Deloitte reports rising matchday revenue across European football
Deloitte’s latest Football Money League reveals that matchday income across Europe’s top 20 clubs surged by 11 % in 2023–24, reaching a record €2.1 billion – the highest share (18 %) of total revenues since 2014–15.
This growth stems from increased stadium capacities, ticket price hikes, and upgraded match‑day offerings like hospitality packages. Real Madrid, propelled by the revamped Bernabéu, doubled its matchday revenue to €248 million, while other clubs such as Liverpool and Olympique Lyon benefited from infrastructure investments.
Nine Premier League teams feature in the top 20, and all but Tottenham saw matchday income rise. Though broadcast income remains stagnant at €4.3 billion, commercial earnings reached €4.9 billion. Deloitte warns clubs must balance revenue expansion with players’ welfare as competitions and matchday opportunities continue to grow.
FC Porto announces renovation of Estádio do Dragão
FC Porto will undertake major renovation works at the Estádio do Dragão during the 2025/26 and 2026/27 pre‑season periods, aiming to enhance the venue for the 2030 FIFA World Cup and large-scale concerts.
The upgrades are expected to include improved infrastructure, expanded hospitality areas, and modernised facilities to boost both sporting and non-sporting event revenue. With a capacity of just over 50,000, the stadium is internationally recognised – having hosted Euro 2004, UEFA finals, and Champions League fixtures.
The works reflect Portugal’s broader strategic investment in stadium quality in the run-up to co‑hosting the 2030 tournament. This modernisation aligns with previous infrastructural enhancements at fellow Portuguese venues such as Estádio da Luz and José Alvalade, underscoring a nationwide push to meet FIFA standards and host high-profile global events
https://stadiumdb.com/news/2025/06/portugal_fc_porto_announces_renovation_of_estadio_do_dragao
Manica–Foster pair to design new stadium for Inter and Milan
Inter and AC Milan have green‑lit a joint ambition: a striking new stadium near San Siro, crafted by the architectural collaboration of Manica and Norman Foster’s Foster + Partners. The Manica + CAA Icon team brings expertise from major US arenas like Allegiant Stadium, while Foster’s office has global recognitions, including Wembley.
Their design proposal – a modern, accessible, and highly sustainable venue – aims to house around 70,000 spectators, with substantial hospitality facilities, expansive public plazas and integrated green zones. The stadium is envisaged to anchor a larger sports and leisure district, revitalising the San Siro area through year‑round use.
The project now moves to the city’s planning stage, with formal submissions and detailed planning due in the coming months, marking a major step towards realising a world‑class home for both Milan clubs.
https://stadiumdb.com/news/2025/06/italy_manicafoster_duo_to_design_new_stadium_for_inter_and_milan
Borro and Adyen Partner with Club Brugge in Multi-Year Sustainability Deal
Innovative reuse platform Borro has announced a multi-year partnership with Club Brugge, Belgium’s most successful football club of the past decade. The agreement sees Borro’s smart reusable cup system introduced at the Jan Breydel Stadium – the largest venue in Belgium’s top division – in a major step toward sustainable fan experiences.
The partnership will see Club Brugge adopt Borro’s technology-driven solution, which combines sustainability with seamless usability, aligning with the club’s ambition to lead in innovation and environmental responsibility.
Mattijs Buyck, Fan Operations Director at Club Brugge, praised the collaboration: “Borro is the smart reusable cup system that seamlessly connects technology, sustainability and user experience – for events that are ready for the future.”
The initiative is supported by Adyen, the global financial technology platform, enabling smooth and secure payment integration across the system.
This partnership signals a bold move towards a greener, digitally enabled matchday experience.
FC St Pauli combines solar energy with a fight for equality
FC St Pauli will install the world’s largest rainbow‑coloured solar array on the north stand roof of Millerntor Stadium during the summer break, ready for the 2025–26 season. Comprising 1,080 modules across 1,800 m², the installation will generate around 285,000 kWh per year – enough to power approximately 80 homes – while cutting 135–140 tonnes of CO₂ annually.
The rainbow design is deliberate: it symbolises the club’s unwavering support for LGBTQ+ rights and stands as a visible affirmation of diversity and inclusion. In partnership with renewable‑energy provider LichtBlick, St Pauli merges climate action with social activism, reinforcing its longstanding stance against discrimination and homophobia. The project aligns environmental sustainability with equality, making Millerntor not just greener, but also a beacon for tolerance.
https://stadiumdb.com/news/2025/06/germany_st_pauli_combines_solar_energy_with_a_fight_for_equality
€1 billion national stadium in Serbia rises despite lacking permits
Despite lacking full construction approval, Serbia is pressing ahead with its new national stadium in Surčin, near Belgrade. Only preparatory permits – for earthworks and foundations – have been granted; requests for infrastructure like access roads and parking have been rejected or are unresolved.
President Vučić, acknowledging a four‑month delay, remains adamant the stadium will be completed, while denying clarity on the permit situation and hinting at possible “crime”. The project, initially estimated at €150–250 million, has ballooned to nearly €1 billion – including transport links such as a new rail line to the airport and EXPO 2027 site.
Complicating matters, much of the land falls under public ownership or lacks proper registry, questioning legal status and delaying spatial planning consultations. Nonetheless, the ambitious scheme continues, despite the incomplete permits and soaring costs.
Palermo eyes Euro 2032 role through Stadio Renzo Barbera pact
Palermo FC and the city council are negotiating a long-term agreement – potentially up to 80 years – for the management and upgrade of Stadio Renzo Barbera. The plan includes a €30 million investment within two years to bring the venue up to UEFA standards for Euro 2032, to be finalised over a 15-year period.
Crucially, Palermo could re-enter the tournament bidding if it submits a deliverable upgrade proposal by 1 October 2026 and begins construction by March 2027, according to FIGC president Gabriele Gravina ansa. Meanwhile, civic surplus funds totaling €67 million have been earmarked for local infrastructure, including the stadium.
Despite being initially excluded from Italy’s shortlist of ten Euro venues, Renzo Barbera remains a viable candidate – provided these ambitious plans are realised in time
GL Events gets green light for Stade de France deal
France’s government has entered exclusive negotiations with GL Events to manage Stade de France from Summer 2025 under a new 30‑year concession, replacing the Vinci‑Bouygues consortium incumbent since 1995.
GL Events proposes roughly €100 million in renovations – significantly less than Vinci‑Bouygues’s €400 million offer – focusing instead on boosting commercial activity with shops and revitalised community engagement. The transition has provoked legal action from the ousted consortium, which is challenging the tender process in administrative court.
Main stadium tenants, the French Football and Rugby Federations, have voiced support for GL Events, citing concerns over the previous operator and emphasising the need for guarantees on hosting national team fixtures. The concession agreement is expected to be signed by April 2025 ahead of the August handover.
https://www.thestadiumbusiness.com/2025/06/13/gl-events-gets-green-light-for-stade-de-france-deal/
