Premier League clubs suffer collective revenue drop for first time ever

A sports business group has reported that Premier League clubs have reported a cumulative drop in revenue for the first time ever.

Premier League football clubs generated £4.5bn of revenue in 2020, a decline of 13 per cent compared to the previous year’s £5.2bn.

Deloitte’s Sports Business Group, which analysed the figures, said that this is the first time that Premier League clubs have cumulatively reported a year-on-year fall in revenue.

It said that as well as a decline in matchday revenue, some of the decrease is due to a portion of 2020’s revenues being deferred until 2021, as matches were delayed until after the end of the financial year.

Dan Jones, partner and head of the Sports Business Group at Deloitte, commented: “The decrease in revenue in the 2019/20 season is, unsurprisingly, down to the global economic and social disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and will continue to have a heavy impact on the 2020/21 season’s financial results when available.

“The absence of fans, postponement of matches and rebates to broadcasters had a significant impact on the revenue clubs have been able to generate.

“Nonetheless, whilst this has been the most challenging period for all concerned in the football industry, Premier League clubs showed impressive resilience in mitigating the financial impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“By completing the 2019/20 season in full, live football provided a great boost to the public and valuable content for broadcasters.”

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