Turkish title-winner celebrates boom in product sales

Ceyhan Kuburlu ISTANBUL / Hürriyet

Galatasaray fans are seen crowding an official store in Mecidiyeköy, early in the morning of May 12 , just hours before a crucial away match against Fenerbahçe. DHA photo

Fans of Galatasaray football team flocked to the club’s stores, where official licensed team products are sold, registering a record sales volume in T-shirts and team kits in April. The sales are expected to be boosted even further by the team’s success in the Super League this year.

“The total turnover increased by 250 percent in April compared with the same month in 2011. We have increased sales significantly. The team’s performance on the ground has affected the sale,” said Nurettin Kantarelli, the chief executive of the GS Store. The store at the Türk Telekom Arena, Galatasaray’s home stadium, registered the highest sales figures of all the club’s 40 stores across the country.

“We have to understand the expectations of fans well. While we increase the diversification of products, we evaluate the performances of stores in the best [way possible]. Social media is very important for this, so I follow messages on social media day and night,” Kantarelli said. New stores are set to be opened in the coming years in Turkey and abroad, he added.

While the fans of Galatasaray were filled with pride as it lifted the Turkish Super League Cup over the weekend, the coffers of the club are to be filled with money.

Overall revenue
The football club is set to register an estimated total revenue of 250 million Turkish liras from gate revenues, licensed product sales, copyrights, broadcasting revenues and sponsorships this year.

Galatasaray’s largest source of revenue was from broadcasting, with more than 65 million liras from the 34-week-long league. The team also collected 18.4 million liras for its 23 victories, and 3.2 million liras for eight draws, in premiums from the league. The team is granted an additional 15 million liras for winning the league championship.

Gate revenues totaled nearly 90 million liras during 2011-2012 season, with ticket prices varying between 50 liras and 400 liras.

Galatasary is entitled to 10 million euros (23 million liras) for qualifying for the Champions League in Europe. The figure will double if Fenerbahçe, the championship finalist, cannot make the cut for the competition.

The number of official club sponsors, which includes Nikon, Türk Telekom, Ülker and Avea, increased from 10 to 13 last year.