Football and Economy - Positive EM effect noticeable in Saxony-Anhalt
From the Football European Championship, parts of the hospitality and catering industry in Sachsen-Anhalt have benefited. "For the games in Leipzig, Halle was a good alternative with good connectivity," said Michael Schmidt, the President of the Hotel and Gaststättenverband. Although some people may have been deterred from public viewings due to high prices during live broadcasts of EM games, overall satisfaction was high due to good earnings.
In most other parts of Sachsen-Anhalt, there was no positive effect to be recorded, Schmidt stated. The further the offers from Leipzig were, the less noticeable the EM effect was.
"It would have been even better, of course, if the national team had made it to the final on Sunday," Schmidt added. Nevertheless, it was clear: The national team had generated euphoria, acted as a motivator. "That wasn't the case during the previous European and World Championships."
Mark Lange, the manager of Stadtmarketing Halle (Saale) GmbH, was pleased just before the final. "More than 20 beer gardens, restaurants, pubs, bars, and a cinema in Halle offered public viewings. Those who wanted to ensure a spot could reserve it in their favorite seating area or sports bar. Those who couldn't find a free place still had plenty of alternatives to choose from." Above all, hotels near the train station in Halle received a large number of last-minute accommodation requests before games in Leipzig and benefited from them.
"The occupancy rate was good to very good. We were also fully booked around the Leipzig games," summarized the hotel director of Dorint Charlottenhof in Halle, Christine Gering. Football fans who stayed with them came from a total of 14 nations.
Leipzig entrepreneurs were also satisfied. "The industry as a whole could achieve higher margins than usual," said Axel Erhardt, the chairman of the Leipziger Hotel Alliance. This was partly due to the relatively higher accommodation costs during the tournament. During the tournament days in Leipzig, the beds in most hotels were at least 90% occupied. The city, the state, and ultimately also the hotels could have benefited from an image gain. The Hotel Alliance is a association of large hotels in the city, which currently offers 7190 rooms.
The catering industry was also revitalized by the EM. The Hotel and Gaststättenverband Sachsen recently drew up an overall positive balance. A total of 175,400 fans attended the Fanzone on Leipzig's Augustusplatz during the EM halfway point. "We need more such events," emphasized the manager Axel Klein.
Leipzig was one of ten German cities where Football-EM games were held. In addition to the three group games in June, the Achtelfinale between Austria and Turkey (1:2) was also held at the Leipzig Stadium.
- The European Championship in football brought significant benefits to the hospitality and catering industry in Saxony-Anhalt, particularly in Leipzig and Halle.
- Michael Schmidt, the President of the Hotel and Gaststättenverband in Saxony-Anhalt, praised Halle as a good alternative for public viewings during the games in Leipzig.
- Despite high prices during live broadcasts of EM games, overall satisfaction was high due to good earnings in Halle, according to Schmidt.
- Mark Lange, the manager of Stadtmarketing Halle (Saale) GmbH, noted an abundance of public viewing options and last-minute accommodation requests in Halle before games in Leipzig.
- The Dorint Charlottenhof hotel in Halle received a large number of guests from 14 different nations during the tournament, with football fans making up a substantial portion of their clientele.
- Axel Erhardt, the chairman of the Leipziger Hotel Alliance, highlighted that hotels in the city could achieve higher margins than usual due to the European Championship.
- The catering industry also benefited from the European Championship, with the Hotel and Gaststättenverband Sachsen drawing up a positive balance, citing the high attendance at the Fanzone on Leipzig's Augustusplatz.
