The winner of this year’s UEFA Champions League final, Barcelona, will enjoy a record windfall of around €126 million, according to a new study commissioned by the competition’s sponsor MasterCard.
A combination of official prize money, an increase in squad value, enhanced television and media rights and greater brand equity are behind the record sum.
Runners-up Manchester United certainly won’t be going home empty-handed though – they will also enjoy an estimated €73 million.
The Champions League final match alone is now worth an estimated €369 million, an increase of €17.5 million from last year, and an increase of €59 million compared with the last time Manchester United and Barcelona met in the 2009 Champions League final in Rome.
London, which hosted this year’s Champions League final match at Wembley Stadium, is expected to rake in €52 million from the match as fans spend money at the stadium, on accommodation, and on food and drink.
The report said the estimation that this year’s final will break all economic records was largely attributable to the two finalists.
“While the UEFA Champions League is a strong brand in its own right, the nature and strength of the brand is clearly heavily influenced by its constituent parts – the participating clubs,” author of the report, Professor Chadwick, said.
“This year’s UEFA Champions League final has the perfect ingredients to drive economic activity – Europe’s two biggest clubs playing in a city such as London.”
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