Over 40% of sports clubs in Flanders plan to increase membership fees for the upcoming season, according to a report by De Zondag based on a survey conducted by the Flemish Sports Federation among about 200 clubs.
For the coming season, 43% of the surveyed clubs will raise their annual fees. Among these, 36% will raise fees for all members, while 7.5% will only increase fees for some members. On average, clubs increasing fees will do so by about 10% compared to last year.
The Flemish Sports Federation, which oversees over 18,500 clubs, cites rising costs as the main reason for the fee hikes. General Director Pieter Hoof stated in a press release, “Costs in sports clubs have risen by as much as 20% in recent years, yet revenues have not kept pace. This is why seven out of ten sports clubs in Flanders are currently seeking additional financial resources to maintain their operations.”
Two-thirds (64%) of clubs offer the option to pay in instalments, and 39% adjust fees for those experiencing financial difficulties. This is necessary as 37% of clubs have noted an increase in members struggling to pay fees. Additionally, one in five clubs (22%) report losing members because the membership fee is too high.
The Flemish Sports Federation is urging the government to eliminate administrative and fiscal barriers to help clubs generate income without increasing fees. They are asking the federal government to raise the current VAT threshold for sports clubs from €25,000 to at least €35,000. The federation also advocates for automatic indexing of this VAT threshold.
