AFC Leopards hope to keep Nyayo as revenue soars
Reading Time: 2min | Thu. 02.07.26. | 07:34
The centrally located stadium has become the club's preferred home ground because it attracts bigger crowds than alternative venues,
AFC Leopards are banking on Nyayo Stadium remaining available for the bulk of the 2026-27 season despite the venue's planned closure for renovations ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
The stadium, which has resumed hosting sporting events in recent months, is among the facilities earmarked as a training venue for the continental tournament and will undergo upgrades before the competition kicks off in June and July 2027.
For Ingwe, losing access to Nyayo would be a major financial blow after the club enjoyed a significant rise in matchday earnings by staging most of their home fixtures at the iconic venue.
Figures presented by club treasurer Newton Lime during the club's Annual General Meeting last weekend revealed that AFC Leopards collected slightly over Ksh23 million in matchday revenue in the financial year ending December 31, 2025. The income was generated largely from ticket sales, with additional revenue coming from merchandise.
According to the club's financial report, the amount represented more than double what Leopards earned during the previous financial year, a surge that club officials credited to the consistent availability of Nyayo Stadium.
“We had an increase in matchday revenue. We had an increase of 127% in gate collection compared to the previous period primarily due to availability of Nyayo Stadium,” Lime told members. “Most matches we played them here which led to high match attendance.”
The centrally located stadium has become the club's preferred home ground because it attracts bigger crowds than alternative venues, making it easier for supporters to attend matches and boosting gate collections.
Leopards are therefore optimistic that they will still be able to play the majority of their home fixtures at Nyayo before renovation works intensify, allowing them to build on the impressive financial gains recorded over the past year.
However, the exact timeline for the renovation project remains unclear. If the facility is shut for an extended period as preparations for AFCON gather pace, Ingwe could be forced to relocate their home matches elsewhere, a move that would likely affect attendances and reduce one of the club's fastest-growing revenue streams.
