Massive financial boost for Champions League

A study revealed this season's Champions League victor could earn up to EUR 100 million in addition to UEFA prize money and tournament gate receipts.

Increased sponsorship, extra television revenue, higher attendances and inflated player values look set to swell the victorious club's coffers long after the championship in Athens on May 23.

The study was conducted by KRC Research and Champions League sponsor Mastercard. The 12 leading football and business experts were asked to estimate the extended windfall for the winning team.

The figure does not include the cash bonus awarded by UEFA. The European governing body says the successful club could receive as much as EUR 40 million in prize money, including television revenue but not gate receipts.

It is not just the clubs that benefit from Champions League glory. The study found that the winning team's home city also receives a large cash injection.

The city of Liverpool received an estimated EUR 70 million boost last year through increased consumer spending, tourism, sponsorship and commerce after the club won the 2005 title.

The effect on Barcelona from the 2006 tournament has yet to be calculated but the study found that FC Porto's Champions League victory in 2004 brought up to EUR 12 million into their city.

Despite the low figure in Porto's case, the research believed smaller cities are likely to profit more from having winning clubs than larger places such as London or Milan.

Source: euFootball.BIZ © Copyright 2006 - All rights reserved.