Arsenal are set to benefit from a huge boost to their growing financial position, should they be able to seal a first Premier League title since 2004 this season alongside a proposed Emirates Stadium redevelopment.
A strong start to their latest title bid has seen the Gunners establish a four-point lead at the summit of England's top flight after 11 games, having continuously made strides both on the pitch and in a commercial sense in recent years.
Kieran Maguire highlights importance of league title
Speaking to Arsenal Insider, when asked about benefits that a return to glory would bring the Gunners, Liverpool University football finance lecturer Kieran Maguire said: “A Premier League title would help.
“They went through a very fallow period – a bit like Man United – from 2016 onwards because they weren’t qualifying for the Champions League. That has been rectified, and that is a greater issue than actually winning the Premier League. Yes, sponsors like to have their product alongside the Premier League trophy, but it’s the Champions League that has the biggest step up in terms of its commercial impact.
“Winning the league would be welcomed by the commercial department and they will use it as a tactic in negotiations, but sponsors aren’t daft and they don’t think this is going to be a dynasty for the next five or six years. The competition at the top of the Premier League is so intense.”
Gunners to boost revenue with stadium expansion?
Arsenal are reportedly exploring a major redevelopment which would see the Emirates Stadium surpass a 70,000 capacity, a major growth on its current holding of 60,700 in a move which would put the North London ground only behind Manchester United in Premier League capacity.
Speaking on the possible rewards of the proposed expansion, Maguire said: “I think we will see a move to targeting a demographic who are willing to pay premium prices – and there are an awful lot of those people. Broadcast revenues are flatlining domestically. There is still growth in maybe one or two cycles in the international markets, but clubs are acknowledging this and looking at making more money elsewhere.
“Arsenal have put up ticket prices, which increases yield per fan. Your matchday income is number of matches, multiplied by yield per fan, multiplied by average attendance. So if they can increase attendances by 15 per cent, your matchday income is going to rise by more than 15 per cent because they will be targeting premium demographics.
“I doubt there will be any more season tickets in those extra 10,000 seats, for example. A lot of them will be hospitality packages. You’re looking at maybe £40m in additional revenues.”
In the financial year ended May 31, 2024, Arsenal generated a total of over £250m in combined commercial and matchday revenue, and this is predicted to rise to around £391m in the 2025 accounts, while the above expansion and seeking of new demographics will only further enhance the scope for matchday income.
FGG says: Expansion no-brainer for Arsenal
Expansion proposals are telling of the growing standing of Arsenal in the English game, one that will benefit even further should they get over the line in the Premier League this year.
Demand for Emirates Stadium tickets and packages is high and only continues to increase, and the benefits the club will see in the long-term, as much as £40m per season according to Maguire – as well as opportunities for non-football events which neighbours Tottenham Hotspur have enjoyed and largely controlled to date – should only trigger continued financial and sporting improvement.