The handball club market - France

Handball is a team sport played by hand between two teams of seven players. The sport originated in Germany in the 1920s. Although handball is known as an Olympic disciple in which national teams compete, and seems less famous than soccer or basketball, the French championship is now one of the most famous in the world. As a result, attendance figures, players' salaries and economic spin-offs are on the rise. The sport is also becoming increasingly international, with 48% of players in France's top division coming from abroad. This study focuses on the handball club market in France. French professional clubs are divided into two leagues: the Starligue (Division 1) and the Proligue (Division 2). The handball club market is undergoing radical change, with the number of Starligue clubs increasing from 14 to 16, Qatari investments, and the strong growth and professionalization of women's handball. The economic situation of the various clubs varies greatly, particularly in terms of budget. Even if handball has suffered the consequences of the health crisis, with a significant drop in the number of licensees (down 26% to 341,000 by 2021), this reduction needs to be qualified, as handball has been heavily impacted by the health restrictions imposed by the French government.handball has been greatly impacted by health restrictions (indoor sport) and has experienced very strong growth over the last ten years, as illustrated by Panini's decision to market an album of stickers dedicated to this discipline. The average projected budget per club for Starligue clubs is estimated at 5.36 million euros for the 2022-2023 season, the highest level since the creation of professional leagues. Handball clubs in France therefore represent a high-potential market, and face a number of challenges.