Maribor will suffer considerable damage due to 4 home games without spectators: “It’s difficult to measure it solely by the direct financial share”
Photo: Žan Pak
Maribor played their first of four home matches in front of empty stands on Friday. Radomlje visited Ljudski vrt, and the match ended with a 1-0 victory for the hosts. Maribor organized a lively event outside the stadium for the fans, attempting to offset the financial loss incurred by playing in front of empty stands. Authorities in the Štejrska capital emphasized that regardless, the damage due to closed stands would be significant. They have already urged the Slovenian Football Association to reconsider the situation or to reevaluate the appeal of the penalty, which was rejected for administrative reasons.
“When we talk about Ljudski vrt, even casual football followers are well aware that it’s the stadium where the most spectators gather for club matches in Slovenia. In our case, the income loss is calculated somewhat differently. We have season ticket holders, but also an increasing number of people opting for unique hospitality experiences, such as VPS season ticket buyers, VPS daily ticket buyers, or private box renters,” the Maribor management told Sportklub.
The Purple leadership continued: “Closing the stadium represents a multiple blow and a considerable loss, which cannot be measured solely by direct financial impact per game. The reckoning will be done only next season when we can more easily gauge the resentment on one side and the loyalty on the other side of the fan coin. We believe that the responsible parties at the umbrella organization do not consider the potential consequences of decisions made in such a manner. Looking at the TV broadcasts of numerous Slovenian league matches, we realize that we have significant attendance issues, and over the years, we have been among the most active representatives of NK Maribor in promoting the sport. Therefore, the decision to close Ljudski vrt is an even bigger blow for us and an incalculable loss for all stakeholders in Slovenian football, and we expect the responsible parties to thoroughly reconsider all aspects of the decision and its direct consequences.”
This text was automatically translated using AI.
Author: editorial Football Planet
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#Nogometna zveza Slovenije
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