Nottingham Forest take on Huddersfield Town in the Championship play-off final today.
The winner of the contest at Wembley will book their place in the Premier League, with the loser facing another season in the second tier. And whoever emerges victorious in the English capital will be significantly richer.
A report from Deloitte states the winner will earn additional future revenues of at least £170m across the next three seasons. That sum rises significantly, to £300m across the next five campaigns, if the promoted club avoids relegation in its first season back in the top-flight.
Tim Bridge, a director in the Sports Business Group at Deloitte, said: “Wembley this weekend is host to the match with the most lucrative prize in world football. Following a fiercely contested season, the winner of Sunday’s Championship play-off final will walk off the pitch having secured additional future revenues of at least c.£170m.
“With the final set to kick-off in front of 90,000 fans at Wembley this weekend - the first time the play-off will be played in front of stands at full capacity since the 2018/19 season - the atmosphere will be electric. Fans are invested in the goal of seeing their club re-enter the top-flight of English football. Promoted teams benefit from considerable financial gains which can deliver new player signings, stadium improvements and more.
“However, whilst a narrow majority of clubs promoted to the Premier League over the past decade survived their first season, half of the play-off final winners have not. Hence the winner of Sunday’s game will face the challenge of maintaining the excitement of fans, as well as balancing financial stability in the coming months. This Sunday’s game holds the key to re-entering the top-flight of English football, but the harder battle is to come: staying in it.”
Forest are bidding to reach the top flight for the first time since 1999, with boss Steve Cooper missing out on promotion in each of his two seasons at Swansea. As for the Terriers, they are bidding to return to the Premier League having been relegated from the top division in 2019.
Kick-off at Wembley is at 4:30pm on Sunday.
