Lionel Messi, FC Barcelona – Adidas Ad
Top popular European football clubs
European football is not only popular – it is extremely profitable as well. Five clubs are valued at over a billion dollars.
Spainish La Liga
Real Madrid
League: La Liga Spain
Owner(s)/shareholders: Club members
Estimated club value: $3.30 billion (+76% over 2012 value)
Revenues: $650 million
Major Sponsors: Mahou, Adidas, Audi and Coca Cola
Madrid captured their 32nd La Liga last year and extended their Adidas kit deal through 2019-20 for an estimated $40 milliion per year.
FC Barcelona
League: La Liga Spain
Owner(s): Club members
Estimated club value: $2.6 billion (+99% over 2012 value)
Revenues: $613 million
Major Sponsors: Seiko, Nike, Qatar Sports Investment, Audi
The Spanish club signed a kit sponsorship deal with Qatar Sports Investment through 2015-16 that is reportedly worth $38 million per year.
England Premiership
Manchester United
League: Barclays Premier League England
Owner(s): Glazer family
Estimated club value: $3.165 billion (+43% over 2012 value)
Revenues: $502 million
Major Sponsors: Chevrolet, Nike, Aon, Bwin
The Red Devils inked a lucrative kit deal with American automaker Chevrolet at the beginning of the season, totaling a mind-boggling $70 million in 2014-15 and totals over $550 million for seven years.
FC Arsenal
League: Barclays Premier League England
Owner(s): E. Stanley Kroenke
Estimated club value: $1.326 billion (+3% over 2012 value)
Revenues: $368 million
Major sponsors: Carlsberg Group, Nike, Emirates, EA Sports
According to Forbes, the Gunners have the third highest matchday revenue in club soccer, earning $149 million during the 2011-12 season.
FC Chelsea
League: Barclays Premier League (England)
Owner(s): Roman Abramovich
Estimated club value: $901 million (+18% over 2012 value)
Revenues: $409 million
Major sponsors: Adidas, Delta, Samsung, Gazprom
Chelsea recorded over $75 million for winning the UEFA Champions League and FA Cup last season.
Manchester City
League: Barclays Premier League England
Owner(s)/shareholders: Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Estimated club value: $689 million (+56% over 2012 value)
Revenues: $362 million
Major Sponsors: Hugo Boss, Umbro, Etihad and Abu Dhabi
City’s historic Premier League title run last season helped the Citizens earn $689 million. Their estimate club value also increased due to their participation in Champions League football.
FC Liverpool
League: Barclays Premier League England
Owner(s): John Henry, Tom Werner
Estimated club value: $651 million (+5% over 2012 value)
Revenues: $296 million
Major sponsors: Standard Chartered, Warrior Sports, Bank of America, Carlsberg Group
The American owned club struck a six-year deal with Warrior Sports totaling a cool $39 million per season.
Tottenham Hotspur
League: Barclays Premier League England
Owner(s): Joseph Lewis
Estimated club value: $520 million (-8% over 2012 value)
Revenues: $226 million
Major sponsors: Stubhub, Under Armour, Autonomy, Carlsberg
Planning new stadium that will increase capacity by more than 20,000, to 56,000, and be part of a 20 acre development that will include homes, shops and restaurants.
Newcastle
League: Barclays Premier League England
Owner(s): Michael Ashley
Estimated club value: $263 million (+9% over 2012 value)
Revenues: $146 million
Major sponsors: Sportsdirect.com, viagogo, Puma, Virgin
The Magpies inked a new kit sponsorship deal that will have Wonga.com replace Virgin Money that will also include stadium naming rights beginning with the 2013-14 season for $37.6 million over four years.
Italy Serie A
AC Milan
League: Serie A Italy
Owner(s): Silvio Berlusconi
Estimated club value: $945 million (-4% over 2012 value)
Revenues: $326 million
Major sponsors: Emirates, Sky, Adidas
Forbes reports a declining matchday revenue average for Milan, mainly due to the antiquated amenities and attendance offered by the San Siro.
Juventus
League: Serie A Italy
Owner(s)/shareholders: Club members
Estimated club value: $694 million (+17% over 2012 value)
Revenues: $248 million
Major Sponsors: Veneto Banco, Nike, Jeep and Alitalia
The Bianconeri captured their 28th dosmetic league title last season, posting a perfect record in Serie A.
Napoli
League: Serie A Italy
Owner(s): Aurelio De Laurentiis
Estimated club value: $330 million (+16% over 2012 value)
Revenues: $188 million
Major sponsors: Alitalia, MSC, Lete
The Azzuri won the Coppa Italia during the 2011-12 season and played in their first Champions League since the team was founded in 1926.
Inter Milan
League: Serie A (Italy)
Owner(s): Massimo Moratti
Estimated club value: $401 million (-18% over 2012 value)
Revenues: $236 million
Major sponsors: Oknopast, Nike, Pirelli, Volvo
Chinese investors bought a minority stake in the team in 2012 and the China Railway Construction Corporation is building the Nerazzuri a new stadium by 2017.
France Ligue 1
Marseille
League: Ligue 1 France
Owner(s): Margarita Louis-Dreyfus
Estimated club value: $285 million (-18% over 2012 value)
Revenues: $167 million
Major sponsors: Groupama, intersport, adidas, Coca-Cola
Stade Velodrome had seating capiacity reduced by 18,000 last seson, to 42,000, during a renovation that will expand seating to 67,00 and have a roof that cover the entire stadium when it is completed by the summer of 2014.
Lyon
League: Ligue 1 (France)
Owner(s): Jean-Michel Aulas
Estimated club value: $368 million (-4% over 2012 value)
Revenues: $167 million
Major sponsors: Groupama, Renault, Hyundai, adidas
Les Gones will have a new stadium, Stade des Lumieres, for the 2015-16 season that will expand capacity by almost 20,000 and enable the team to increase match day and sponsorship revenue significantly.
Germany Bundesliga
Bayern Munich
League: Bundesliga Germany
Owner(s): club members
Estimated club value: $1.309 billion (+6% over 2012 value)
Revenues: $468 million
Major sponsors: Deutsche Lufthansa, Adidas, Deutsche Telekom, Samsung
Bayern Munich recently claimed the Bundesliga this season and ensured another top four Champions League finish earlier this month. The German club reportedly earned $56 million due to their second place Champions League finish.
Hamburg SV
League: Bundesliga Germany
Owner(s): Club members
Estimated club value: $300 million (-16% over 2012 value)
Revenues: $154 million
Major sponsors: Holsten, Emirates, adidas, Imtech
Germany’s leading plant engineering and building services contractor, Imtech, signed on to be Hamburg’s stadium sponsor in 2009 for $32 million over six years.
Borussia Dortmund
League: Bundesliga (Germany)
Owner(s): Bernd Geske
Estimated club value: $456 million (+16% over 2012 value)
Revenues: $240 million
Major sponsors: Brinkoffs, Puma, Evonik
Dortmund’s broadcasting revenue increased 65%, to $76.7 million, during the 2011-12 season as the team won its eighth Bundesliga title and advanced to group stages of the Champions League for the first time in nine years.
Shalke 04
League: Bundesliga Germany
Owner(s): Club Members
Estimated club value: $498 million (-15% over 2012 value)
Revenues: $221 million
Major sponsors: Veltins, adidas, Gazprom, VW
The Royal Blues failed to qualify for the 2011-12 Champions League but remain among soccer’s most commercially successful teams due to their shirt sponsorship deal with Gazprom, which pays an average of $19 million per season through 2017.
Brazil Serie A
Corinthians
League: Serie A Brazil
Owner(s): Club members
Estimated club value: $358 million
Revenues: $119 million
Major sponsors: Nike, Fisk, Caixa
Building a $400 million, public and privately financed stadium that will have 48,000 permanent seats and 20,000 removable seats for the 2014 World Cup.
(Data from Forbes/Forbes.com)
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