August 4 – Tonight Brentford and Fulham will play in the most valuable match in world football, in fact any match in world sport, as they bid for the third promotion spot to next season’s Premier League.
If Fulham win the Championship Play-Off final they will benefit by about £135 million. If Brentford win they will benefit by about £160 million across the next three seasons, according to
analysis from Deloitte’s Sports Business Group.
The additional revenue could rise to about £265 million over a five-year period if they avoid relegation in their first season in the Premier League.
Dan Jones, partner and head of the Sports Business Group at Deloitte, commented: “This season’s Championship has been temporarily interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, however as the season comes to a close, all eyes will be on Wembley in what still remains world footballs biggest financial, winner-takes-all, prize match.
Fulham are looking to bounce straight back into the Premier League having been relegated at the end of the 2018/19 season. Brentford have not played in the top flight for 73 years.
Brentford would benefit more significantly from the win as unlike Fulham they do not currently receive parachute payments, and would forgo any future payments upon promotion to the Premier League.
Tim Bridge, director in Deloitte’s Sports Business Group, added: “The financial prize for Brentford or Fulham, as well as Leeds United and West Bromwich Albion, is likely to be in excess of £265 millioj if they survive their first season in the Premier League. Furthermore, given the recent impact of COVID-19, it is likely that the financial impact of promotion will be better received than ever before. The increased revenue provides these clubs with the platform from which they can develop on and off the pitch.”
Bridge added: “Promotion to the Premier League provides clubs with the financial resources to make strategic investments. While this typically includes increased expenditure in on-pitch playing talent, it still remains important that promoted clubs are committed to their longer-term financial responsibility.”
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