UEFA has launched a new report highlighting the potential for growth in the European women’s club and league game over the next decade. According to the report titled The Business Case for Women’s Football, women’s football could see a six-fold increase in its commercial value over the next decade, reaching an annual value of €686 million by 2033. Sponsorship has emerged as the fastest growing revenue stream, with the value of club sponsorship projected to increase sixfold to €295 million by 2033.
The report shows that the fan base of women’s football across the continent, currently estimated at 144 million fans, could reach 328 million fans by 2033. This fan base is mainly young and with progressive values. Young people almost naturally expect the game to grow, as 63 percent of people under 35 believe all clubs should have a women’s team. Meanwhile, the game seems to help also attract new football fans. The majority of women’s football fans previously had an interest in men’s football, but almost one-third previously had no interest in football at all. The positive trend is expected to positively impact the football ecosystem at large. Indeed, the study has found that 19 percent of fans became interested in men’s football and women’s football at the same time.
Women’s football is also associated with a good image and reputation. According to the report, for 87 percent of integrated clubs, involvement with women’s clubs positively impacted their reputation.
A total of 162 clubs, 42 leagues and 11 commercial partners were involved in the development of the report, said UEFA, which also defined the research carried out for the report as “unprecedented in its range, including interviews with over 30 top executives from across the sport, club and league surveys, and UEFA and open-source data.”
The full 59-page report is available for download from the UEFA website.
