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

Published

5 years ago

July 30, 2020

George Miller

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 4^th 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 3^rd 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 4^th 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 8^th 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.

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N1 Partners Takes Flight in Barcelona: Helicopter Awarded at iGB Affiliate 2026 Finale

Published

5 hours ago

January 23, 2026

Wladimir P.

n1-partners-takes-flight-in-barcelona:-helicopter-awarded-at-igb-affiliate-2026-finale

The curtains have closed on iGB Affiliate 2026, but the echoes of N1 Partners’ massive presence are still vibrating through the halls of the Fira de Barcelona. After two days of high-stakes networking and over 500 business meetings, the company concluded the event by awarding a Robinson R22 Beta II helicopter to the grand winner of the N1 Puzzle Promo.

A Hub of Industry Activity

From January 20 to 21, the N1 Partners stand (80-C80) served as a primary nervous system for the expo floor. The team maintained a relentless pace, facilitating hundreds of discussions regarding traffic strategies and custom deals.

Beyond the boardroom-style meetings, the stand offered a more interactive “Plinko” activity and distributed over 300 branded merchandise packs, ensuring the N1 brand remained visible across the entire conference.

Media Spotlight and Thought Leadership

The company’s influence extended beyond the booth, with leadership participating in more than 10 interviews and podcasts. These sessions focused on sustainable growth within the iGaming sector and evolving affiliate expectations, further solidifying N1 Partners’ reputation as a transparent and performance-driven program.

The Grand Finale: A Night to Remember

The highlight of the week was undoubtedly the N1 Puzzle Promo Party, an exclusive, closed-format celebration that saw over 2,000 registrations. While only 600 guests could be accommodated, the venue was packed with the industry’s top decision-makers and affiliates.

The atmosphere reached a fever pitch as the winners of the N1 Puzzle Promo leaderboard were announced:

Rank	Partner Name
1st Place (Helicopter Winner)	Cash Splash
2nd Place	Advertise
3rd Place	Traffic Squad
4th Place	Seven Group
5th Place	Alfaleads Network

The evening concluded with a live performance from a surprise headline guest and high-energy DJ sets, marking the successful end of a campaign that was recently named Best Advertising and Marketing Campaign at the European iGaming Awards.

The post N1 Partners Takes Flight in Barcelona: Helicopter Awarded at iGB Affiliate 2026 Finale appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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N1 Partners Hosts the N1 Puzzle Promo Grand Final and Reveals the Helicopter Winner at iGB Affiliate 2026 in Barcelona

Published

5 hours ago

January 23, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

n1-partners-hosts-the-n1-puzzle-promo-grand-final-and-reveals-the-helicopter-winner-at-igb-affiliate-2026-in-barcelona

iGB Affiliate 2026 in Barcelona has officially come to an end, marking two powerful days for the affiliate industry and an unforgettable grand finale for N1 Puzzle Promo. N1 Partners wrapped up the conference days with high-intensity networking, strong media attention and a large-scale final event that brought the community together.

From January 20 to 21, N1 Partners welcomed partners, media and industry leaders at stand 80-C80, which quickly became one of the most dynamic meeting points on the expo floor.

A Key Meeting Point During iGB Affiliate 2026

Throughout both conference days, the N1 Partners stand maintained a steady flow of visitors and ongoing media attention. The scale of partner engagement and the volume of conversations naturally positioned the stand as a focal point for meetings, interviews and informal discussions across the venue.

Over the course of the conference, the team held more than 500 meetings, covering traffic strategies, custom deals and long-term collaboration opportunities. In parallel, 300+ branded merch packs were distributed to stand visitors, reinforcing brand visibility and partner engagement throughout the event.

The stand experience combined business and interaction in a relaxed format. Guests enjoyed signature cocktails while discussing top-performing deals, took part in the Plinko activity to win exclusive N1 Partners merchandise, and used the space to build new connections, strengthen existing partnerships and move forward with concrete business agreements.

Strong Media Engagement and Industry Dialogue

iGB Affiliate 2026 also served as an important media platform for N1 Partners. During the conference, the team took part in over 10 interviews and podcasts, sharing perspectives on affiliate marketing trends, partner expectations and sustainable growth within the iGaming sector.

This level of media interest reflected the market’s attention to N1 Partners’ approach and reinforced the company’s position as a visible and trusted affiliate program.

The Grand Finale. N1 Puzzle Promo Party

The highlight of the week took place after the first day of the iGB Affiliate conference, when N1 Partners hosted the grand final event of N1 Puzzle Promo in Barcelona. The evening was designed as a closed-format celebration, welcoming a carefully selected audience of partners, industry leaders and key players from the iGaming community.

The event generated significant interest well ahead of time, with over 2,000 registrations, while attendance exceeded 600 guests, filling the venue with decision-makers, top affiliates and long-term partners. The closed nature of the event and limited access created a high level of anticipation and made the finale one of the most talked-about gatherings of the conference week.

During the night, N1 Partners revealed the winner of the main N1 Puzzle Promo prize, awarding a Robinson R22 Beta II helicopter, alongside exclusive giveaways for guests.

As part of the finale, N1 Partners proudly presented the finalists of N1 Puzzle Promo, recognising the partners who consistently maintained a strong pace throughout the campaign and secured the top positions on the leaderboard.

1st place: Cash Splash
2nd place: Advertise
3rd place: Traffic Squad
4th place: Seven Group
5th place: Alfaleads Network

The program was complemented by DJ sets and a live performance from the event’s headline guest, turning the evening into a landmark moment that combined celebration, entertainment and strong brand presence.

Recognising N1 Puzzle Promo’s Impact

In addition to its industry presence at iGB Affiliate 2026, N1 Puzzle Promo was recently recognised at the European iGaming Awards, where it was named Best Advertising and Marketing Campaign. This accolade highlights the campaign’s global reach and impact, acknowledging it as one of the most innovative and performance-driven marketing initiatives in the iGaming industry.

Closing the Barcelona Chapter

N1 Partners expressed appreciation to everyone who visited the stand, took part in meetings and contributed to the energy of iGB Affiliate 2026.

Special thanks were also extended to all guests who joined the N1 Puzzle Promo grand final party and helped turn the evening into one of the most memorable moments of the conference week.

The Barcelona chapter has closed, but the momentum continues.

Be number one with N1 Partners!

The post N1 Partners Hosts the N1 Puzzle Promo Grand Final and Reveals the Helicopter Winner at iGB Affiliate 2026 in Barcelona appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

Latest News

N1 Partners Hosts the N1 Puzzle Promo Grand Final and Reveals the Helicopter Winner at iGB Affiliate 2026 in Barcelona

Published

5 hours ago

January 23, 2026

Zoltan Tundik

From January 20 to 21, N1 Partners welcomed partners, media and industry leaders at stand 80-C80, which quickly became one of the most dynamic meeting points on the expo floor.

Strong Media Engagement and Industry Dialogue

This level of media interest reflected the market’s attention to N1 Partners’ approach and reinforced the company’s position as a visible and trusted affiliate program.

The Grand Finale. N1 Puzzle Promo Party

During the night, N1 Partners revealed the winner of the main N1 Puzzle Promo prize, awarding a Robinson R22 Beta II helicopter, alongside exclusive giveaways for guests.

1st place: Cash Splash
2nd place: Advertise
3rd place: Traffic Squad
4th place: Seven Group
5th place: Alfaleads Network

Recognising N1 Puzzle Promo’s Impact

Closing the Barcelona Chapter

N1 Partners expressed appreciation to everyone who visited the stand, took part in meetings and contributed to the energy of iGB Affiliate 2026.

Special thanks were also extended to all guests who joined the N1 Puzzle Promo grand final party and helped turn the evening into one of the most memorable moments of the conference week.

The Barcelona chapter has closed, but the momentum continues.

Be number one with N1 Partners!