Soccer fans are projected to spend $167 million during Sunday’s 2022 UEFA Women’s European Championship final between England and Germany at Wembley Stadium.
The spending will provide an economic boost for the U.K. economy, which is steadily improving after pandemic-related shutdowns and restrictions that hampered potential revenue.
- Roughly $56 million will be spent in pubs, bars, and restaurants, per GlobalData.
- $112 million will go toward snacks, drinks, and merchandise for fans watching at home.
- 9.3 million people watched the semifinal between Germany and France on Wednesday.
The influx of cash spending follows record crowds for this year’s tournament. The competition — which is held every four years — drew a total of 248,075 fans with 15 games remaining. The draw surpassed a previous record of 240,055 fans in 2017 in the Netherlands.
Through its first 16 games, this year’s tournament averaged roughly 15,505 fans per contest.
Better Than Expected
This year’s competition — hosted by England for the first time since 2005 — has returned after a one-year pandemic-related delay. In May, the 16-team tournament was projected to generate $65.6 million in revenue for its nine host cities, according to a study by Ernst & Young.
The estimated revenue was nearly four times the revenue generated by 2017’s competition.