Promotion paves the way for clubs' economic stability and growth

The on-field successes enjoyed by teams are set to represent a financial boost for their clubs, with the 2016/17 campaign marking the introduction of the new strategy for the distribution of the revenues earned from audiovisual rights. The Royal Decree-Law 5/2015 will usher in a new era for Spanish football, with the centralised sale of audiovisual rights set to enable clubs to take big strides towards securing their economic stability, which in turn will bring about growth across all areas of a club, on financial, sporting and social levels.

At its lowest level, the new system will impact on sides who gain promotion from Segunda Division B to the Liga Adelante and take their place as one of the 42 LaLiga member clubs. At Segunda B level, it is estimated that a club in the division's higher reaches generates €2.5 million in revenue, a sum that comes from gate receipts, commercial and advertising activities and other sources. This figure does not include any amounts received from television rights, given that such sums are practically non-existent. Promotion to the Liga Adelante sees clubs propelled into a division in which television broadcasters begin to express an interest in their product. In this way, the new revenue distribution system will enable member clubs to receive the sort of financial compensation which is in line with the footballing product offered up by LaLiga teams. The average estimated revenue for Liga Adelante clubs will be around the €9 million mark, of which €6 million will come from the revenue distribution system stipulated in the Royal Decree.

The ultimate objective for any Spanish club is to belong to domestic football's top division, the Liga BBVA. The current economic controls system, coupled with the revenue set to be generated, will mean that being a top-flight club will provide the necessary stability to enable a club to grow upon solid foundations. In the 2016/17 season, the estimated minimum revenue that a Liga BBVA club will receive is €46 million, of which €42 million will be sourced from television rights, with the rest coming from match day revenue, commercial and advertising activities and other sources.

These figures demonstrate that the system to be introduced through the Royal Decree-Law 5/2015 will revolutionise the Spanish game, serving to reduce the gap between clubs and offering benefits which are in line with their on-field success and institutional operations. The figures that have been quoted here for the various divisions do not include the sums obtained from player transfers, which could see the estimates vary.

The 2015/16 season was an historic one which marked the approval of the Royal Decree, whilst the 2016/17 campaign is set to be equally significant on account of the implementation of said legislation. Next season we will start to see the results of a system which will ensure a more level playing field amongst the clubs and public limited sports companies. Three years ago, Javier Tebas's governing team were appointed and their arrival at LaLiga has brought with it a period of financial restructuring within Spanish football which next season is set to take a major step, as LaLiga confirms its status as the best league on the planet.