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Bradford City are one of the most intriguing teams in League One right now, and the Bantams could be set for a very bright future when it comes to their financial position.
They may have only just got promoted from League Two, but it’s safe to say Bradford City are one of the biggest clubs in League One, and they have bags of potential, too.
Bradford’s nine-game unbeaten run at the start of this season was a club record, and Graham Alexander has a good chance of making the Bantams the surprise package of the third tier this term.
It’s 25 years since Bradford were last in the top flight. So, can they ever get back there? In terms of their financial status, the club are well-placed to continue their rise through the Football League.
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Bradford City tipped to become a thriving Championship club
Speaking exclusively to EFL Analysis about Bradford City, finance expert Adam Williams shared details of the club’s impressive revenue and how shrewd initiatives and strong support can lead to great things for the Bantams.
He said: “Bradford City’s revenue was £7.7m in 2023-24, when they were in League Two. In 2024-25, I’d expect it to be a little higher thanks to bigger attendances and one or two more home games in the cup competitions. We’ll know when they release their accounts early next year.
“In League One this season, they perhaps have the opportunity to get to £10m thanks to a little bit more TV money, slightly more expensive season tickets, and more sustained attendances. Commercial income should grow too thanks to the buzz at the club, and they have the fans to thank for that.
“What the club have done with the cheap tickets should be applauded on many levels. The mission now will be to retain the new generation of fans they have attracted. If they get things right, I think they can be a big club and go on to compete in the Championship and build from there. There’s no reason they can’t, with the right management.”
Who knows, if Bradford can maintain their current position in the table, they may even end up landing that lucrative League One play-off prize fund come the end of the season?
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Stefan Rupp could make a big profit on Bradford City
So, what’s next for Bradford City, then? We know they’re a club that has the kind of infrastructure that would be appealing to any investors looking for a new project. The supporter base alone would attract attention and co-owner Stefan Rupp could well cash in.
Williams added: “They are effectively a one-club city, which means they have a huge catchment area for both potential fans and academy talent. That is becoming more and more important in the modern game. The stadium is in a good location too.
“They are running at an average loss of about £1m per year, though that will probably increase in League One as wages tend to rise faster than income. That’s not a problem as long as the owners are prepared to keep underwriting those losses through loans to the club.
“Stefan Rupp has loaned the club several million pounds, which he is unlikely ever to see repaid. That said, I’m sure he will price that into negotiations when he eventually comes to sell the club – that is more or less the only way a club owner can make money from football: buy low, sell high.”
It’s not always been positive for Rupp at Bradford City, but in relation to other owners in the Football League he’s set the club up for success, and there is still more progress to be made.
“Rupp has rightly taken some stick and he is not as lavish as some other owners at this level, but I think trying to build sustainably is the right thing to do at this point in his tenure, given the mistakes of the past,” Williams said. “When he does come to sell the club, it will have a pretty healthy balance sheet compared to others in the EFL. Ownership of the stadium is the obvious exception, but it sounds like there might be some tentative signs of progress there.”