FC St. Pauli Cooperative: A New Model for Football
Source 1: “Die Football Cooperative St. Pauli (FCSP eG) - der Gegenentwurf zum Ausverkauf des Fußballs”
This source is a short excerpt outlining the motivations behind the FC St. Pauli cooperative. It emphasizes fan ownership and control of the club as a means of resisting the “selling out” of football to corporations and wealthy investors. The excerpt highlights the shared belief in a different, more democratic, and people-centric approach to the sport.
Source 2: “FCSP eG – St. Paulis Genossenschaft geht kühn an den Start – St. Pauli POP Blog”
I. Introduction & Overview
- Expresses mixed feelings of excitement and skepticism about the cooperative’s potential impact.
- Highlights the interest from other fan groups and the hope that FC St. Pauli’s model could become a blueprint for change.
- Explains the basic structure of the cooperative and its share price (850 euros).
II. Purpose & Goals
- Explains that the cooperative aims to separate long-term investments from the day-to-day financial operations of the Bundesliga team.
- Emphasizes the democratic nature of the cooperative, aligning with FC St. Pauli’s values.
III. Financing & Investments
- Initially, the cooperative will focus on stadium ownership, leasing it back to the club to generate revenue.
- Outlines how the funds will primarily be used for debt reduction, ensuring financial stability.
IV. Potential & Limitations
- Discusses the limited financial returns for investors and the potential lack of appeal to non-fans.
- Acknowledges the potential limitations in realizing the vision of “another football” due to debt prioritization.
V. Future Opportunities
- Explores potential future investments in the youth academy (NLZ), stadium expansion, player development, and international collaborations.
- Presents the idea of an international cooperative network of like-minded clubs.
VI. Addressing Misconceptions
- Clarifies that the cooperative is not a debt relief scheme but a long-term investment strategy.
- Explains the concept of a cooperative and provides various models for its application in football.
VII. Fan Reactions & Comments
- Presents a selection of fan comments, raising concerns about the share price, potential for misuse, and mechanisms for preventing hostile takeover.
- Discusses the possibility of fan clubs purchasing shares and the potential for a more affordable share price to increase participation.
Source 3: “Sportclub: St. Paulis Göttlich zur Genossenschaft: ’Unsere Antwort für einen anderen Fußball”
This source is a summary of a television segment featuring FC St. Pauli President Oke Göttlich discussing the cooperative. He frames the initiative as a response to the increasing commercialization of football and a way to maintain the club’s unique identity. The segment likely explores the rationale behind choosing a cooperative model and its potential implications for the future of the club.
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