A Pauper's Sport

Yesterday's game between Manchester United and Barcelona at Wembley for the Champions League Final is set to generate record windfalls in London and worldwide.  The study from Mastercard has predicted that the world economy will be boosted by 369€ million (~£319 million), while London will receive 52€ million (~£45 million).

 

The winning team is expected to take home 126€ million, while the losing team will receive a share estimated to be around 73€ million.  Interest in the final in Latin America, birthplace of Barcelona's Lionel Messi and Manchester United's Javier Hernandez, is alone expected to generate around 100€ million in economic activity.

The study also estimates that the winning club will be 16€ million better off than in 2009, when the same two teams met in the final.