Football is the most lucrative sport in the world, and the following leagues are amongst the richest.
The most viewed division in the world is the English top division, which many think is the most competitive too; this competitiveness explains why the division is so prominent in countries on the other side of the world. So not only is the English league the biggest domestic league in Europe, but also the world. Such big popularity makes the league an interesting sponsorship prospect for the most significant businesses, which is why the Barclays executives have made the choice to sponsor the league for so many years. A few of the most famous professionals in the world play in England, so it develops loads of debating points for supporters, meaning the sponsors of the division are also talked about, making it an successful sponsorship opportunity. The league has the largest television deal in the world, so the teams and everybody involved receive a cut of the massive pay out from the television deal; the deal is so big because the division has some of the biggest European football clubs.
Italy has been among the most successful national teams ever, and the domestic league is no different. The division has been one of the most watched competitions since football begun to be televised overseas, and this was certainly true throughout the 90’s when the division was the most dominant globally. Having the worlds very best players helps to market the league across the world, and with the arrival of arguably the best pro of all time, this has never been more pertinent. As the division is so watched and prominent it has led the Telecom Italia board to sponsor the division; with such significant viewership, it is an effective way of advertising the business and brand. As the sponsorship is long-term, the firm becomes synonymous with the league and makes the brand practically a household name.
Spanish football has been the dominating force for the last decade or so, and because of this their domestic league has been truly prominent. The leading two club teams in Spain pull in some the greatest crowds and t.v. audiences of any sports clubs. One of the Spanish teams has been the best team in Europe in terms of the top European division, which is the most observed club cup competition. Spanish soccer dominance was not restricted just to the team competitions, as the Spanish national club likewise won 3 international tournaments in a row not too long ago. Being a Spanish commercial bank, it was a natural and effective move for the Santander Board to sponsor the Spanish top division. Some people criticise the division for being far too top heavy, where the top three or four teams are far greater than the rest of the league, however that is unavoidable when the top teams are as excellent as they are.