Sunderland conclude their Premier League campaign against Chelsea on the final day of the campaign
Sunderland and Chelsea clash on the final day of the season and there is an awful lot to play for aside from wanting to end the campaign on a high.
The game will likely secure an eight-figure revenue boost for the winner, depending on results elsewhere in the league. Here’s why...
The Premier League prize pot at stake
In their EFL campaigns of years gone by, Sunderland have essentially been playing for promotion or relegation. Central revenues aren’t distributed based on final position, but in the Premier League that changes to an extent. The sum clubs earn at the end of the campaign are based on one guaranteed payment to all clubs, a further payment based on the number of times a club appears on TV and then a further payment based on finishing position.
Crucially, each position in the league is estimated to be worth around £2.5 million. Sunderland and Chelsea both go into the final game knowing that they could finish anywhere between 7th and 12th: the result could therefore be worth around £10 million.
For reference, here’s what each team in those positions earned last year (as explained, this in part due to TV facility fees):
- 7th, Nottingham Forest - £152.5m
- 8th, Brighton - £145.1m
- 9th, Bournemouth - £143.4m
- 10th, Brentford - £138.9m
- 11th, Fulham - £135.5m
- 12th, Crystal Palace - £136.1m
The European revenue boost
Of course the winner will then earn an additional revenue boost other results go their way, allowing them to qualify either for the Conference League or the Europa League. It’s estimated that Chelsea’s win in the competition last season earned the club around £18 million in additional revenue through TV fees, prize money and additional matchday income.
If either side qualifies for the Conference League they will have to negotiate a play-off round, but getting through that will secure at least six games in the league phase. That guarantees additional revenues estimated to be in the region of around £10 million. There will be some additional complications to factor in, however. Travel obviously brings its own costs and the clubs will have to negotiate UEFA’s stricter financial rules, which limit clubs to spending 70% of their revenues on first team costs.
Make no mistake, though, a win on Sunday afternoon could potentially be very big business for Sunderland.
A reminder of the permutations that will see the Black Cats qualify for Europe:
First and foremost, they have to beat Chelsea. Because of their inferior goal difference to Brentford, there’s no scenario in which a draw will do the job. They have to win.
They can then get into Europe in the following scenarios:
- If Brentford fail to beat Liverpool at Anfield, Sunderland would qualify for the Conference League
- If Brentford beat Liverpool but Brighton lose at home to Manchester United, Sunderland would qualify for the Conference League
- If Brentford fail to beat Liverpool AND Brighton lose at home to Manchester United, Sunderland would qualify for the Europa League
Continue Reading