Serie A The Fastest Growing League
Submitted by WG on Sun, 07/06/2009 - 00:00
Serie A was the fastest growing league in Europe in the 2007/8 season reveals the latest Deloitte Football Finance report. Total revenue increased by €357m (34 per cent) to €1.4 billion. The change of mix of clubs in Serie A for 2007/08, notably Juventus' return, contributed two-thirds of the increase. The other clubs increased revemues by c. €120m aided by new broadcasting contracts. La Liga recorded a 8 per cent (€112m) growth in revenue to €1.4 billion, placing it joint second with the Bundesliga which grew by 4 per cent (€59m). La Liga's growth was driven by Real Madrid and FC Barcelona, the world's highest and third highest club revenue earners in 2007/08.
Total wage costs for the 'big five' European leagues were €4.8 billion, €588m (14 per cent) higher than in 2006/07. All of the 'big five' leagues experienced significant wage cost growth, with Serie A (€250m) and the Bundesliga (€105m) providing the largest increases. The wages/revenue ratio of La Liga was 63 per cent whilst Serie A's was 68 per cent. France's Ligue 1 joined Serie A in returning operating losses due to limited revenue growth outweighed by significant wages and other costs growth.
