AC Milan’s potential exit from European competitions this season before Christmas is something that will have economic implications moving forward.
This morning’s edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport (see photo below) has an article which begins: ‘From a sporting point of view, a disaster. Economically, a catastrophe’. Milan need a miracle to make the Champions League last 16, and they risk also not even making the Europa League.
Compared to the semi-final of the last Champions League, it is a very painful turnaround that could cost at least €113m. The FIFA Club World Cup set for June 2025 is in doubt as well, which has drawn scrutiny in terms of its timing but is cash-rich in prize money.
The 2022-23 Champions League was a blessing for Milan’s coffers, with revenues of around €127m obtained. To be precise: €85m in UEFA prizes and €42.5m at the box office. The ticket sales were as follows: €14.4m from tickets for the three group matches (Dinamo Zagreb, Chelsea, Salzburg) and €28.1m in the knockout rounds (Tottenham, Napoli and Inter).
This is without considering the commercial implications, because more you play and win, the more the image of Milan appears in newspapers, TV and social media. A virtuous spiral that can turn vicious.
From the semi-final lost against Inter to the eventual farewell in the groups it would be a triple somersault without protection. In this Champions League, Milan have already collected, more or less, €42m euros between participation, historical ranking, results in the group and market pool.
Added to this are the €18.8m from the box office (Borussia Dortmund, Newcastle, PSG) for a total of €61m. Less than half of the last Champions League. Now the most painful chapter: the loss of income.
Getting to the semi-final like last year would guarantee €33m in UEFA prize money, at least €5m from the market pool (the one linked to the Champions League matches) and, considering the increase in prices, at least €30m from the box office. The total sum is €68m evaporated from one year to the next.
An additional regret is the FIFA Club World Cup. It debuts in June 2025, with a final phase of 32 teams. There are 12 European clubs, with Italy getting two spots and Inter having secured one of them. The other comes out of the three-way fight between Juventus, Milan and Napoli.
Juve are ahead, and exiting Europe now means saying goodbye to the dreams of a trip to the USA. A result that cannot please Gerry Cardinale. In addition to the sentimental issue there is the commercial one (unquantifiable) and the one linked to the prizes.
The figures are not official here either, but we are talking about $2.5bn in prize money (€2.3bn). Participating should be worth $50m dollars (€45m). Adding the two numbers together, €68m plus €45m equals €113m. Between adjustments, increases and cuts, it would be a catastrophe.
