Revealed: The substantial six-figure sum Sunderland could lose with League One set to continue behind closed doors

Sunderland could lose over £250,000 per game as the League One campaign looks set to continue behind closed doors.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

While there were initial hopes that spectators could begin to return to fixtures from October 1, government minister Michael Gove has confirmed that the plans will now be ‘paused’ due to the rising number of cases nationwide.

And that means clubs like the Black Cats, who have already played their opening third tier fixtures in front of empty stadiums, face an extended period without being able to welcome supporters.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

That, of course, will also hit the coffers of a number of clubs.

The substantial six-figure sum Sunderland could lose with League One set to continue behind closed doorsThe substantial six-figure sum Sunderland could lose with League One set to continue behind closed doors
The substantial six-figure sum Sunderland could lose with League One set to continue behind closed doors

But how much do Sunderland stand to lose as games go behind closed doors?

Using data from the club’s most recent accounts, which cover the 2018/19 season, Sunderland’s losses could top £250,000 for each game which is played behind closed doors.

That’s based on the fact that they pocketed approximately £268,000 per game during that season, with ticketing revenue not thought to have significantly fallen since that campaign.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The Black Cats will not be as hard hit as some other League One clubs should this drastic action be taken though, and indeed, Sunderland’s matchday income is believed to represent a smaller percentage of their overall turnover than some of their rivals.

But it still represents a source of income that the club will have to do without for the foreseeable future.

Sunderland will pocket some revenue from the live streaming of games, but this amount is substantially less than what ticketing income would have brought in.

A message from the Football Clubs Editor:

Hi, our aim is to provide you with the best, most up-to-date and most informative coverage of YOUR club every single day, home and away, 365 days a year.

This depth of SAFC coverage costs, so to help us maintain the high-quality reporting that you are used to from the football team at the Sunderland Echo, please consider taking out a subscription to our new discounted sports-only package.

Your support is much appreciated.

Richard Mennear

Football Clubs Editor