Finnish sports clubs struggle with rising costs, turn to public fundraising

Finnish sports clubs are facing severe financial strain due to soaring expenses, with some resorting to public fundraising and share issues to stay afloat, reports Yle.

Jyväskylä-based women’s football club JyPK raised around €22,000 through a public appeal in March, while ice hockey team KeuPa HT in Keuruu has launched a share issue to secure its future in Finland’s second-tier league. The club is offering 2,000 shares at €50 each to strengthen its finances ahead of next season’s league restructuring.

Laura Härkönen, a sports club developer at Keski-Suomen Liikunta, attributes the financial squeeze to sharply higher costs. “Travel, fuel, food, and training facility fees have all risen steeply,” she said. “Clubs have to scrape money together somehow just to keep operating.”

JyPK’s fundraising included small donations, coffee vouchers for matches, and season ticket sales. Most funds were raised in the first week, allowing the club to negotiate a payment plan with the city of Jyväskylä for overdue facility fees, spreading repayments until 2028. Club chair Laura Salla admitted asking for help was “a big decision” but necessary, as JyPK relies heavily on volunteer work without major sponsors. The club aims to use the funds as a springboard for long-term growth, boosting attendance and visibility for women’s football.

Härkönen warns that adult-focused clubs with small memberships are hardest hit, as they lack the broader financial base of “lifecycle clubs” that integrate youth and senior teams. “Transparency is key,” she stressed. “People need to understand what the money is for and what values guide the club’s finances.”