England’s second soccer division makes more than top Europe leagues

Neville Williams | Aston Villa FC | Getty Images

Ahmed Elmohamady of Aston Villa during the Sky Bet Championship match between Fulham and Aston Villa at Craven Cottage on February 17, 2018 in London, England.

The Premier League is the world’s richest soccer league. But, not to be outdone, England’s second tier also holds its own with Europe’s top leagues.

The 24 teams that make up the Championship brought in combined revenue of €835 million euros ($967 million) for the 2016/17 season, according to Deloitte’s figures, making it the sixth highest soccer league anywhere in terms of revenue.

Still some way off the numbers posted by elite leagues in Spain, Germany, Italy and France, not to mention the U.K.’s Premier League, the Championship is now ahead of the top divisions in Turkey, Russia and the Netherlands.

Championship revenue and attendance figures when compared to the second tiers of Germany, France and Spain show it’s reaching a new level. However, 30 percent (250 million euros) of total Championship revenue in 2016/17 came from Premier League parachute payments, which is more than the second tiers of France and Spain generated in total.

Parachute payments are sums given to teams relegated to the Championship from the Premier League to soften the impact of dropping down a division. Stoke City, West Bromwich Albion and Swansea will all be in receipt of around 45 million euros for the 2018/19 season, followed by 39 and 17million euros for the two subsequent seasons, if there is no Premier League return.

Investors are sensing opportunities with Championship teams, with former European champions Aston Villa the latest side to undergo a takeover from figures in the business world. In July, Egyptian billionaire Nassef Sawiris and Fortress Investment Group co-founder Wes Edens recently agreed a majority stake at Villa reported to be 55 percent (39 million euros).