Football organizer Károly Gelei details success in bringing top clubs to Hungary

Károly Gelei, a former Hungarian national team goalkeeper, has established himself as a shrewd organizer of high-profile football events in Hungary. He has been instrumental in bringing prestigious clubs like Real Madrid, Arsenal, and AC Milan to the country, with a notable success rate in ensuring these events are financially viable.

Gelei shared that most of the major international matches he has organized in Hungary have generated profits, with only one event resulting in a loss. He stressed that these are not insignificant sums of money. The primary revenue stream for these events comes from ticket sales, which must cover the appearance fees of the star teams and other organizational expenses upfront. Gelei learned the principles of business-oriented football from Eddy Wauters, the president of a Belgian club during Gelei's playing days in the 1990s, adopting a philosophy where both parties benefit.

Securing top-tier teams like Real Madrid requires a combination of strong connections and substantial financial backing. Gelei recalled that Real Madrid's visit to Budapest 21 years ago involved a significant fee, necessitating careful consideration of revenue streams such as ticket sales, broadcasting rights, sponsorships, and advertising. He only proceeds with an event if the projected financial outcome is positive.

Gelei also recounted an instance where Arsenal's manager, Arsène Wenger, provided a list of requirements before the English team's first match in Szombathely. Once all conditions were met, Wenger was so pleased that Arsenal returned the following year for a significantly lower fee. Fans of Ferencváros, the current Hungarian club, might hope for a similar favorable arrangement with Real Madrid.

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A jegyek jelentik a legnagyobb bevételt, ebből előre (!) ki kell fizetni többek közt a klasszis ellenfél fellépti díját és a rendezői költségeket is.