Football: How the Beautiful Game Became a Beautiful Business

BeSoccer 4 years ago 913 |

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Football: How the Beautiful Game Became a Beautiful Business. AFP

Football is a beautiful game but it’s even more beautiful business. In 2018, Deloitte calculated that European football alone is worth £21.9 billion. Add to this figure revenue from leagues elsewhere in the world and the pulling power of football is greater than every other sport – and many other industries.

Naturally, the sport itself is a major driver. Watch any El Clasico game over the last 10 years, and you'll see how the stars of Barcelona and Real Madrid have produced some sensational moments. However, to become as big as it has, football has had to evolve into a business.

Entertainment in Every Possible Way

To attract investment and, in turn, interest, clubs, leagues and other parties have had to innovate. Football entertainment incorporates things such as TV shows and podcasts. In the UK, Soccer AM has become the go-to show for fans. As well as recapping the latest headlines, the show takes a sideways look at the sport. From comedy set-ups to casual interviews with the game’s finest, the show is as much about entertainment as it is about sport. Building on this, podcasts have become popular over the last decade. Major networks like the BBC and ESPN have jumped on the bandwagon, and so too have former professionals like Peter Crouch. Again, the end goal for all concerned is entertainment.

Beyond football-related media, sports betting is a great example of football’s diversification and subsequent transition to an all-encompassing business. Today, fans not only have the option to bet on games but learn all about the process. Betting-focused website sites give novices an insight into the types of bet that are possible, how odds work and which platforms are best in terms of quality, safety, and reliability.

Finally, you’ve got the novelties. Companies like Futboleros have taken the core concepts of football and made them fun. Indeed, the group of players that make up Futboleros are known as the Harlem Globetrotters of soccer because of the tricks they perform (see video above). These companies may pale in significance to teams like Manchester United when it comes to revenue and popularity. However, they’re an integral part of the industry. What’s more, they’re another example of how football is much more than a sport.