Europe’s top football clubs earnt an average of €38.45million for reaching the knockout stage of the UEFA Champions League, according to research commissioned by Official Sponsor, MasterCard.
For sides with the largest fan bases, such as Manchester United FC and FC Barcelona, the figure rises to €46.14million. The study also suggests the team which wins the final could make up to €110.35million in the process. These financial injections will come via a UEFA participation payment; UEFA prize money; a share of UEFA commercial revenues from the tournament (market pool payment); ticket sales; commercial and marketing revenues, including sponsorship and sales of merchandise, food and beverages; and increased squad value.
Professor Simon Chadwick, who conducted the research on behalf of MasterCard, said: “In uncertain economic times, sport’s universal appeal remains strong, making it one of the most lucrative industries to be involved in. The competition continues to be an important source of revenue and commercial activity for clubs, especially for those that qualify for the knockout phase of the competition.
“This inevitably makes a significant contribution to the annual turnover of the clubs involved. Moreover, revenues earned from UEFA Champions League football will be especially important to clubs as the moment, given difficult operating conditions across the world.”
UEFA awards €3million to each team that qualifies for the UEFA Champions League, plus €2.4million for participating in the Group stage. A Group stage win was worth €600,000 per game, or €300,000 for a draw. Reaching the first knockout phase has netted an instant €2.2million prize payment. A side qualifying for the knockout phase will secure on average €9.4million in UEFA prize monies.
UEFA will make additional payments to Group stage teams dependent on the commercial success of the tournament, which the MasterCard report suggests could amount to approximately €9.5million per club. The study also suggests ticket revenues generated an average of €8.55million in income from the Group stage, with commercial and marketing revenues accounting for a further €6million on average and squad values increasing by an average of €5million on the back of qualification for the knockout phase.
According to the research, the average across the sides in the UEFA Champions League, the economic boost derived from qualifying through the Group stage can be split up as 24.7 per cent due to the UEFA market pool payment, 24.4 per cent due to UEFA prize money, 22.3 per cent due to ticket revenues, 15.6 per cent due to commercial and marketing revenues, and 13.0 per cent due to increases in player value.
In total, UEFA prize money adds €2.5 million for each quarter-finalist, €3 million for each semi-finalist, €4 million for the runners-up and €7 million for the winners. According to the MasterCard study, the side that wins UEFA Champions League trophy in 2009 could earn up to a total of €21.9million in prize money, an expected €9.5million market pool payment, €19.95million in ticket revenues, €14million in commercial and marketing revenues, €15 million in increased squad value, and up to €30million in other premiums associated with progression to the Final and victory, including bonus payments linked to sponsorship.
