Is an LED scoreboard funded in Germany?

It depends on the state. State funding of 50 % is on record in Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia's guideline fits by its wording. Baden-Württemberg and Schleswig-Holstein exclude scoreboards explicitly. In the other states the funding body decides case by case.

May our club order before approval?

As a rule, no. An order counts as starting the project and the grant is lost. Lower Saxony, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Saxony below EUR 100'000 allow a start once the application is received, at your own risk. That is not a promise of funding.

Do we need three quotes?

Often, yes. Lower Saxony requires three quotes from EUR 3'000 order value, Hesse from EUR 10'000. In North Rhine-Westphalia quotes may only be requested after the grant decision; guide prices are enough for the expression of interest.

May sponsors advertise on a funded scoreboard?

Each state handles this differently. Lower Saxony excludes advertising structures from funding, North Rhine-Westphalia only allows commercial use to a minor extent. Agree the extent with the funding body before you apply.

How is sponsor advertising taxed?

If the club leases its advertising rights to a marketing agency, this usually counts as tax-free asset management. If it sells the advertising itself, it is a commercial operation. Corporation and trade tax only apply once income from such operations exceeds EUR 50'000 a year. Clarify VAT and input tax on the purchase with your tax adviser.

Do you deliver and install in Germany?

Yes, we also deliver to Germany. How installation is organised on site and how the invoice looks is set out in the quote for your ground.

What do sponsors on the scoreboard bring in?

As a guide, a sponsor in the German district leagues pays EUR 200 to 500 per season for a 3 x 1 m perimeter board. On the LED wall you also sell banners, goal animations and half-time spots, covering part of the club's share.

Funding for an LED scoreboard in Germany

Q: How high is the grant?

Between 20 % in Schleswig-Holstein and Berlin and up to 90 % in North Rhine-Westphalia and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. The high rates come with conditions, such as an investment of EUR 50'000 in North Rhine-Westphalia or co-financing by the municipality in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.

Every German state funds sports facilities differently. Some pay for a fixed scoreboard as part of a modernisation, two exclude it explicitly. This page sets out what the guidelines say for all 16 states.

Request a cost estimate for your application

In writing and without obligation, with wall, installation, control unit and setup listed separately.

All 16 state programmes checked against their guidelines, with a source per state. As of September 2026.

Rear of a 5 x 3 m LED scoreboard: modules on a steel structure, fixed on two posts — Fixed to the structure: steelwork and modules of a 5 x 3 m LED wall. Technology built in like this stands a better chance in funding programmes than a plain equipment purchase.

What applies in every state

No state guideline names the scoreboard as eligible. Clubs that want a grant anyway stick to these five points.

20 to 90 %

grant from the state programmes for club facilities, depending on the state. The high rates come with conditions, such as an investment of EUR 50'000 in North Rhine-Westphalia.

Do not order before the decision: An order or a signed contract counts almost everywhere as starting the project, and the grant is lost entirely. Planning and guide prices do no harm.
As part of a building project: Fixed technology within a modernisation stands a better chance than an equipment purchase. Many programmes have minimums of EUR 5'000 to 50'000, and the scoreboard alone does not always reach the higher ones.
Confirm in writing first: Have the funding body confirm that the scoreboard counts within your project before you build the application. The source for each state is linked below.
Think about advertising: Lower Saxony excludes advertising structures, North Rhine-Westphalia only allows commercial use to a minor extent. Ask how much sponsor time is allowed on a funded scoreboard.
Comparable quotes: Many funding bodies require comparable quotes: three from EUR 3'000 order value in Lower Saxony, from EUR 10'000 in Hesse. In North Rhine-Westphalia quotes may only be requested after the grant decision.

The 16 states compared

Grant rate of the main state programme for club facilities and what the guideline means for a scoreboard. Select a state for the details.

State programmes for club sports facilities in Germany with grant rate and how a scoreboard is classed
State	Grant	Scoreboard
Baden-Württemberg	30 %	Explicitly excluded
Bavaria	Up to 25 %	Little chance
Berlin	20 %, plus a loan	Open, ask first
Brandenburg	Up to 80 %	Possible within a building project
Bremen	Up to 50 %	Open, ask first
Hamburg	15 to 50 %	Open, ask first
Hesse	Around 25 to 35 %	Open, ask first
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania	Up to 90 % net	Open, ask first
Lower Saxony	Up to 40 %	Little chance
North Rhine-Westphalia	50 to 90 %	Possible within a building project
Rhineland-Palatinate	Up to 40 %	Possible within a building project
Saarland	Not published	Open, ask first
Saxony	Up to 50 %	Open, ask first
Saxony-Anhalt	Up to 50 %, plus lottery	Funded before
Schleswig-Holstein	20 %	Explicitly excluded
Thuringia	Up to 60 %	Funded before

What each state says about scoreboards

Programme, grant, minimum, the relevant clause on scoreboards and how to apply. Quotations are marked with «», everything else is summarised.

Baden-Württemberg

A scoreboard cannot be funded through the sports federations. The 2026 equipment guidelines exclude score displays by name, and facility construction excludes spectator facilities.

Programme: Club facility construction and sports equipment funding of WLSB, Badischer Sportbund Nord and Badischer Sportbund Freiburg
Grant: 30 %
Minimum: EUR 3'500 total cost for building work, EUR 2'000 per item of equipment. The club needs more than 50 members.
Scoreboard: Excluded. The equipment guidelines list score displays and public address systems for spectators as not eligible.
Application: Many municipalities support clubs under their own guidelines. In Baden-Württemberg that, together with sponsors, is the realistic route.

Source: Sportgeräte-Förderrichtlinien 2026 (WLSB)

Bavaria

The BLSV pays up to 25 % since 2026. A scoreboard has little chance there, because the guidelines exclude spectator facilities and the equipment cost group.

Programme: Club facility construction under the Bavarian sports funding guidelines (SportFöR), handled by the BLSV
Grant: Up to 25 %, at most 40 % with supplements for joint projects
Minimum: EUR 10'000 eligible costs
Scoreboard: Not named. Spectator facilities and equipment are excluded, fixtures built into the structure count as the building. Confirm in writing with the BLSV first.
Application: Online via verein360, no fixed deadline. Start only after written approval to build; placing an order or buying material already counts as starting.

Source: BLSV, Info zum Kleinantrag (02/2026)

Berlin

The club investment programme only helps clubs with their own or long-term leased ground. Clubs playing on a district pitch ask the district sports office.

Programme: Club investment programme of the Senate (SFR VIP of 1 October 2022), plus programmes of the Berlin sports federation
Grant: 20 % grant and an interest-free loan of up to 40 %. The club's own share is at least 40 %.
Minimum: Grant of at least EUR 10'000
Scoreboard: Not named. According to its 2023 brochure, the Berlin sports federation funded digital measuring and scoring systems up to EUR 14'000 project cost. Ask there whether a scoreboard counts.
Application: Register projects under EUR 100'000 grant with the sport's association by 30 September of the previous year. Early start can be requested.

Source: Richtlinie SFR VIP (Senatsverwaltung)

Brandenburg

The new Golden Plan pays up to 80 %, but only from EUR 50'000 total cost. A scoreboard belongs in a larger building project there.

Programme: Golden Plan Brandenburg 2026 to 2029 (RL-GPB of 17 April 2026) and guideline A5 for facility construction of the state sports federation
Grant: Golden Plan up to 80 %. Guideline A5 80 %, half grant and half interest-free loan.
Minimum: Golden Plan above EUR 50'000 total cost. Guideline A5 above EUR 5'000, at most EUR 50'000 grant.
Scoreboard: Not named. The Golden Plan funds initial equipment within a building project; guideline A5 excludes spectator facilities.
Application: Golden Plan pre-application by 1 May for the following year with the district sports federation, guideline A5 by 1 July. Lottery funds of the education ministry are requested between 1 January and 30 September, at least three months before the project starts.

Source: Landessportbund Brandenburg, Goldener Plan

Bremen

SportInvest pays up to 50 %, but only for renovation and modernisation. Replacing an old scoreboard may fit, a first one hardly.

Programme: Municipal programme SportInvest (guideline of 3 March 2026) of the city of Bremen
Grant: Up to 50 %, at most EUR 125'000 per club
Minimum: Projects from EUR 1'000 to 250'000
Scoreboard: Not named. Stand-alone new builds are excluded; ask the sports office how a scoreboard is classed.
Application: In writing to the Bremen sports office by 31 October 2026. Federal or state programmes take priority. Bremerhaven has its own rules.

Source: Sportamt Bremen, SportInvest

Hamburg

The Hamburg sports federation funds club-owned facilities, renovation at 50 %. The guideline is only in the member portal.

Programme: Investment programme for club-owned facilities of the Hamburg sports federation, plus the IFB sports loan
Grant: 50 % for renovation, 15 % for new builds and extensions, as grant and loan
Minimum: IFB loan from EUR 20'000. Not public for the HSB programme.
Scoreboard: Not publicly regulated. Ask the HSB funding advice service.
Application: Through the HSB member portal. Apply for the IFB loan by 1 January or 1 July of the funding year.

Source: Hamburger Sportbund, Förderung

Hesse

Hesse does not exclude scoreboards anywhere. The state programmes by project size fit best; confirm with the ministry or the state sports federation first.

Programme: Three state programmes by project size (Weiterführung der Vereinsarbeit, Sportland Hessen, Vereinseigener Sportstättenbau) and the club fund of the state sports federation
Grant: State around 25 % for EUR 4'000 to 35'000 investment, around 30 % above, around 35 % from EUR 250'000. The sports federation pays up to 50 % for durable equipment, capped by the club's fund balance.
Minimum: EUR 4'000 investment for the state programmes
Scoreboard: Not named. The large programme funds the equipment of sports facilities but excludes spectator facilities.
Application: The two smaller state programmes at any time, online with the ministry. Placing an order counts as starting. From EUR 10'000 three comparable quotes are required.

Source: Hessisches Sportministerium, Förderprogramme

Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania

The sports infrastructure guideline pays up to 90 % of net cost if the municipality co-finances. Scoreboards are neither named nor excluded.

Programme: Sportinfrastrukturrichtlinie M-V of 14 August 2025, decided via the state sports federation, approved by the Landesförderinstitut
Grant: Up to 90 % of net cost if the municipality carries the national co-financing, otherwise up to 60 %
Minimum: Eligible cost above EUR 10'000, club with at least 31 members
Scoreboard: Not named. Equipment with sports apparatus is funded; ask the state sports federation how a scoreboard is classed.
Application: Information request via the district sports federation by 31 August for the following year, in the second round by 31 January. Work may start once receipt is confirmed, at your own risk.

Source: Landessportbund M-V, Baumassnahmen

Lower Saxony

The state sports federation pays up to 40 % but excludes spectator facilities and advertising structures. A scoreboard carrying sponsor ads has a hard time there.

Programme: Guideline for sports facility construction 2025 to 2027 of the LandesSportBund Niedersachsen
Grant: Up to 40 %, at most EUR 150'000
Minimum: Eligible cost from EUR 5'000
Scoreboard: Not named. Stands and spectator facilities are excluded, as are structures for perimeter and stand advertising.
Application: Through the LSB funding portal. Each district sports federation sets its deadline, usually between 31 August and 30 September for the following year. A consultation is mandatory from EUR 25'000, three quotes from EUR 3'000 order value. Work may start right after applying, at your own risk.

Source: Richtlinie Sportstättenbau 2025 bis 2027 (LSB Niedersachsen)

North Rhine-Westphalia

Moderne Sportstätte NRW is the strongest programme for a scoreboard. Equipment and digital modernisation are eligible, but the scoreboard alone rarely reaches the threshold.

Programme: Moderne Sportstätte Nordrhein-Westfalen (guideline of 1 July 2026), portal at the state sports federation, approved by NRW.BANK
Grant: Clubs that own the ground or hold a heritable building right 50 to 90 %, tenants and leaseholders 50 %
Minimum: Investment of at least EUR 50'000, grant of at least EUR 25'000. Several measures at the same ground may be bundled.
Scoreboard: Not named as such. The guideline and the call name equipment, digital modernisation and spectator facilities. Commercial use such as advertising is only allowed to a minor extent.
Application: Expression of interest in the LSB NRW portal; the city or district sports federation prioritises from the municipality's allocation. Request quotes only after the grant decision; before that, guide prices are enough.

Source: Landessportbund NRW, Moderne Sportstätte

Rhineland-Palatinate

The state's special programme pays up to 40 % for building projects of EUR 10'500 to 100'000. A scoreboard on a fixed foundation can fit as a building project.

Programme: Special state programme for club-owned sports facilities, via the Rheinland, Rheinhessen and Pfalz sports federations
Grant: Up to 40 %, so at most EUR 40'000
Minimum: Eligible cost from EUR 10'500 to 100'000
Scoreboard: Not named. Only structures fixed to the ground are eligible; a spectator shelter was funded in 2025. Equipment funding excludes time displays.
Application: By 30 September for the following year with the regional sports federation, with the municipality's consent. No order may have been placed yet.

Source: Landessportbund RLP, Sonderprogramm

Saarland

The sports planning commission decides case by case from sports lottery funds. Rates and thresholds are not published; funding often runs via the municipality.

Programme: Sports facility funding of the Sportplanungskommission (interior ministry and LSVS)
Grant: Not published; fixed amount or share within the budget
Minimum: Not published
Scoreboard: Not named; ask the commission's office.
Application: Informally to the LSVS or the ministry, at any time, with a statement from the municipality. Start only after the grant decision.

Source: Saarland, Sportplanungskommission

Saxony

The Saxon development bank pays up to 50 % and accepts projects under EUR 200'000 all year. The risk is being classed as a spectator facility.

Programme: Sports funding guideline (Sport-FRL), investment funding via the Sächsische Aufbaubank
Grant: Up to 50 %, own share at least 10 %
Minimum: Grant above EUR 2'500
Scoreboard: Not named. Technical installations and equipment are eligible, spectator facilities and stands are not.
Application: In the SAB portal, all year below EUR 200'000. Below EUR 100'000 of spending, work may start once the application is received, at your own risk.

Source: Sächsische Aufbaubank, Sportstättenförderung

Saxony-Anhalt

A case is on record here. In 2024 the state paid a football club half the cost of fencing and an LED scoreboard, more than EUR 43'200.

Programme: Guideline for municipal and club sports facility construction of 4 December 2024 via the Investitionsbank, plus Lotto-Toto Sachsen-Anhalt
Grant: State up to 50 %, lottery up to 50 % and at most EUR 75'000. Example from the state sports federation: state 50 %, lottery 35 %, club 15 %.
Minimum: EUR 10'000 total cost for the state, EUR 2'500 for the lottery
Scoreboard: Initial equipment is eligible where it is essential for operation. Spectator facilities are not excluded.
Application: Through the Investitionsbank portal by 31 August for the following year; the next date is 31 August 2027. Lottery at any time, at least four months before building starts.

Source: Landessportbund Sachsen-Anhalt, Landesförderung

Schleswig-Holstein

The state sports federation excludes scoreboards by name. That leaves the municipality, the LEADER region and sponsors.

Programme: Project funding guideline of the Landessportverband Schleswig-Holstein, in force since 1 January 2024
Grant: 20 %
Minimum: EUR 5'000 cost for building work, EUR 1'000 for equipment
Scoreboard: Excluded. The annex lists a scoreboard for spectators as not eligible.
Application: A LEADER region funded a sports club's scoreboard from its regional budget in 2025. Ask your region and your municipality.

Source: Richtlinie Projektförderung (LSV Schleswig-Holstein)

Thuringia

The state sports federation's guideline fits best by its wording: it funds permanently installed sports technology. A football club received EUR 4'000 in lottery funds for a digital scoreboard.

Programme: Guideline for club-owned sports facility construction of the Landessportbund Thüringen of 1 July 2024
Grant: Up to 60 %, at most EUR 500 per registered member
Minimum: EUR 6'000 total cost, own funds at least 10 %
Scoreboard: Permanently installed, durable sports equipment and technology is eligible. Mobile equipment is excluded.
Application: Register with the state sports federation by 1 August for the following year, with statements from municipality, district and district sports federation. The next date is 1 August 2027.

Source: Landessportbund Thüringen, Sportstättenbauförderung

All information without guarantee, as of September 2026. The guidelines of each funding body are authoritative. How to build the application step by step is covered in our guide to sports facility funding in Germany.

When the state does not pay

Most scoreboards in Germany are financed without state money. These routes add to it or replace it.

Municipality and district: Many municipalities support clubs under their own guidelines. In Rhineland-Palatinate, Thuringia and Brandenburg the state funding already requires their consent or statement. Ask the sports office early.
Regional budget: LEADER regions fund small projects up to EUR 20'000 total cost at up to 80 %, in Bavaria with at most EUR 10'000. A small scoreboard just fits. The region decides whether club equipment counts; Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania excludes it.
Cooperative bank crowdfunding: On the platform «Viele schaffen mehr», clubs have raised EUR 3'000 to 8'000 for scoreboards, with the bank adding to each donation. That covers part of the cost.
Sponsors and supporters' association: In most reports on new scoreboards at amateur clubs, local sponsors pay the larger part and the supporters' association the rest.
Federal programme: The federal programme for renovating municipal sports facilities only funds municipalities and only from EUR 250'000 of federal money. It is not a route for a scoreboard on its own.

Home match on a grass pitch, the LED scoreboard with score and match clock behind the advertising boards — Home match with an LED scoreboard behind the boards. Score and match clock come from LemonScore.

Sponsors carry the club's share

No programme pays for the whole wall. Your club finances the rest through advertising slots on the scoreboard, sold like a perimeter board, only more visible.

EUR 200 to 500

is what a sponsor pays per season for a 3 x 1 m perimeter board in the German district leagues. A guide value; the range is EUR 150 to 600.

LED scoreboard showing a sponsor full screen, with static advertising boards along the pitch below — A sponsor full screen on the LED wall, with classic perimeter advertising below.

Banner under the score: Rotating throughout the match, in the order you agree with your sponsors.
Goal animation: A sponsor's logo fills the whole wall with every goal.
Half-time: Videos and images as a playlist while play is paused and everyone is looking.

With German perimeter board prices, paying the wall back takes longer than for Swiss clubs. A solid financing plan therefore combines grant, municipality, own funds and sponsors.

How clubs sell the slots is explained on the page Advertising on the scoreboard.

How your club gets the grant

Check your state and programme
Look up which programme applies to your ground and talk to the district or city sports federation.
Confirm the classification in writing
Ask the funding body whether the scoreboard counts as fixed technology within your project and how much advertising is allowed.
Draw up a financing plan
Cost estimate, grant, municipality, own funds and sponsors in one plan. Almost everywhere the club carries at least 10 % itself.
Meet the deadline, wait for the decision
Many deadlines fall between August and October for the following year. Order only once you have the decision or approval to start early.

LED scoreboard with score and match clock on a football pitch, advertising boards below — The finished 5 x 3 m LED wall in use, score and sponsors from LemonScore.

What you get from us for the application

The funding body wants to see what the money is spent on. Our documents are structured accordingly.

Written cost estimate: Wall, installation, control unit and setup as separate items, usually within two working days. Where the funding body only allows guide prices before the decision, this is exactly that.
Binding quote after the decision: Once the decision is in, you get a complete quote that can be compared with others.
Delivery and installation in Germany: We also deliver to Germany. How installation is organised on site and how the invoice to your club looks is set out in the quote.
No obligation to order: Cost estimate and quote are non-binding. You order only once your decision has arrived.

Try size and control unit in advance in the LED scoreboard configurator.

Is your club in Switzerland or Austria?

Funding works differently there. In Switzerland through the cantonal Swisslos sports fund, in Austria through the federal state.

Funding in Switzerland Funding in Austria

Frequently asked questions about funding in Germany

With the written cost estimate attached, you submit a complete application.