Has Euro 2024 been financially worth it for Germany?

The 10 host cities, including Dusseldorf, Gelsenkirchen and Berlin, will only know in a few months whether they have been able to cover the costs of hosting the UEFA Euro 2024.

German taxpayers are bearing the brunt of the costs of security, advertising and stadium renovations, but UEFA is already expecting a profit of over a billion euros from ticket sales, broadcasting rights and receiving tax exemptions worth millions.

Sporting events, including UEFA, FIFA and even the IOC cost millions of euros.

When the previous German government, then still under former Chancellor Angela Merkel, applied to host the tournament in 2018, it was competing with Turkey, who according to German media, offered generous guarantees to UEFA such as complete tax exemptions and rent-free use of stadiums.

To secure the bid, the German government also agreed to comprehensive concessions, including tax exemptions worth millions. The exact figure is shrouded in secrecy, as the Finance Ministry, who current Chancellor Olaf Scholz used to be the minister of in 2018, considers it to be a "tax secret."

International Sports Management Professor Dr Alexander Hodeck says that for Germany to win the UEFA bid, "there were 18 rules that had to be followed. Among other things, these rules stipulate that no sales tax is paid on sales made within the framework of UEFA."

That means, no sales tax is charged on things sold in the stadium.

Both the German Hotel and Catering Association (DEHOGA) and the German Brewers' Association say most businesses didn't profit from the European Champions.

Managing Director of the German Brewers' Association Holger Eichele said in a written statement to Euronews:

"It is still too early for a European Championship balance sheet - no