Sports finance expert hopes South Yorkshire will 'reap the rewards' of hosting the Women's Euros
Bramall Lane in Sheffield & the New York Stadium in Rotherham put on 8 games in total during the competition
It's hoped South Yorkshire will be 'rewarded' in future for taking a chance on women's football at Euro 2022.
Bramall Lane in Sheffield & the New York Stadium in Rotherham hosted 4 games each during the competition.
Sports Finance Expert Dr Dan Plumley from Sheffield Hallam University says many clubs weren't willing to take a chance on the sport when the venues were picked in 2019:
"The host venues really reaped the rewards during this tournament, and you have to hope that this continues into some form of longer term legacy for this region linked to women's football.
"Maybe, when the tournament comes back to England eventually, South Yorkshire could well be in prime position to benefit again because of its involvement this time around.
"It's all about people who want to follow the sport as spectators doing more and getting down to more games in future.
"Of course, it's got to be affordable and attractive, but for the local clubs I think it's absolutely vital that they build off the back of this.
"There's a chance here to grow the next generation of fans and the next generation of talent."
He also says their success on the pitch will probably lead to further rewards off it as well:
"A lot of these players are very marketable; they're people brands will want to be involved with.
"We've seen so much positive energy around this group of players, so it's quite possible that many members of this England squad could be in line for lucrative deals through sponsorships.
"We'll definitely see some wage increases across the board too at professional level I'd imagine with the way the sport is going and the upward trajectory it's on following this tournament.
"However, we should be looking for the women's game to grow in its own right and grow sustainably."