets for home games at Estádio dos Plátanos, sold directly to fans through the ElevenTickets online platform.
• Youth Football Academy (Categorias de Base) Youth football academy providing football training for children ages 7-13 and up to Sub-17, operating twice per week in partnership with Centro Esportivo Santa Cruz, with a Sub-17 team competing in the Liga Serrana and Gaúcho Championship.
• Veterans Department (Veteranos) Department organizing friendly matches and community events for former professional and amateur footballers who continue playing representing the club.

Quantifiable outcome

• Returned to elite Gaúcho Championship (Primeira Divisão) in 2023 after 10 years of absence
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• BrahmaminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2021Brahma beer brand formed a marketing partnership with FC Santa Cruz in 2021 to celebrate the club's 108th anniversary. The partnership included a promotional contest with prize kits (bucket and pack of beer plus an official club jersey), with entries collected at participating supermarkets (Miller Supermercados, Imec, and others).
• Centro Esportivo Santa CruzcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFC Santa Cruz operates its youth academy (Categorias de Base) in formal partnership with Centro Esportivo Santa Cruz. The partnership spans over 20 years and provides football training for children ages 7-13, twice per week, and supports the Sub-17 team competing in the Liga Serrana and Gaúcho Championship. The partnership has produced numerous players for the professional team and clubs in Brazilian and international football.
• SS SportscoreTechnology or IntegrationSS Sports is the uniform and sportswear supplier for FC Santa Cruz, producing official match kits (home, away, goalkeeper uniforms), training gear, and merchandise sold through the club's store. The partnership covers all official club apparel.
• Posto do Galo (Shopping Car)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner fuel station network offering exclusive discounts to Sócio Galo Carijó members, including the first car wash free of charge. Located in Santa Cruz do Sul, Shopping Car is a key partner in the membership benefits ecosystem.
• CenterTech InformáticaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIT services partner offering 25% discounts to Sócio Galo Carijó members. CenterTech also developed and maintains the club's official website. The partnership combines a technology services benefit for members with technical support for the club.
• Gasima Materiais ElétricosminorGTM or Marketing PartnerElectrical materials retailer participating in the Sócio Galo Carijó membership program, offering monthly R$100 shopping voucher prize draws for members.
• Miller SupermercadosminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupermarket chain operating multiple locations in Santa Cruz do Sul (Arroio Grande, Independência, Centro, Verena). Participates in the membership program with R$200 shopping voucher prize draws for members. Also a club sponsor.
• Schuck BebidasminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBeverage company and club sponsor, appearing on the official sponsor logo section of the website alongside other partner brands including Cristal da Terra (water), Hbier, Radson, and LKC Transportes.
• Cardio HausminorOthersCardiology clinic specializing in consultations, exams, and cardiac monitoring. FC Santa Cruz uses Cardio Haus for pre-season cardiac evaluations of the professional squad to ensure player health and safety before competitions.
• AABB (Associação Atlética Banco do Brasil)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFC Santa Cruz's Sub-17 project 'Galinhos da Base' leverages the coaching expertise of experienced youth development professionals previously involved with AABB's football school in Santa Cruz do Sul.
• Genoma Santa CruzminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFootball academy/school in Santa Cruz do Sul contributing coaching expertise to FC Santa Cruz's 'Galinhos da Base' youth development project alongside AABB coaches.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Avenida Futebol Clube: Historic Santa Cruz do Sul rival of FC Santa Cruz; the two clubs merged into Associação Santa-Cruzense de Futebol between 1974-1978. Avenida operates in the Campeonato Gaúcho lower divisions and shares the same local market.
• Ypiranga Futebol Clube (Erechim): Erechim-based Campeonato Gaúcho competitor at a similar tier; useful comparable for membership programs and interior-RS revenue models used by FC Santa Cruz.
• Esporte Clube Aimoré: São Leopoldo-based Campeonato Gaúcho competitor; similar small-stadium, regional-revenue-base football club that competes at the same state-tier level as FC Santa Cruz.
• São José Esporte Clube: Porto Alegre-area club competing in the Campeonato Gaúcho; was the opponent defeated by FC Santa Cruz in the 2020 Copa FGF final. Competes at the same state-tier level with a similar small-stadium, member-supported business model.
• Veranópolis Esporte Clube Recreativo e Cultural: Clube da Serra Gaúcha competing in Campeonato Gaúcho divisions; comparable size, interior-RS catchment, and lower-division football operations, including a working merchandise and identity-driven business model.
• Grêmio Esportivo Brasil (Pelotas): Brazilian football club based in Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, that competes in the Campeonato Gaúcho state division and operates a comparable membership/merchandise model in a similar-sized interior city — a direct structural peer to FC Santa Cruz at the same competitive tier.
• Sport Club Gaúcho: Competes in Campeonato Gaúcho Série A2 and provides direct comparable context to FC Santa Cruz's 2023 Série A2 promotion path. Mirror-image peer at the same state tier.
• Esporte Clube Passo Fundo: Interior Rio Grande do Sul club operating in the Campeonato Gaúcho; comparable scale, civic-identity-driven membership economics, and direct-to-consumer merchandise operations parallel FC Santa Cruz's model.

Broad incumbents

• Sport Clube Internacional: One of the two dominant Porto Alegre clubs and a Série A powerhouse in the Campeonato Gaúcho. Not a direct competitor, but the structural incumbent whose presence defines the competitive ceiling for state-club peers such as FC Santa Cruz.
• Grêmio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense: Larger Porto Alegre-based club competing in the Campeonato Gaúcho elite tier with much greater commercial scale. Provides the incumbent benchmark for membership, merchandise, and youth-development programs in the same state championship.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/fcsantacruz1913
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/fcsantacruz1913
• Facebookfacebook.com/fcsantacruz1913/?locale=pt_BR
• Instagraminstagram.com/fcsantacruz1913
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fc-santa-cruz

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 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 FC Santa Cruz