Women's sport to make £1bn in 2024– Deloitte

Football is forecast to generate £439m with basketball predicted to hit £280m.

In Summary
  • The forecast is based on matchday, broadcast and commercial revenue.
  • Deloitte's revenue forecast for women's sport for 2023 was £771.8m and £554.4m in 2022.
England and Spain met in the finals of the 2023 World Cup
England and Spain met in the finals of the 2023 World Cup
Image: HANDOUT

Global revenue generated by elite women's sport is predicted to surpass £1bn for the first time next year.

Finance experts Deloitte predict women's sport revenue will reach £1.02bn in 2024 after a year of growth featuring the Fifa Women's World Cup in 2023.

Football is forecast to generate £439m, with basketball predicted to be the second most valuable sport with £280m.

The forecast is based on matchday, broadcast and commercial revenue.

Deloitte's revenue forecast for women's sport for 2023 was £771.8m and £554.4m in 2022.

Commercial revenue, which includes club sponsorships, partnerships, and merchandising sales is predicted to contribute 55% of revenue, while broadcast revenues make up 27% and matchday revenues contribute the remaining 18%.

North America is expected to be the largest geographical market in 2024 with a 52% share compared to Europe, which is set to hold 14%.

The report comes at the end of a year in which women's sport has continued to grow.

Data from the Women's Sport Trust found that the football World Cup helped to drive a significant increase in women's sports viewing figures in the UK.

This year the Women's Six Nations attracted 10.4m viewing hours making it the most-viewed edition so far.

The Solheim Cup in golf, England women's cricket team and England at the netball World Cup also proved popular.

Jennifer Haskel, insights lead for Deloitte's Sports Business Group, said there has been "exceptional growth in women's sport across the globe" and added: "Crucially, women's sport is increasingly being viewed as a unique product that is becoming ever more distinct from men's elite sport."

Three years ago, Deloitte predicted women's sport was worth "well under ş1bn (£800m).

The news comes before a busy 2024 for women's sport, headlined by the Paris Olympics.

There is also the women's Six Nations and athletics World Indoor Championships, along with a host of internationals for Heather Knight's England cricket side.