Sassuolo in Serie A: Economic Impact and Earnings Prospects

by Lorenzo LonghiSASSUOLOThat the Serie A is worth gold for the positive items in the balance sheet of a football club is a fact, it is certainly not discovered now. And so, just as last May we reasoned about how many millions had escaped from the accounting books of the Sassuolo after relegation and with the B in sight, now it's time to update those numbers and go see how much money the black-green club will be able to get from just rebounding in the top division. Among the negative numbers of the relegation, was the absence of the slice deriving from the tv rights of Serie A to take the lion's share, a shortcoming only partially cushioned by the parachute, because the difference between Serie B and the top division is enormous. Likewise, the voice of TV rights will weigh most heavily on income, in 2025-26. But how are those revenues divided? The distribution follows the dictates of the Melandri Law, amended by the Lotti reform, and determines the subdivision of 50% of the annual amount paid by broadcasters in equal parts among all clubs, 28% based on sporting results (of the last tournament and historical ones), 22% based on social roots (mainly number of spectators at the stadium and TV audience). Well: in the 2023-24 season Sassuolo had collected 35,8 million, 26,8 of which from the share due in equal parts to all clubs, 1,9 from roots and 7,1 from sporting results. Now: the general amount to be shared, "due to the drop in overall revenues guaranteed by Dazn and Sky", writes Calcio e Finanza, should be lower in 2025-26, and in the same way the shares of rooting and results will also be lower considering the year of relegation and the B. However, it is reasonable to expect a figure of around 31-32 million from TV rights alone.

There are other aspects to take into consideration, however, namely the increases resulting from the promotion clauses in contracts with some sponsors and partners, the certain increase – at least three times as much – in attendance at the stadium and the related takings (there were around 275 thousand spectators at the Mapei in the last Serie A, this season it will reach no more than 95 thousand) and, of course, the revaluation of the assets of several players' contracts. Of course, between salaries, buyouts and bonuses, management costs will also increase significantly. But, regardless of these and player trading, from TV rights, sponsors and the stadium there will be 45 to 50 million more just for the fact of being among the big ones again.