Tottenham Hotspur’s current league position puts them at enormous risk of relegation. With ten games left, they sit just a point above 18th-placed West Ham. Their recent form has been wretched, with the lowest points total in the Premier League since 14 December, having collected just seven points from 14 matches.
While Wolves and Burnley appear likely to occupy two of the bottom three places, and other teams such as West Ham, Nottingham Forest and Leeds are also at risk, Spurs are by no means certain to be relegated. The prospect of one of the Premier League’s six wealthiest clubs being relegated to the Championship should be essentially impossible, given the immense resouces they have at their disposal. However, their current form raises concerns about where enough points will come from to avoid the drop.
Financial Fallout of Relegation
Spurs earned £690m worth of income last year, putting them ninth overall in Europe. Should they be relegated, this income would take a serious hit, with analysis suggesting a reduction of as much as £261m overall.
Ticket revenue, which earned the club £130m and was the fifth-highest in Europe, would be significantly impacted. Spurs currently charge an average of £76 per fan for each home match. They would simply not be able to charge the same amount for a fixture against a side like Lincoln City in the Championship.
Broadcast Revenue and Sponsorship Losses
Spurs’ broadcast revenue would also plummet. They would no longer have access to the funds generated from the Premier League’s lucrative domestic and international broadcast deals. The tens of millions they earn from Champions League TV income will drop to nothing, unless they manage to win the tournament, which would guarantee them a place in next year’s competition even if they are playing second-tier football.
The club-record £269m of commercial income Spurs earned last year would likely take significant damage. Sponsorship deals, such as those with kit manufacturer Nike and front-of-shirt sponsors AIA (worth around £70m combined annually), will have their values slashed thanks to relegation clauses.
Impact on Stadium Revenue
Spurs have focused heavily on selling hospitality tickets and corporate packages for matches in order to maximise matchday takings since building their new stadium for around £1bn. Playing four more home matches in the Championship could also impact Spurs’ ability to host other lucrative events and concerts, which the club has heavily focused on.
For a club of Spurs’ ambitions and financial scale, relegation would have dire consequences.