PARIS — Arsenal has never won the European Champions League but it reigns over the continent when it comes to matchday revenue, with takings at its Emirates Stadium greater than anywhere else in Europe.
Its 60,000-capacity ground in north London, opened in 2006, generated 132 million euros (£116 million) in the 2014-15 season from ticket sales and fan spending, according to a study by Deloitte.
That is the equivalent of 30 percent of its total annual income and puts it just ahead of Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu, with its capacity of over 80,000, which generated 129.8 million euros in the same season.
Of the 10 most profitable stadiums in terms of matchday revenue, five are in the English Premier League, two in Spain, two in Germany and one in France.
The 10 most profitable stadiums in Europe (based on matchday revenue in 2014-15 season, according to Deloitte study) are:
1. Emirates Stadium (Arsenal): 132 million euros
2. Santiago Bernabeu (Real Madrid): 129.8
3. Camp Nou (Barcelona): 116.9
4. Old Trafford (Manchester United): 114
5. Stamford Bridge (Chelsea): 93.1
6. Allianz Arena (Bayern Munich): 89.8
7. Parc des Princes (Paris Saint-Germain): 78
8. Anfield (Liverpool): 75
9. Etihad Stadium (Manchester City): 57
10. Signal Iduna Park (Borussia Dortmund): 54.2
German clubs top European supporters league
It may have vast wealth and an enviable array of talent but England’s Premier League plays second fiddle to Germany’s Bundesliga when it comes to drawing the crowds, figures show.
The Bundesliga attracted an average of 42,685 fans per game in the 2014-2015 season, according to the figures compiled by Deloitte, placing it well ahead of the Premier League with 36,163 fans per match over the same season.
The Bundesliga topped the European table of fan support with the Premier League next, followed by Spain’s La Liga a distant third.
In France and Italy fans are staying away in droves, with an alarming drop in support for the game, notably in France, a World Cup winner in 1998 and host of Euro 2016.
Billions in broadcasting revenue has flooded the coffers of English Premier League clubs allowing the likes of Manchester United and others to splash out in total a record 1.165 billion pounds ($1.54 billion) to attract big names ahead of this season.
In overall terms, the Premier League is still No. 1 in Europe with 13.7 million fans attending matches against 13 million for the German league.
But the Premier League has 20 clubs playing 380 matches a season against 306 for the Bundesliga, with its 18 clubs. The disparity translates into significantly higher attendance per match in Germany.
For La Liga — still home to world football’s biggest stars in Cristiano Ronaldo at Real Madrid and Lionel Messi at Barcelona — 9.8 million fans attended matches in the same season, at an average gate of 25,734. Last season, and for the first time in its history, Spanish football drew more than 10 million fans in testimony to the health of the game.
