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How big finance is changing football

The Financial Times Business of Football summit kicks off next Wednesday

Here are the main discussion points:

Financial state of play — Uefa, which governs football in Europe, will be unveiling its latest annual report on the professional game’s finances at the summit on Thursday morning. We’ll be looking out for the latest trends in revenue growth, rising costs, club investment and that one thing that has proven elusive in football for so long: profits.

Impact of regulation — The spending rule book has changed a lot over the last couple of years, with Uefa introducing its “squad cost ratio” approach for clubs taking part in European competitions. The Premier League is following suit from next year. We’ll be talking to the heads of Spain’s La Liga, the English Football League and the new Independent Football Regulator to see which way the wind is blowing. Plus, we’ll have feedback from clubs and players’ unions.

Stadium wars — Changes to financial rules have added further impetus for clubs seeking to grow revenue beyond media rights. We’ll be finding out how the arrival of new investors and new technology is helping to shape the stadium upgrade battle.

Transatlantic opportunities — The World Cup in the US, Mexico and Canada this summer will put the world’s most popular sport in the spotlight in its most important growth market. We’ll be hearing from people on both sides of the Atlantic about how to capitalise on that moment. Plus, we’ll talk to Mark Tatum, the chief operating officer of the NBA, about how the world’s top basketball competition wants to team up with Europe’s biggest football clubs.

Investment approaches — Despite the lack of profits in football, investment has still been flowing. We’ll be joined by plenty of people putting money to work in the game, including Global Sports Group (CVC’s sports vehicle), Sixth Street, Apollo, and Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian.

Breaking into the elite — Some have complained that new financial rules have made it even harder for aspiring clubs to challenge the elite. So what can the upwardly mobile do to compete? We’ll find out how Nottingham Forest, Newcastle United, Aston Villa, Wrexham, Brighton and Como 1907 are going about it.


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