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Real Madrid and Barcelona neck-and-neck as world’s most valuable football brands in the face of COVID-19

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  • Real Madrid remain world’s most valuable football brand, but Barcelona narrow the gap to just €6 million
  • COVID-19 causes total brand value of top 50 clubs to decrease for the first time in 6 years – €751 million or 3.7% is knocked off
  • English clubs dominate the ranking with six brands in top 10 and 19 in top 50
  • Liverpool inches two spots up into 4th place, following historic Premier League win
  • Bundesliga’s 1. FC Köln is this year’s fastest-growing brand, followed by Leicester City and RB Leipzig – all recording over 40% growth
  • Tottenham Hotspur’s new stadium takes top spot in Buro Happold’s Venue Performance Rating

Real Madrid remain the most valuable football club brand in the world for 2020, according to the latest edition of the Brand Finance Football Annual. Boosted by winning the LaLiga title for the first time since 2017, the club retained its position at the top of the table in the football industry, but against a backdrop of economic and social disruption, caused primarily by the COVID-19 pandemic, Real Madrid’s brand value has declined by 14% to €1,419 million.

Real Madrid’s disappointing on-pitch performance prior to 2019-20, which saw an earlier-than-normal exit from the UEFA Champions League in 2018-19 and a second successive season adrift of LaLiga champions Barcelona, eroded the club’s dominance of the Brand Finance ranking. The situation was exacerbated by COVID-19, along with a lack of stability around the management of the team. Barcelona, Real’s fierce rivals, are just €6 million behind Real with a brand value of €1,413 million, supported by strong and diverse revenue generation and continued domestic performance in Spain.

COVID-19 knocks off €751 million of brand value

Real Madrid is not the only club to see a drop in brand value this year. COVID-19 has caused the total value of the top 50 football brands to decrease for the first time in 6 years. Through its effect on the three main revenue streams – Matchday, Broadcasting, and Commercial – €751 million or 3.7% has been knocked off the cumulative brand value of the world’s top 50 most valuable football clubs.

The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged professional football worldwide and across all levels. Matchday income for the 501 games remaining in the big 5 leagues dropped to zero, but it is often the smaller clubs and leagues which are more reliant on this revenue stream – in Scotland it makes up 43% of total revenue, compared to only 13% in England.

There have been some positive signs, as Southampton vs Manchester City on BBC broke the Premier League TV audience record with 5.7 million viewers, but the longer-term damage to the game’s economic structure has yet to be revealed.

Richard Haigh, Managing Director of Brand Finance, commented:

“Top-level football has been confronted with the largest existential threat since the Second World War. Loss of income, coupled with health concerns about mass gatherings, have raised question marks about the future of the industry and the financial resilience of clubs across all levels. The full damage of the COVID-19 crisis has yet to unfold and it is not inconceivable there will be casualties in the form of club bankruptcies and changes in ownership.”

Despite the huge implications of COVID-19 for football clubs and their financial results, the majority of the brand value is secured by the clubs’ long-term future – provided they can survive the initial shock. For example, only 21% of Real Madrid’s brand value is delivered by the next five years’ financial results.

Premier power

Real Madrid and Barcelona are followed by a cluster of English Premier League clubs in the Brand Finance Football Annual 2020 ranking, with Manchester United in 3rd position after their brand value fell by 11% to €1,314 million. Liverpool, who won their first league title since 1990 in runaway style, are in 4th spot jumping above Manchester City in terms of brand value, rising from €1,191 million in 2019 to €1,262 million, a 6% increase. Chelsea dropped one place in the table to 8th after their value fell for the fourth consecutive year to €949 million. This was arguably due to the club being absent from the UEFA Champions League and also suffering a transfer ban after being charged with breaking Financial Fair Play Regulations.

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SkillOnNet Expands Nolimit City Partnership to Enter Brazil

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Top-performing slots from Nolimit City now live on SkillOnNet brands in Brazil

Global entertainment brand SkillOnNet has expanded its partnership with trailblazing slot developer Nolimit City, launching the studio’s full catalogue of games in Brazil via its popular local brands PlayUZU.bet.br and BacanaPlay.bet.br.

Players across the country can now sink their teeth into some of Nolimit City’s most strikingly unconventional titles, including Duck Hunters, Fire in the Hole 3, and Tombstone Slaughter.

Nolimit City’s games pack a punch like nothing else on the market, blending powerful storytelling and stunning artwork with distinctive mechanics to deliver an exceptional gaming experience. It’s this kind of fresh, provocative content that SkillOnNet sees as a great fit for the fast-evolving Brazilian market.

Brazil launched its newly regulated online betting and gaming market on January 1 2025. SkillOnNet moved quickly to secure licensing and is in a strong position to lead in what’s now one of the hottest markets in global iGaming.

Jani Kontturi at SkillOnNet said: “Partnering with Nolimit City in Brazil feels like a no-brainer. They create the kind of content that cuts through the noise – bold, original, and different. That’s exactly what we’re seeing resonate in Brazil.”

Malcolm Mizzi, COO and Commercial Director at Nolimit City said: “From the very beginning, we’ve had our eyes on Brazil, being one of the first providers to certify our games in the region. We’re really excited to go live with SkillOnNet, and our roadmap doesn’t lie. We’ll be bringing even more bold and exciting content to the Brazilian audience. Stay tuned!”

The post SkillOnNet Expands Nolimit City Partnership to Enter Brazil appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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How Sports Micro-Influencers Are Building Active Communities and Driving Brand Engagement

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When you think of micro-influencers and communities, there’s a good chance you think of social media. Influencers are a product of the online world, and until now, this is where they have always existed. There is, however, a change beginning to happen, especially in the world of sports influencers.

Content creators, while still conducting the bulk of their business online, are now beginning to create active communities in the real world through organised events. This provides businesses with the opportunity to collaborate with them and shine a spotlight on their products, giving potential customers the chance to experience them firsthand.

An Influencer Revolution

This influencer revolution, if you will, is happening in streets and parks all around the world. Currently, there is a trend, particularly in the fitness and sports influencer space, for active involvement and building real-world communities. This trend presents some incredible opportunities both for micro-influencers and the brands they represent.

Trends are, by their very nature, cyclical, and we are starting to see a major shift in the way people want to engage with one another. We have spent the last decade or more glued to our screens, building communities, swiping right, and creating digital relationships. There is a growing revolt against this type of interaction.

Head down to your local park a few evenings a week, and there is a good chance you will see a stampede of active young people come flying past you, chatting with one another and very often wearing the same sports gear.

The running club boom is just one example of how online communities are now beginning to engage in the real world. Micro-influencers are starting to organize meet-ups and host events, all of which are encouraged to drive engagement and foster real-world connections.

Gen Z audiences, in particular, have shown a strong craving for authenticity, and this shift into the real world highlights that. Social media allows people to build carefully curated profiles, but this is stripped back when you attend one of these events and get a chance to really engage with communities.

A Unique Opportunity

This genuine engagement presents a powerful opportunity for sports brands and marketers, and we are seeing it unfold in real-time. A quick Google search of run clubs or meet-ups taking place in New York in June 2025 shows sponsored events from Lululemon, Gym Shark, and several other major brands.

There are also several coffee shops within the city hosting running clubs, and some holding hiking events and a monthly cycle.

These are moving endorsements from online to the real world. Let’s say, for example, you are a small sports shop in Austin and you want to target customers in the city. Teaming up with a local micro-influencer and hosting a running event or hike with them will not only get you exposure, but it will also allow you to let attendees try your products.

This has been extremely effective for many sports brands in the last few years, and given the current appetite for these kinds of events and clubs, you can rest assured that if they like your product, attendees will do the heavy lifting for you on social media.

Brand Benefits

What’s more, these kinds of events are extremely cost-effective. You don’t need to spend any money setting up the event; all you need to do is create a partnership with a micro-influencer, provide them with some free samples, and you’re good to go. Of course, the more involved you are with the event, the better.

Unlike many social media opportunities, these in-person events can be an excellent way for micro-influencers and brands to interact in real-time. This presents a unique opportunity to showcase shared values, demonstrate products, and genuinely engage with potential customers.

Of course, this also helps the online influence of micro-influencers grow stronger. Once people have had a chance to engage with online communities in real life, they are more likely to keep that engagement going online. This, in turn, empowers the endorsements of micro-influencers, which is hugely beneficial for businesses.

This change also marks a new era in the world of digital and social media marketing. Businesses now have the chance to collaborate in the real world, and we at SGG Media have a network of micro-influencers who have the power to make these kinds of events and interactions happen. Marketing evolves, and this is an exciting new era that businesses should look to throw their arms around and embrace.

Author: Troy Paul, CEO of SGG Media

The post How Sports Micro-Influencers Are Building Active Communities and Driving Brand Engagement appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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Amber Cox

Indiana Fever Signs Partnership with bet365 as Team’s “Official Sportsbook Partner” for 2025 Season

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The Indiana Fever announced that one of the world’s leading online betting companies, bet365, is joining the team as its Official Sportsbook Partner for the 2025 season.

bet365 will step into the game with a lineup of fan-focused features that will be integrated across the Fever’s media and game day experience.

“We’re excited to team up with bet365 and bring fans a premium mobile sports betting experience. This partnership is all about creating more ways for fans to connect with our team from tipoff through to the final buzzer,” said Fever Chief Operating Officer and General Manager Amber Cox.

As part of the partnership, bet365 will have a strong presence throughout the Fever season, including having a brand presence across Fever Radio Network broadcasts, team social content, and the Fever mobile app.

“Exciting, record-breaking, and hungry for more, the Indiana Fever certainly embodies the Never Ordinary spirit, and we are incredibly enthusiastic about this partnership. With the new season underway, it’s the perfect time for us to share our unrivalled bet365 experience with Fever fans,” said a bet365 spokesperson.

The post Indiana Fever Signs Partnership with bet365 as Team’s “Official Sportsbook Partner” for 2025 Season appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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