Brighton and Hove Albion provide £600 million for Sussex economy

Brighton and Hove Albion qualified for Europa League football after finishing sixth in the Premier League, a record high league finish in the club’s 122-year history.

While the on-the-field exploits left fans in dreamland, an independent assessment has also calculated that Albion contributed £595 million to the Brighton and Hove area for the 2022/23 season.

It revealed that £26 million was spent by Albion's visitors to the city in businesses, hotels and restaurants.

The club also generated £222 million  of “brand and media value” to the local economy which it said greatly increases the city’s profile around the world.

Albion saw their global fanbase increase last season (Image: Simon Dack)

Albion’s matches were watched by a worldwide TV audience of 83 million, 75 million of who were international viewers from China, USA, India and parts of Africa and the Middle East.

The £595 million total included £327 million of direct income which includes such things as player transfers, Premier League TV revenue and gate receipts.

Albion’s 907 employees spent more than £20 million in the local economy, which the club said was down to their strong local supply chains.

The Seagulls had another appraisal in 2019 for their first season in the Premier League in the 2017/18 season.

It revealed that in those five years, Albion’s contribution to the local economy had nearly tripled from the £212 million it contributed from that first season.

In addition, the Amex hosted over 830 events last season, attracting 48,000 visitors and contributing £3.5 million to the local economy.

Albion fans at the recent draw with Rayo Vallecano (Image: Simon Dack)

The local economy could be set for an even bigger boost when Albion embark on their first season of European football after qualifying for the Europa League this season. 

Their first Europa League game will be on September 21.

This will bring in additional estimated income of up to £80 million, comprising £30 million direct income; £6 million from additional visitor spend, with at least three games to be played at the Amex, and £44 million in added brand and media value to the city.

The report said the club’s contribution to the local economy is reflected in the amounts paid to HMRC which have risen from £54 millon to £120 million over the last five years.

Albion remain a major local employer with 907 staff while its main contractor Sodexo employs some 500 people. In addition, 500 people are employed in the wider local economy.

As part of the club’s commitment to investing locally, it is the parent company of the New Monks Farm development near Lancing which is providing 637 new homes, including affordable properties and social housing for rent. 

The club sold the 121-acre site near its training ground which has been in development by Cala Homes since November 2019.