Uefa have the released the details for the Women Champions League prize money for the upcoming 2024/25 competition where Arsenal will compete in the qualifying round 1 with games taking place at Meadow Park, Borehamwood FC
The circular 38/2024 indicates that the total prize money is €24 million, a very small percentage of the men’s prize money which is €2.467 billion. This is not a surprise as the men’s tournament generates so much money in sponsorship, ticket sales, etc.
The €24 million comes from the following sources:
a) Net revenue of the tournament b) Sales of tickets for the final c) Uefa investment d) Cross-financing from the Uefa men’s competitions
Point d is important as the men’s competitions support the women ones.
The €24 million are split three ways: 48% are distributed to the teams participating in the group phase, 29% are distributed to the teams who play in the qualifying round 1 and 2, and the last part 23% is distributed to non-participating clubs.
A) The payments for the clubs playing in the centralised phase (group phase) €11.4 million are split into two parts:
- A starting fee of €400,000 per team = €6.4 million
- Performance-related amounts €5 million: €50,000 per win and €17,000 per draw. Undistributed amounts (€16,000 per draw) will be pooled and redistributed to the clubs with the twenty-five longest travel distances in round 1 and round 2.
The group winners will be paid a €20,000 bonus. Then, for the knock-out stage:
- Reaching the quarter-final stage €160,000
- Reaching the semi-final stage €180,000
- Runner-up €200,000
- Winner €350,000
B) Payments for teams playing in the non-centralised phase €7 million:
Round 1:
- The host team will receive €30,000;
- The visiting teams will receive €65,000;
- The group winner will receive a bonus of €15,000;
- The group runner-up will receive a bonus of €10,000;
- The third-placed team in the group will receive a bonus of €5,000;
- The fourth-placed team in the group (if applicable) will receive a bonus of €1,000.
Round 2:
- The defeated team will receive €140,000;
- The winning team will receive €100,000.
Therefore Arsenal are guaranteed a minimum payment of €31,000 as hosts. Obviously, we hope to see the team qualify for the lucrative group stage. Going all the way by winning all the group stage games would bring a total of €1,195,000.
C) Payments to non-participating clubs
One of the most interesting parts of the payments is the money given to clubs that actually do not participate in the competition. This side is often forgotten by fans despite their clubs receiving money from Uefa.
“The solidarity payments to non-participating clubs will represent 23% of the total estimated amount. A total of €5.6 million will be distributed to national associations that have entered at least one club in the 2024/25 Uefa women’s champions league. The amounts paid to each national association will be based on the performances of their club(s) in the Uefa women’s champions league. The national associations must then share the allocated amount equally amongst the clubs in their top domestic women’s championship that are not competing in the competition. These funds will be earmarked for development purposes and may not be used for the fixed and ordinary costs of the club.”
Fifty associations have entered a club in the 2024/25 tournament and will receive money from Uefa. It is also important to note that the money is performance-related, so that English clubs need to perform in order that the FA gets more money to spread evenly between the nine WSL teams that will get some extra cash to add to the broadcasting right money.
Considering the last operating budget for Arsenal Women for the season 2022/23 was £11,115,000 according to Companies House and the turnover was £10,997,000, champions league money will definitely come handy if the team can make a deep run. Especially as £6,400,000 of the turnover is classified as group income, while the remainder is broadcasting £1,529,000, gate and other matchday revenue £2,685,000 and commercial £383,000.
Arsenal will play Glasgow Rangers at Meadow Park on Wednesday September 4 at 7.30pm with a potential final on Saturday September 7 also at 7.30pm.