Swiss National League club HC Ambrì-Piotta is currently managing a total debt load of approximately 30 million Swiss francs, according to financial disclosures reported by the NZZ am Sonntag. The debt primarily stems from long-term mortgage obligations tied to the construction of the Gottardo Arena, which opened in 2021 to meet league participation requirements.
Debt Structure and Gottardo Arena Financing
The vast majority of the club’s financial liabilities—totaling 22 million francs—consists of bank mortgages secured for the construction of the Gottardo Arena. An additional three million francs remains in outstanding COVID-19 relief loans, alongside private individual loans, which include 750’000 francs owed to former president Filippo Lombardi, according to the NZZ am Sonntag. Lombardi stepped down last season.
Club president Davide Mottis, who is 57, acknowledged the liquidity pressures in an interview with RSI, characterizing the situation as difficult rather than precarious while dismissing any notion that the club faces immediate exclusion from the National League. Despite holding a conditional license marked by a “red point” from the league’s licensing commission—requiring monthly financial reports—Ambrì-Piotta secured its playing rights for the current season.
Fan Support and Equity Capital Efforts
The HCAP Group posted a deficit of 848’093 Fr. last fiscal year, driven largely by a drop of more than 700’000 in donation revenue. The club attributed this decline to a shift in supporter funding toward capital increases executed during the previous season, which successfully boosted equity capital by 2.22 Mio. through share subscriptions.
To further stabilize finances, club leadership invited supporters to purchase public shares priced at 75 francs each through a campaign running until October 22. Michael Brunner, president of the HCAP Fanclub Ostschweiz, noted that fans understand the long-term reality of owning a stadium, stating that supporters trust Mottis to navigate the financial roadmap.
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