West Ham have today received news of a big £25m commercial deal boost after a new EA Sports agreement but only if they can stay up.
As if the pressure to stay in the Premier League was not intense enough already, now there are 25 million more reasons for West Ham to ensure they survive.
The Hammers go into a massive London derby against Chelsea sitting 17th in the Premier League table, just one point off the bottom three.
For fans, staying in the Premier League is about so much more than money.
But without those Premier League riches clubs can quickly fall into the abyss – even with parachute payments.
Exactly a year ago to the day West Ham got a £500m boost after a landmark new overseas TV deal was confirmed.
It took Premier League rights earnings past the £10bn mark.
The mammoth £5.3bn deal saw overseas rights surpass domestic in value for the first time ever bringing the total package over this season and the next two – to more than £10bn.
West Ham’s hierarchy – and those at the 19 other clubs – were informed of the eyewatering deal on February 10th last year (The Times).
One year on there is another added financial incentive for the Hammers and their relegation rivals.
West Ham have been given news of a big £25m commercial deal boost after a new EA Sports agreement but only if they can stay up.
The Premier League is closing in on a £500m deal with video games maker EA Sports.
Electronic Arts has agreed to pay £488m to retain its status as the Premier League’s lead partner and official video-game licence-holder, Sky Sports reports.
A representative from West Ham – presumably vice-chairman Karren Brady – and the other 19 Premier League clubs were briefed at a meeting on Friday that a new six-year partnership with EA Sports worth about £488m is close to being finalised.
“One club executive said it would deliver more than £80m annually, and would consist of EA remaining as the league’s lead partner as well as retaining its exclusive electronic game licence,” Sky Sports reports.
“The lucrative extension is said to be worth more than double the existing deal involving the two parties.”
That money – as with all commercial deals in the Premier League – will be distributed equally among the clubs. But the big caveat for the likes of West Ham will be remaining in the top flight to take advantage.
The Premier League and EA – who are responsible for the FIFA video game franchise, which is set to change to EA after the firm severed ties with world football’s governing body – have had a commercial relationship dating back to 1998, Sky Sports reports.
The New York-listed video-game company, which has a market value of about $30bn (£24.9bn), has been a lead partner of the Premier League since 2016.
The deal is worth an estimated £25m to West Ham if they can stay in the Premier League for the duration of the six-year agreement.
It works out at around £4m per season for each member club.
Now it is up to David Moyes and his players to make sure we remain a Premier League club.
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