Nottingham Forest’s Premier League campaign came to an end on Sunday afternoon, as they suffered a bruising 1-0 defeat against Champions League rivals Chelsea.
The initial reaction was disappointment, given Nottingham Forest occupied a spot in the top five for half of the season, but now there is a sense of pride around the City Ground.
Forest were tipped to be in a relegation battle at the start of the season but tore up that script to finish in seventh place, thus qualifying for the Europa Conference League.
Now, the focus turns towards the summer transfer window, and it’s being reported that Evangelos Marinakis is ready to back Nuno Espirito Santo with a substantial budget.
We understand the club are in a really healthy position financially, as expert Adam Williams breaks down last season’s earnings and how much they’re in line to bank next year with Conference League football on the horizon in the East Midlands.
Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images
Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images
Nottingham Forest to bank around £160m in prize money for 2024/25
Adam Williams, speaking exclusively to Nottingham Forest News, has revealed that the club are set to earn around £160m in prize money for finishing in seventh place.
“In terms of their prize money direct from the Premier League, I’d estimate that Forest would be owed about £160m,” Williams told the site.
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“Last season’s 7th-placed team, Newcastle United, got £155m in prize money. They were on TV one more time than Forest, and you get just under £1m each time you are broadcast domestically. However, the slightly smaller payout that Forest get in terms facility fees should be offset by modest increases to central commercial revenue and the value of the international rights.
“There might be a bit of variance with that £160m figure, but I’m fairly confident that the margin for error won’t be much bigger than £2-3m.”
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Williams then looked ahead to next season, which will see Forest compete in Europe for the first time since 1996.
The finance specialist admitted that the Conference prize money is a drop in the ocean compared to the Europa and Champions League.
“Forest have also got Conference League income next season too, of course. That isn’t going to move the needle too much in terms of prize money, however. The total prize money pot is about £240m, which is approximately 10 per cent of the Champions League pot and 50 per cent of the Europa League pot.
“I think even if you go all the way and win the Conference League, the most you can hope for is £15-20m. That’s partly because Forest will have a low coefficient ranking because they haven’t been in Europe for so long.”
Forest tipped to earn record-breaking £250m in revenue next year
But, despite that, Williams still expects the club to earn a record-breaking £250m in revenue next year, with a potential increase in matchday and commercial income.
“Where there is more value is the matchday income from at least four European matches at the City Ground. Forest increased ticket prices significantly last season*.* I don’t know whether they will do so again in 2025-26, but the fact that they only generated £14m in matchday income in the last financial year would suggest that isn’t off the cards.
“Their average revenue per game last season was about £600,000. This season’s ticket prices rises might mean that increased to £750,000. You can charge more premium prices in Europe, so I could see it hitting £1m per matchday in the Conference League, so that’s another £4m in revenue.
“That said, I hope fans who want to watch Forest in Europe aren’t exploited. I’m glad to have seen fans push back against rising prices this season, so long may that continue.
“All in all, I’d expect Forest’s overall revenue to surpass £220m for 2024-25 thanks to the extra Premier League prize money, as well as progress in matchday and commercial income. Next season, they will be hoping to hit the £250m mark with success in Europe. That puts them firmly in the ‘best of the rest’ category in Premier League revenue terms outside the so-called Big Six.”
It’s clear that Marinakis has orchestrated a bright future for the Tricky Trees, with the plan to make the club European challengers every season.
A busy summer window awaits.