The graph showing the evolution of revenue and debts of the Ceará lion over the last 6 years.
In 2017, when it left Series C after eight years of ordeal, Fortaleza had revenue of R$24 million. Today, that figure is something very far from reality. In the following six years, with direct passage into Series B, as champion, and five seasons in Series A, the club’s revenue soared. It was proportional to the performance on the field. In 2023, when it was in the “G10” of the first division for the 3rd time in a row and ended up as runner-up in the Copa Sudamericana, Laion had historic success. Not just from the club, but from the entire region.
R$38 million for good sporting performance
From 2020 to 2021 the increase in revenue was R$88 million. From 2021 to 2022, without the effects of the pandemic, it was R$92 million. Now, from 2022 to 2023, the jump was R$113 million! With the closing of the balance sheet from January 1st to December 31st, 2023, Fortaleza had R$381,656,000 in total revenue, in a document audited by the consultancy BDO. This value adds operating income, exceptional income and deducted taxes.
The Ceará club’s revenue continues to be boosted on fronts such as TV (50 million), monthly membership fees (34 million), player negotiations (34 million), sponsorships (31 million), box office (20 million) and sales of official products ( 13 mi). Already on the field, through the results obtained in the competitions, with the right to be present in both the Libertadores and Sula, Fortaleza earned R$38.5 million. If he had won the penalty shootout against LDU, in the continental decision, he would have received another 3 million dollars, or around R$15 million. Going further, there is another factor that gave even more weight to the club’s record accounting.
Agreement with the League represented 31%
The statement released on April 30th, despite the website reporting the publication since the 24th, shows the transfer of the Liga Forte União. Under the agreement with the LFU, Fortaleza sold 20% of its commercial rights for the Brazilian Championship for the next 50 years , from 2025 – other affiliates did the same, such as Ceará and Sport. For this movement, the FEC received R$120 million, or 31% of total revenue for the year. For accounting purposes, this money has already “come in”, but in practice the deposit has amounted to R$69 million so far. The remaining amount, R$48 million, already deducting taxes, will be transferred to Fortaleza in two installments: November 2024 (18 million) and May 2025 (30 million). This is said in the tricolor balance sheet itself.
Considering the full value of the LFU, according to the report, Fortaleza recorded the largest surplus in its history. The balance of the subtraction of net revenue by expenses was positive for the 3rd consecutive time, being +15 million in 2021, +32 million in 2022 and +66 million in 2023. The truth of the league was really important, as tricolor spending was also higher last season. The cost of football, including all sectors, went from R$162 million to R$220 million. Salaries and image rights alone, the cost of casting reached R$114 million. Furthermore, there is still the burden of administrative expenses, which rose from 42 million to 62 million.
At the top of the highest revenues in the Northeast
To date, among the balance sheets released until April 30, 2024, the Northeast has recorded 7 annual revenues above R$150 million. Here is the number of times: 3x Fortaleza, 2x Bahia and 2x Ceará. Below, the ranking now led by Leão do Pici. Remembering that Bahia, which experienced its first full season as SAF with Grupo City, has not yet officially released its balance sheet.
1st) R$ 381.65 million – Fortaleza (2023)
2nd) R$ 267.85 million – Fortaleza (2022)
3rd) R$ 208.64 million – Bahia (2021)
4th) R$ 189.48 million – Bahia (2019)
5th) R$ 175.05 million – Fortaleza (2021)
6th) R$ 173.21 million – Ceará (2022)
7th) R$ 159.28 million – Ceará (2021)
* In nominal values
Next, check out Fortaleza’s recent revenue history.
Fortaleza’s total revenue
2018 (Series B): R$51,621,897
2019 (Series A): R$120,490,995 (+133%; +68 million)
2020 (Series A): R$86,069,940 (-28%; -34 million)
2021 (Series A): R$ 175,053,214 (+103%; +88 million)
2022 (Series A): R$267,851,201 (+53%; +92 million)
2023 (Series A): R$381,656,000 (+42%; +113 million)
Result of the year (surplus/deficit)
2018 (Series B): -1,503,071
2019 (Series A): +3,444,392
2020 (Series A): -9,787,635
2021 (Series A): +15,300,604
2022 (Series A): +32,280,844
2023 (Series A): +66,206,000*
* The balance of subtracting net revenue (367.0 million) from operating costs (291.0 million) and financial expenses
Evolution of the club’s accumulated liabilities
2018 (Series B): R$32,335,928
2019 (Series A): R$43,485,850 (+34%; +11 million)
2020 (Series A): R$57,885,088 (+33%; +14 million)
2021 (Series A): R$74,612,038 (+28%; +167 million)
2022 (Series A): R$96,018,000 (+28%; +21 million)
2023 (Series A): R$127,798,000 (+33%; +31 million)
* The sum of short-term (current) and long-term (non-current) outstanding issues
Below, a comparison of four important fronts for the composition of revenue in professional football, present in the last four Fortaleza balance sheets – and the respective series.
TV broadcasting rights
2020 (Series A): R$24.10 million
2021 (Series A): R$54.53 million (+126%; +30 million)
2022 (Series A): R$56.48 million (+3%; +2 million)
2023 (Series A): R$50.27 million (-10%; -6 million)
Supporter membership table
2020 (Series A): R$11.21 million
2021 (Series A): R$14.08 million (+25%; +2 million)
2022 (Series A): R$35.30 million (+150%; +21 million)
2023 (Series A): R$34.51 million (-2%; -0.7 million)
Income in games
2020 (Series A): R$2.02 million
2021 (Series A): R$5.68 million (+180%; +3 million)
2022 (Series A): R$18.52 million (+226%; +12 million)
2023 (Series A): R$20.04 million (+8%; +1 million)
Sponsorship/Marketing
2020 (Series A): R$6.33 million
2021 (Series A): R$9.38 million (+48%; +3 million)
2022 (Series A): R$22.22 million (+136%; +12 million)
2023 (Series A): R$31.66 million (+42%; +9 million)
Read more about the subject
Fortaleza sets a budget of R$258 million in 2024, in addition to “bonuses” from the league
Study names Fortaleza among the 15 most valuable clubs in Brazil; see the ranking
Tags: Fortalezas balance sheet shows revenue R400 million details
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