Arsenal make more money on matchdays than Real Madrid and Barcelona

The club’s 61,000-seater Emirates Stadium brought in £100.4million last season

Mark Critchley
Thursday 21 January 2016 11:37 GMT
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Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey celebrates his goal
Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey celebrates his goal (Getty Images)

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Arsenal generate more money on matchdays than any other club in the world, including the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona, according to the latest figures released by Deloitte.

Based on 2014-15 revenues, the club’s 61,000-seater Emirates Stadium brought in £100.4million last season, which trumps the £98.8million made from matches at the Santiago Bernabeu and Barça’s figure of £88.9million.

Manchester United generated the next highest matchday revenue total by an English club, with Old Trafford bringing in £86.7million. This was actually a 17 per cent decrease from the 2013/14 season due to the club’s failure to qualify for European competition under David Moyes.

The Gunners also played fewer home games last season than in the year before but, thanks to having the Premier League’s most expensive ticket prices, their matchday takings increased slightly.

Arsenal currently offer the most expensive season ticket in the division at £2,013, while the cheapest season pass available comes in at £1,014.

The club recently announced that prices at the Emirates Stadium would be frozen for the 2016/17 season, having received negative publicity over how much they charge in recent months.

Last October, Bayern Munich fans boycotted the first five minutes of their Champions League tie at Arsenal over the £64 price of admittance they were charged to attend.

According to Deloitte, Arsenal’s overall revenue saw a 10 per cent increase last year, allowing them to move from 8th to 7th in the company’s annual latest Football Money League .

The Gunners’ rise was largely due to a new sponsorship deal with kit manufacturer Puma. The club’s commercial revenue rose by an impressive 34 per cent in 2014/15, while broadcast takings remained their primary source, rising to £127.6million.

The north London club subsequently rose above rivals Chelsea, who drop to 8th, but third-placed Manchester United remain the highest-grossing English club overall, taking £395.2million in total.

Sixth-placed Manchester City brought in £352.6million last term. Liverpool, in ninth-place with takings of £298.1million, are the other English club in the top 10.

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