‘Football for all’: Fortuna Düsseldorf to offer fans free tickets next season

German second division club Fortuna Düsseldorf will be offering free tickets to all fans in some matches next season as part of a new strategy of anchoring the club tighter to the city and fans.

Fortuna officials said free tickets to all fans, registering on a platform to be part of the ticket draw, would be offered for at least three league home games next season and the cost would be covered by sponsors.

“We open up football for all. We will have free entry for league games in this stadium,” Alexander Jobst, club CEO, said. “We call it ‘Fortuna for all’ which can and will lead us to a successful future.”

He said a pilot phase with at least three home games next season would be expanded to more matches and eventually to all home games. “Fortuna remains a club and this club belongs to friends and members,” he said. “We have the responsibility to set the foundations for a successful future. That was our compass.”

The club said companies had signed up for a five-year deal worth €45m. Some 20% percent of those revenues will go to youth and women’s football and women’s and another 20% will go to digital infrastructure and the stadium, the club said. “In order to be able at the end to offer all home games for free we need more long term partners to join us on this path,” Jobst said.

Sign up to Football Daily

Kick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football

after newsletter promotion

Fortuna have average home attendances of almost 30,000 in the second division this season. Germany’s top Bundesliga is the world’s best attended soccer league with more than 42,000 fans on average per match. “It is a unique concept for football and I am confident it will take Fortuna forward,” said Düsseldorf mayor Stephan