Connect with us

Latest News

Real Madrid and Barcelona neck-and-neck as world’s most valuable football brands in the face of COVID-19

Published

on

Reading Time: 3 minutes

 

  • Real Madrid remain world’s most valuable football brand, but Barcelona narrow the gap to just €6 million
  • COVID-19 causes total brand value of top 50 clubs to decrease for the first time in 6 years – €751 million or 3.7% is knocked off
  • English clubs dominate the ranking with six brands in top 10 and 19 in top 50
  • Liverpool inches two spots up into 4th place, following historic Premier League win
  • Bundesliga’s 1. FC Köln is this year’s fastest-growing brand, followed by Leicester City and RB Leipzig – all recording over 40% growth
  • Tottenham Hotspur’s new stadium takes top spot in Buro Happold’s Venue Performance Rating

Real Madrid remain the most valuable football club brand in the world for 2020, according to the latest edition of the Brand Finance Football Annual. Boosted by winning the LaLiga title for the first time since 2017, the club retained its position at the top of the table in the football industry, but against a backdrop of economic and social disruption, caused primarily by the COVID-19 pandemic, Real Madrid’s brand value has declined by 14% to €1,419 million.

Real Madrid’s disappointing on-pitch performance prior to 2019-20, which saw an earlier-than-normal exit from the UEFA Champions League in 2018-19 and a second successive season adrift of LaLiga champions Barcelona, eroded the club’s dominance of the Brand Finance ranking. The situation was exacerbated by COVID-19, along with a lack of stability around the management of the team. Barcelona, Real’s fierce rivals, are just €6 million behind Real with a brand value of €1,413 million, supported by strong and diverse revenue generation and continued domestic performance in Spain.

COVID-19 knocks off €751 million of brand value

Real Madrid is not the only club to see a drop in brand value this year. COVID-19 has caused the total value of the top 50 football brands to decrease for the first time in 6 years. Through its effect on the three main revenue streams – Matchday, Broadcasting, and Commercial – €751 million or 3.7% has been knocked off the cumulative brand value of the world’s top 50 most valuable football clubs.

The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged professional football worldwide and across all levels. Matchday income for the 501 games remaining in the big 5 leagues dropped to zero, but it is often the smaller clubs and leagues which are more reliant on this revenue stream – in Scotland it makes up 43% of total revenue, compared to only 13% in England.

There have been some positive signs, as Southampton vs Manchester City on BBC broke the Premier League TV audience record with 5.7 million viewers, but the longer-term damage to the game’s economic structure has yet to be revealed.

Richard Haigh, Managing Director of Brand Finance, commented:

“Top-level football has been confronted with the largest existential threat since the Second World War. Loss of income, coupled with health concerns about mass gatherings, have raised question marks about the future of the industry and the financial resilience of clubs across all levels. The full damage of the COVID-19 crisis has yet to unfold and it is not inconceivable there will be casualties in the form of club bankruptcies and changes in ownership.”

Despite the huge implications of COVID-19 for football clubs and their financial results, the majority of the brand value is secured by the clubs’ long-term future – provided they can survive the initial shock. For example, only 21% of Real Madrid’s brand value is delivered by the next five years’ financial results.

Premier power

Real Madrid and Barcelona are followed by a cluster of English Premier League clubs in the Brand Finance Football Annual 2020 ranking, with Manchester United in 3rd position after their brand value fell by 11% to €1,314 million. Liverpool, who won their first league title since 1990 in runaway style, are in 4th spot jumping above Manchester City in terms of brand value, rising from €1,191 million in 2019 to €1,262 million, a 6% increase. Chelsea dropped one place in the table to 8th after their value fell for the fourth consecutive year to €949 million. This was arguably due to the club being absent from the UEFA Champions League and also suffering a transfer ban after being charged with breaking Financial Fair Play Regulations.

Powered by WPeMatico

Continue Reading
Advertisement

BetConstruct

BetConstruct AI offers operators three months free sportsbook access ahead of World Cup 2026

Published

on

betconstruct-ai-offers-operators-three-months-free-sportsbook-access-ahead-of-world-cup-2026

The deal includes a fee waiver across its core suite plus setup and third-party integration discounts for the first three months.

BetConstruct AI has launched a World Cup 2026-focused commercial offer that waives fees for operators across its sportsbook and other core products for three months.

Under the terms published in the release, the company is offering “Complete fee waiver for the first 3 months across Sportsbook, CreedRoomz, Popok, Pascal, Choice, Virtual Sports, and Poker Network,” alongside a “SETUP DISCOUNT (50%)” for “all global market entry setups.” It is also applying a “3RD PARTY INTEGRATION (51%)” discount to “all 3rd Party Game Providers for the first 3 months.”

BetConstruct AI also included two complimentary add-ons it said would be available at “€0 cost” to partners. “Powerfull (Pre-Tournament)” is scheduled to run “8–10 weeks before kickoff” and is positioned around “weekly turnover challenges,” with prizes including “Free Bets (€1–€1,000) or a World Cup Final ticket,” which the company said are “100% funded by BetConstruct AI.”

The second product, “Bet on League (In-Tournament),” is described as an iFrame-based tournament hub that “requires no UI rebuilds,” with features including “an integrated module resembling a prediction market and personalized bet suggestions driven by AI.”

The company framed the campaign around operators preparing for what it called “the highest-concentration betting opportunity of the next four years,” referring to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

More data as follows:

The post BetConstruct AI offers operators three months free sportsbook access ahead of World Cup 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Continue Reading

Canada

Endorphina Now Licensed B2B Gaming Supplier in Ontario

Published

on

endorphina-now-licensed-b2b-gaming-supplier-in-ontario

Endorphina Limited, a leading provider of certified online slot games, has successfully obtained a Gaming-Related Supplier registration in Ontario, Canada, one of the most regulated iGaming markets globally.

The registration, issued by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), authorizes Endorphina to supply its gaming content to licensed operators within the province. This milestone marks an important step in the company’s long-term expansion strategy focused on regulated markets, strengthening its presence in North America and enhancing its global footprint.

“Securing approval in Ontario is a significant achievement for Endorphina. It confirms the quality of our products, the strength of our compliance framework, and our readiness to operate in highly regulated environments,” said Head of Compliance at Endorphina, Džangar Jesenov.

Endorphina continues to invest in the development of proprietary online slot games, delivering innovative content tailored to the evolving requirements of international markets.

With a portfolio of 200+ premium slots, the company has built strong partnerships with 6,000+ operators worldwide. It holds an active presence in over 50 jurisdictions, ensuring compliance in regulated markets across Europe, Latin America, and beyond.

With the Ontario registration, the company is well-positioned to expand partnerships with licensed operators and further solidify its reputation as a trusted B2B supplier in the global iGaming industry.

 

The post Endorphina Now Licensed B2B Gaming Supplier in Ontario appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

Continue Reading

data ethics

Ethical Gambling Forum lands in Leeds on 28–29 April, hosted by Flutter

Published

on

ethical-gambling-forum-lands-in-leeds-on-28–29-april,-hosted-by-flutter

Organisers say the agenda will cover safer product design, regulation, data ethics and AI, with limited places still available.

The Ethical Gambling Forum will take place on 28/29 April in Leeds, UK, with Flutter hosting the event. Organisers say the annual gathering will bring together regulators, operators, technology suppliers, researchers and advocates to discuss ethical and responsible gambling.

According to the organisers, this year’s programme will focus on responsible product design, player protection, regulatory evolution, data ethics and the use of emerging technologies including AI. The agenda is set to include keynote sessions, panel debates, case studies and roundtable discussions.

“Ethical leadership isn’t optional anymore; it’s the foundation of the industry’s future,” said Adrian Sladdin, Co-Founder of the EGF. “This Forum is where meaningful progress happens.”

The organisers said limited spaces remain and directed interested attendees to the event website for registration and the full programme.

More data as follows:

  • Ethical Gambling Forum (EGF) event website: https://www.egf.events Official source for registration and programme details referenced in the release.
  • Flutter Entertainment: https://www.flutter.com Host company named in the release; readers may want corporate context.
  • UK Gambling Commission: https://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk Primary UK regulator relevant to discussions of compliance and regulatory evolution.

The post Ethical Gambling Forum lands in Leeds on 28–29 April, hosted by Flutter appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Continue Reading

Trending

Get it on Google Play

Fresh slot games releases by the top brands of the industry. We provide you with the latest news straight from the entertainment industries.

The platform also hosts industry-relevant webinars, and provides detailed reports, making it a one-stop resource for anyone seeking information about operators, suppliers, regulators, and professional services in the European gaming market. The portal's primary goal is to keep its extensive reader base updated on the latest happenings, trends, and developments within the gaming and gambling sector, with an emphasis on the European market while also covering pertinent global news. It's an indispensable resource for gaming professionals, operators, and enthusiasts alike.

Contact us: [email protected]

Editorial / PR Submissions: [email protected]

Copyright © 2015 - 2024 - Recent Slot Releases is part of HIPTHER Agency. Registered in Romania under Proshirt SRL, Company number: 2134306, EU VAT ID: RO21343605. Office address: Blvd. 1 Decembrie 1918 nr.5, Targu Mures, Romania