The economics behind El Clasico
Real Madrid and Barcelona are two of the biggest clubs in terms of football and revenue. The clash between the two rivals dubbed as 'El Clasico' is one of the biggest matches in the world and is also one of the most expensive matches out there.
This match comes at a very high price, and the fans, the clubs, sponsors, and media definitely want a piece of revenue from it.
According to an online ticket marketplace – Viagogo, the demand for a ticket in El Clasico increases by around 36% every year. It is one of the highest-priced games in La Liga, as the cheapest ticket costs €111, while the highest priced ticket costs a whopping €1000.
Demand for El Clasico greater than the Champions League final
The Clasico is one of the most popular football events in the United States, and the demand even surpasses the Champions League finals. A spokesman from Viagogo said, “Soccer fever has been growing in the US since the World Cup last summer and demand for El Clásico is currently outstripping even the Champions League Final.”
The match will have some of the best players in the world and is the closest a fan can get to an All-Star XI in football. The price for quality is also high, as the players are some of the richest in the game, with Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Neymar amongst the highest earners in the game. The net value of the starting XI of both the squads will come up to €930 million, and go upwards of €1 billion if we include the cost of the players warming the bench.
While the match is estimated to be broadcast in around 100 countries, the broadcasters will be reaching out to around 500 million fans all over the world. The Pay Per View system clients are estimated to spend about €5 to €10 each.
Another major source of revenue in the fixture is the sales of club merchandise, where the fans pay up to €85 for a shirt with their favourite players’ name on it. The merchandise sales accounts for around 30% of the clubs’ revenues.