Thank You for Supporting the Gunma Crane Thunders!
Ah, the world of basketball finances—it’s a bit like watching a game where the players are accountants and the slam dunks involve spreadsheets. Grab your popcorn as we dive into the thrilling financial summary of Gunma Professional Basketball Commission Co., Ltd. for the 2023-24 season! Buckle up, folks; it’s about to get exciting—or at least as exciting as fiscal reports can get!
Financial Summary
| 2022-23 (Issue 15) |
2023-24 (Issue 16) |
Compared with last year | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sales | ¥1,590,582 | ¥2,010,670 | 126.4% |
| Operating Income | ¥165,059 | ¥136,965 | 83.0% |
| Ordinary Profit | ¥159,905 | ¥151,235 | 94.6% |
| Net Profit for the Period | ¥85,126 | ¥161,111 | 189.3% |
Breakdown of Sales
| 2022-23 (Issue 15) |
2023-24 (Issue 16) |
Compared with last year | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amount | |||
| Sponsor Income | ¥1,120,990 | ¥1,118,205 | 99.8% |
| Admission Fee Income | ¥242,926 | ¥547,115 | 225.2% |
| Product Sales Revenue | ¥63,361 | ¥139,618 | 220.4% |
| Fan Club Income | ¥62,154 | ¥79,479 | 127.9% |
| School-related Income | ¥24,890 | ¥33,103 | 133.0% |
| Distribution/Prize | ¥53,682 | ¥57,428 | 107.0% |
| Other Income | ¥22,578 | ¥35,722 | 158.2% |
| Total | ¥1,590,582 | ¥2,010,670 | 126.4% |
Business Status
Now, don’t fall asleep just yet! The 2023-24 season was monumental for Japanese basketball, spotlighted by the FIBA World Cup and the men’s basketball team aiming to shine at the Paris Olympics. Add in the “B. Innovation” league structure, and suddenly, professional basketball is the new “it” business. Think of the excitement—like finding an extra fry at the bottom of the bag! Seriously, that’s joy worth celebrating!
Our very own Gunma Crane Thunders rolled into the new OPEN HOUSE ARENA OTA—where your usual court-side seat is now more like a VIP lounge! Attendance surged to a whopping 157,000 this season, a nifty increase of 60,000 compared to last year. Can you feel that buzz? That’s fans rallying, not just for the flamboyant dunks but for an ‘experience’! Average attendance per game shot to 5,244, proving folks love a good night out (and maybe a hot dog or two) while watching some intense basketball action.
Let’s talk expenses: yes, they climbed higher than a basketball shot from the three-point line. Player salaries, team staff, and maintaining the new arena saw expenditures increase. But fear not, dear readers! The admission fee revenue, which is as crucial as the final buzzer, skyrocketed, leading to a historic peak in sales and net income!
This season brought the added thrill of B Premier entry after meeting quantitative criteria—averaging over 4,000 fans in attendance and hitting sales that would make anyone’s head spin (¥1.2 billion, if you’re counting). While our team’s championship dreams might have slightly missed the mark, this year recorded an impressive 31 wins against 29 losses. Cheers to progress!
So, as we gear up for the next season, with a rallying cry of 「THE ONE」, we can only hope for more slam dunks, more fans, and more of that sweet, sweet net profit. Thank you for standing by the Gunma Crane Thunders, and may your wallets be as bursting as our arena!
We sincerely thank you for your unwavering support of the Gunma Crane Thunders.
Today, B.LEAGUE officially released a comprehensive summary of the club’s financial results for the 2023-24 season. We are pleased to present the financial outcomes of the Gunma Professional Basketball Commission Co., Ltd., which oversees Gunma Crane Thunders, detailing various performance metrics.
Financial summary
・Management results (unit: thousand yen)
・Breakdown of sales (unit: thousand yen)
Business status
In the 2023-24 season, the spotlight is shining on Japan as it hosts the FIBA World Cup 2023, with the national men’s basketball team gearing up for the Paris Olympics. Furthermore, the B.LEAGUE is undergoing a significant structural reform called “B. Innovation,” enhancing its appeal with new arena concepts and entry criteria for the prestigious B. LEAGUE PREMIER division. This exciting backdrop has resulted in a substantial rise in B.LEAGUE’s profile as a thriving professional basketball enterprise. The league achieved remarkable success this year, welcoming approximately 4.5 million spectators—an impressive increase of around 1.3 million compared to the previous year.
Our club proudly celebrated the full operational launch of the OPEN HOUSE ARENA OTA. This innovative venue offers a unique and immersive fan experience, resulting in an impressive surge in visitation, with annual attendance climbing to 157,000—an increase of 60,000 from last year—ranking the Thunders third in the league, up from thirteenth the previous season. The average attendance per game also saw a notable rise, reaching 5,244 spectators, which signifies an increase of 2,024 fans from the prior year.
Despite rising expenses in personnel for players, coaching staff, and front office management, as well as elevated production and operational costs, we successfully boosted admission fee revenue—an essential performance indicator. This success contributed to significant growth in merchandise sales, fan club membership, and overall financial health, culminating in record-breaking sales and net income for our organization.
Additionally, we surpassed the quantitative benchmarks required for B Premier contention, achieving an average of over 4,000 attendees and annual sales exceeding 1.2 billion yen, earning us a spot in the prestigious B Premier division.
While we narrowly missed our championship ambition this season, our performance of 31 wins and 29 losses marked an improvement from last year’s 29 wins and 31 losses, representing a significant milestone in our journey within the B1 League.
Looking ahead to the 2024-25 season, which will mark our fourth year in the B1 league, we are excited to embrace our motivational slogan, 「THE ONE」, as we work collectively towards our unified goals.
Once again, we express our heartfelt gratitude for your steadfast support of the Gunma Crane Thunders as we prepare for the 2024-25 season.
How did the financial performance of the Gunma Crane Thunders in the recent season reflect the growing popularity of basketball among fans?
Capacity of the OPEN HOUSE ARENA OTA, welcoming 157,000 fans throughout the season—an increase of 60,000 from the previous year. The average attendance per game reached 5,244, highlighting the growing enthusiasm for basketball as a premier entertainment option.
The financial landscape for the season was equally impressive, with total sales soaring to ¥2,010,670, marking a 126.4% increase from the previous season. Notably, admission fee income skyrocketed by 225.2%, reflecting the fan engagement and excitement surrounding the games. This uptick in revenue was instrumental in offsetting rising operational expenses like player salaries and arena maintenance costs.
Operating income might have dipped to ¥136,965 but was complemented by a significant leap in net profit, which surged by 189.3% to reach ¥161,111. The diverse revenue streams, including sponsorships, product sales, and fan club income, contributed to this robust financial year, despite the challenges posed by increased spending.
The Gunma Crane Thunders may not have clinched the championship, finishing with 31 wins and 29 losses, but the journey was filled with ups and downs that have strengthened the team’s resolve and connection with its fanbase. Looking forward, we anticipate more thrilling performances and an even greater outpouring of support as we embark on the next season under the rallying cry of **「THE ONE」**.
As we progress into a new chapter, we express our heartfelt gratitude to the fans for their unwavering loyalty to the Gunma Crane Thunders. Your enthusiasm inspires every dunk, every dribble, and every moment in the arena. Here’s to an exciting future filled with basketball magic!