December 5 – Italian Serie B club Frosinone has launched a mini-bond to raise €1 million to invest in stadium upgrades that will in turn drive commercial revenue for the club. It is the first fund-raising of its kind in Italian club football.
Just four Italian Serie A clubs own their stadia. Those that don’t own their grounds have struggled to secure investment and grow their match day revenues in often un-modernised venues. This has lead to an over reliance on wealthy owners.
Frosinone have taken things into their own hands and via the Tifosy fund raising platform have already secured €280,000. The money invested will enable the club to create a modern stadium and improve facilities, including a shopping village and community medical centre. supporters will also benefit from a generous financial return.
Frosinone own the Stadio Benito Stirpe. Investors in the bond will receive 8% interest per annum – made up of 5% cash and 3% club credit to spend on season tickets, regular tickets and merchandise each year for the duration of the bond. At the end of the bond term they will be repaid their initial investment.
Frosinone president Maurizio Stirpe said: “This is an opportunity for us to make improvements that were not previously possible. With the Frosinone village, a medical centre and a restaurant open seven days a week, we are creating a hub for the whole Frosinone community.
“We chose to raise the funds through Tifosy rather than by going to banks or shareholders because we see this as an opportunity to create a real sense of belonging for our fans… It is no small thing that this is the first case of a Fanfunded mini-bond in Italian football, and this is a wonderful opportunity for us to develop this project as a community.”
Minimum investment in the bond is €500, rising in increments of €500 with no individual ceiling on the money invested.
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