European Super League would be "damaging to East Midlands economy" says business experts
The East Midlands chamber of commerce have spoken out against the idea
The proposed European Super League, featuring some of European football's biggest clubs, could harm the region's economy according to the East Midlands Chamber of commerce.
Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City, Spurs, Arsenal and Chelsea have all released a joint statement, along with other clubs across Europe, which could result in a huge change to the infrastructure of football in this country.
The Chamber estimate that, for example, currently Leicester City's participation in the Premier League generates more than £16m in revenue for the city across their 19 home games through accommodation, transport and food and drink.
The East Midlands Chamber chief executive Scott Knowles said: "The East Midlands is home to some proud football clubs with incredible histories that many people in the sport will rightly point to when highlighting the reasons why a European Super League is such a bad idea."
“Nottingham Forest, of course, are two-time European Cup winners, many Derby County fans will remember their team reaching the semi-final of the same competition and it was only four years ago that Leicester City played in the Champions League – with big hopes they could qualify again for next season’s tournament.
“Previous calculations* have suggested the value of Leicester City playing in the Premier League is worth more than £16m per season to the city through accommodation, inner-city transport, and food and beverage spend, while the Champions League could be worth up to £5m.
“Should Nottingham Forest or Derby County manage to reach the Premier League in the near future, the cities of Nottingham and Derby could expect a similar economic uplift.
“But the implications of a European Super League on a watered-down Premier League in terms of wider interest – and the effective prohibition of these clubs from entering the top European competition – would likely mean such financial opportunities for these clubs and their communities would no longer be on the table.
“The same would be true for those clubs further down the football pyramid, including Mansfield Town, Notts County and Chesterfield. Supporters of these clubs are often invested, emotionally and financially, in the possibilities that exist of climbing the sporting ladder but a glass ceiling would no doubt diminish the rewards at every level of the game.
“The celebrations surrounding Leicester City’s success in the FA Cup semi-final, in which some fans were allowed to attend for the first time this year, demonstrated the important role that football clubs have in their communities and local economies.