Lots of money to be made in the new Champions League format

The Champions League 2024/25 has kicked off with some great quality football! The new format shifts a couple of things around while also offering a greater financial incentive for teams involved in Europe's most prestigious football competition. Let us look at how much money teams will make this year's campaign.

According to The Times, clubs participating in the Champions League could earn an additional £23 million ($30.3m/€27.3m) under the new format. This increase in potential earnings presents an exciting prospect for many teams, as it could significantly enhance their financial capabilities. The boost in revenue could enable clubs to invest more in player acquisitions, infrastructure, and other aspects of their operations, potentially transforming the landscape of European football.

The traditional group stage of the Champions League has been replaced by a new league phase under UEFA's proposed structure for the 2024/25 season. This new format features 36 teams instead of the previous 32, promising fans more matches and more football action.

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Under the new Champions League format, all 36 clubs that qualify for the tournament will receive a guaranteed £15.7 million ($20.6m/€18.6m), compared to the £13.2 million ($17.3m/€15.6m) previously given. Additionally, Europe's elite clubs, which previously averaged earnings of £71.7 million ($94.4m/€85m), could now see their earnings rise to an average of £92.8 million ($121.4m/€110m), according to The Times. A serious pay raise!

The financial importance of qualifying for the Champions League will be heightened by a 20% increase in earnings for clubs taking part in the competition, reports Daily Mail.

The new Champions League format aims to reward clubs based on their position in the league phase. According to reports by the Times, these bonuses will range from £8.5 million ($11.1m/€10m) for the highest-ranked clubs to £230,000 ($302k/€272k) for those lower down the standings.

The clubs who finish in the top 'eight' of the new league phase will receive an additional £1.69m ($2.2m/€1.90m) to the total prize pool.

UEFA will continue to provide financial bonuses based on game performances. Clubs will receive £1.77 million ($2.33m/€2.1m) for each win and £590,000 ($777k/€699k) for each draw. While these figures are similar to last season's, the increased number of games under the new format means clubs have the potential to earn more performance-related income throughout the season.

Once clubs pass the league phase into the last 16, the prizes increase according to the knockout phase:

• Last-16 - £9.28m ($12.2m/€11m)
• Quarter-finals - £10.5m ($13.8m/€12.4m)
• Semi-finals - £12.6m ($16.6m/€14.9m)
• Final - £15.6m ($20m/€18.5m)

The most teams can earn from their participation in the tournament as well as performance bonuses has gone up from £71.7m ($94.4m/€85m) to £92.8m ($121.4m/€110m). The stage is set for yet another very exciting Champions League season!

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