Huddersfield and Nottingham Forest compete for the biggest financial prize in world football

• The winner of Sunday’s Championship play-off final between Huddersfield Town and Nottingham Forest will secure the final place in the 2022/23 Premier League;
• The promoted side stands to receive additional future revenues of at least c.£170m, across the next three seasons, according to analysis by Deloitte’s Sports Business Group;
• This additional future revenue could rise to in excess of c.£300m across five years if either club survives their first season in the Premier League.
  

On Sunday 29 May 2022, Huddersfield and Nottingham Forest will contest the most valuable fixture in world football. According to analysis from Deloitte’s Sports Business Group, the winning side stands to walk away from the match with total additional future revenues of more than c.£170m over the next three seasons.

This year’s play-off final sees Huddersfield, who are looking to regain a place in the Premier League after being relegated at the end of the 2018/19 season, take on Nottingham Forest, who are seeking to play in the top-flight for the first time since 1998/99.

This analysis of additional future revenues is comprised of estimated increases to the clubs’ own commercial and matchday revenues and secured central Premier League revenues primarily relating to broadcast rights (c.£90m minimum), and parachute payments in 2023/24 and 2024/25 should they be relegated (c.£80m).

Tim Bridge, a director in the Sports Business Group at Deloitte, commented: “Wembley this weekend is host to the match with the most lucrative prize in world football. Following a fiercely contested season, the winner of Sunday’s Championship play-off final will walk off the pitch having secured additional future revenues of at least c.£170m.

“With the final set to kick-off in front of 90,000 fans at Wembley this weekend - the first time the play-off will be played in front of stands at full capacity since the 2018/19 season - the atmosphere will be electric. Fans are invested in the goal of seeing their club re-enter the top-flight of English football. Promoted teams benefit from considerable financial gains which can deliver new player signings, stadium improvements and more.

“However, whilst a narrow majority of clubs promoted to the Premier League over the past decade survived their first season, half of the play-off final winners have not. Hence the winner of Sunday’s game will face the challenge of maintaining the excitement of fans, as well as balancing financial stability in the coming months. This Sunday’s game holds the key to re-entering the top-flight of English football, but the harder battle is to come: staying in it.”

Ends

Notes to Editors

Finishing position for clubs in the first season following promotion to the Premier League

Note: Clubs in bold avoided relegation in their first season following promotion to the Premier League.

About the Sports Business Group at Deloitte

Over the last 30 years Deloitte has developed a unique focus on the business of sport. Our specialist Sports Business Group offers a multi-disciplined expert service with dedicated people and skills capable of adding significant value to the business of sport. Whether it is benchmarking or strategic business reviews, operational turnarounds, revenue enhancement strategies or stadium/venue development plans, business planning, market and demand analysis, acquisitions, due diligence, expert witness, audits or tax planning; we have worked with more clubs, leagues, governing bodies, stadia developers, event organisers, commercial partners, financiers and investors than any other adviser.

For further information on our services you can access our website at www.deloitte.co.uk/sportsbusinessgroup

About Deloitte

In this press release references to “Deloitte” are references to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited (“DTTL”) a UK private company limited by guarantee, and its network of member firms, each of which is a legally separate and independent entity. Please see deloitte.com/about for a detailed description of the legal structure of DTTL and its member firms.

Deloitte LLP is a subsidiary of Deloitte NSE LLP, which is a member firm of DTTL, and is among the UK's leading professional services firms.

The information contained in this press release is correct at the time of going to press.

For more information, please visit www.deloitte.co.uk.