Birmingham City could lose out on financial jackpot
“There will also be more people coming to the city for games, which means more people staying here and more people spending money.”
Birmingham City’s attendance statistics in recent years will also cheer its board of directors. Since 2001, the club has averaged 21,845 ticket sales per game in three seasons in the second flight, while in five Premier League seasons it has averaged 28,036 – which means more than 6,000 new fans through the doors.
Birmingham Chamber of Commerce press and PR manager John Lamb said the latest success would give a timely boost to the region’s private sector.
He said: “From a business point of view the feelgood factor is quite important. The Premier League is massive and I don’t think the Championship gets the same sort of global exposure.”
The financial might of the Premier League was shown in Deloitte’s Football Money League survey published in February.
While Spanish giants Real Madrid were named the world’s richest club, seven of the top 20 earners were Premier League clubs.
The richest, Manchester United, turned over £325 million in 2008, and Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United and Manchester City all turned over more than £100 million.
Alex Byars, consultant in Deloitte’s Sports Business Group, said promotion for Birmingham City would be the “biggest financial prize in world football”, worth around £60 million.
He said: “Enhanced commercial revenues and higher gate receipts in the Premier League are likely to generate an additional £5 million for promoted clubs, based on recent experience.
“Over the past decade half of the 30 newly promoted clubs have retained their Premier League status at the end of their first season in the top flight.”
Tony Joynson, project manager of inward investment company InStaffs, said the region would become more attractive to investors if Blues became the fourth top-flight club in the region – after Aston Villa, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Stoke City. He said: “Birmingham City carries the name of the city, unlike Aston Villa, so it is absolutely essential the club is in the top-flight.”
