Nottingham Forest are back in the Premier League.
The Reds will return to the top flight of English football after beating Huddersfield Town 1-0 in the Championship play-off final at Wembley on Sunday. But how much exactly is a place in the top flight worth to the Reds?
According to analysis carried out by Deloitte, Forest stand to earn at least £170 million over the next three seasons. And that could rise to £300m over the next five years if they manage to stay up next season.
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Deloitte say that this additional income is comprised of estimated increases to the club's own commercial and matchday revenues and secured central Premier League revenues. One season in the Premier League guarantees broadcast revenues of around £90m, while potential parachute payments in the following two campaigns would bring in around £80m.
Tim Bridge, a director in the Sports Business Group at Deloitte, commented: “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.”
