The Premier League’s ‘Big Six’ – Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Tottenham Hotspur – are reportedly in dispute with the league’s other 14 clubs
Premier League clubs are reportedly in dispute over a proposal to increase revenue from sponsors by collectively selling additional commercial rights.
However, clubs such as Manchester United are said to view any further pooling of rights as an impediment to their aspirations to expand their individual income. The league’s ‘Big Six’ – Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Man United, and Tottenham Hotspur Hotspur – apparently oppose the proposition.
They are the clubs currently generating the highest revenues, all now exceeding £490million. Aston Villa and Newcastle United are the only clubs that currently come close. However, their 2024/25 incomes were between £300-400million.
The Telegraph reports that the Premier League believes they could increase their annual commercial revenue from £200m to £750m. That would be done by adding rights inventory to the total package offered to sponsors, such as match-day perimeter LED boards.
They currently collectively sell some perimeter advertising, which is shared equally among all 20 clubs as central payments. However, the majority is sold individually by clubs.
‘Big Six’ clubs would reportedly want a greater share if any expanded commercial offering does pass. The report cites Premier League sources who say they are working with clubs to agree on a solution.
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All clubs are said to have held detailed discussions about the issue twice already this year, first in February and then at June’s AGM. It is expected that these rights will be addressed at a league shareholders’ meeting on September 24.
Changes to the league’s rulebook require at least 14 clubs to vote in favour. For example, six clubs opposed this season’s new squad cost ratio (SCR) rules, but the quorum overruled them.
However, they were not the ‘Big Six’ back then. That sextet were said to be Bournemouth, Brentford, Brighton & Hove Albion, Crystal Palace, Fulham and Leeds United.
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Man City and Man United, however, were reportedly two of a dozen clubs that successfully opposed a spending cap late last year. That proposal was to be based on 4½ times what the Premier League’s 20th-placed club.
The ‘Big Six’ would have to convince at least one other club, though, if they are to stop this latest proposal. Their next chance to do so is in a fortnight when all 20 clubs meet.
Collective commercial revenues will undoubtedly be a hot topic on the agenda. SCR rules only incentivise clubs to expand their revenue streams even further than PSR did previously.
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