Golden goal: UEFA, elite clubs to share $1.55B as Champions League deals defy recession
By APFriday, August 21, 2009
UEFA, clubs to share $1.55B from Champions League
GENEVA — The world’s most lucrative club soccer competition, the European Champions League, will earn a record $1.55 billion in marketing and television revenues for clubs and organizer UEFA this season.
The recession-defying figure is a rise of 33 percent from last season, according to figures released by UEFA.
The payouts will be matched for two more seasons after the European governing body signed global television and sponsorship deals — including top-tier partners Ford, Heineken, MasterCard, PlayStation, Sony and UniCredit — through 2012.
The elite 32 teams featured in the group stage draw next week will share more than two-thirds of total commercial revenues. Their payouts do not include money earned from sales of tickets and merchandise.
