The amount available prize money in the UEFA Europa League is forecasted to be €381m in the 2015-2016 season up from €233m in the 2014-15 season. This represents increase of around 65%.
Last week Hammers Co-Chairman David Gold said “There is no money to be made from the Europa Cup unless you reach the 1/4 finals. PS. making money is not a sin. dg”
Well I beg to differ Mr Chairman, there has never been time to play in the Europa League from a financial point of view.
This amount will be distributed to participating clubs on a 60:40 basis between fixed amounts and market pool. Each of the 48 clubs that reach the group stage will receive a group stage basic fee of €2.4m (£1.72m).
On top of this, there will be performance bonuses: €360,000 every win and €120,000 every draw in the group stage. The winners of the groups will receive a qualification bonus of €500,000 the runners-up of €250,000.
The teams playing in the round of 32 will receive €500,000 each, the teams playing in the round of 16 will receive €750,000 each, the quarter-finalists €1m each and the semi-finalists €1.5m each. The UEFA Europa League winners will receive €6.5m and the runners-up €3.5m, inclusive of their ticketing revenue share.
There is a further €152.4m (£109.7m) in variable amounts called a (market pool) which is distributed according to the proportional value of each domestic television market represented by the teams taking part in the UEFA Europa League from the group stage onwards.
UEFA Europa League Prize Fund
Group Stage fee €2.4m (£1.72m)
Group Stage performance €360k (£259k) win / €120k (£86.4k) draw
Knock Out Qualification bonus €500k (£360k) winners/€250k (£180k) runners-up
Round of 32 €500k (£360k)
Round of 16 €750k (£540k)
Quarter-Finals €1m (£720k)
Semi-Finals €1.5m (£1.08m)
Final €6.5m (£4.68m) winners / €3.5m (£2.52m) runners-up
In the UEFA Europa League payments will be paid in the qualifying and play off rounds. These amount to: €200,000 (£144,000) in the first qualifying round, €210,000 (£151,200) in the second qualifying round, €220,00 (£158,400) in the third qualifying round and €230,000 (£165,600) in the play-offs (this latter, if not qualified to the UEFA Europa League group stage).
Add to this West Ham will take 100% of the gate money at all Home games in the Europa league while only having to give 5% in away allocation to visiting fans. Assuming West Ham manage to sellout all Europa home games at £20 per ticket that would add £700,000 per game in Ticket revenue. If by miracle we made it to the Europa league semi finals that would be an extra £7.7m in ticket sales at the Boleyn ground on it’s own.
The biggest financial prize is winning the Europa League, in addition to 6.5 million Euros prize you also get a Champions League place. If you went on and managed to win the Champions League as well you can bag another £74m! Well we can all dream can’t we!