For “the first time” in the history of the French women’s national football team, the team did not lose money last year, according to Claire Gaillard of L’ÉQUIPE. The team owes its financial success to “the ticket office, sponsors and partnerships, as well as the TV rights” which now total €900,000 ($969,280) per year. French Football Federation Secretary General Brigitte Henriques said, “We are beginning to see a return on investment. You hear that there is no economy behind women’s sports, but this French team gives us hope.” French TV network W9 spent €800,000 ($861,580) to “broadcast some of the 2015 World Cup matches,” and recorded €5M ($5.4M) gross advertising revenue. The numbers tell the tale of how the team has turned its financial future around. In ’14-15 the team recorded €430,000 ($463,100) in ticket sales, compared to €60,000 in ’10-11. The TV rights revenue has multiplied by 11, from €80,000 per year from ’09-14, to €900,000 per year for ’14-18. The average attendance to matches for ’14-15 was 11,483 compared to 6,238 in ’10-11. Henriques hopes that the 2019 Women’s World Cup, to be hosted by France, can “serve as a springboard.” Henriques: “We need to find five national partnerships. But because of the team’s success, there will be a competition that did not exist before” (L’ÉQUIPE, 11/9)
