One year into a "sweeping corruption scandal" at the highest levels of global football, FIFA’s reputation and finances "are still under a cloud," according to Tariq Panja of BLOOMBERG. The forecast "is very different for UEFA." Euro 2016 "will be the biggest in the tournament’s history, with more teams, more games and more host cities." For UEFA, "all that adds up to more money." The organization expects to make €2B ($2.2B) in revenue, up from the €1.4B "it made four years ago when Poland and Ukraine were host to 16 teams." The European Championship "has long been second only to the World Cup in popularity and revenue." Now with teams from 24 countries participating, "there are more tickets to sell," and TV rights for the tournament fetched about €1.05B ($1.18B), a 25% increase over '12. UEFA Marketing Dir Guy-Laurent Epstein said that sponsorships are up 40%, to about €450M ($506M). Ticket sales "make up the rest." Epstein said that behind the billion-euro broadcasting revenue "is a TV audience of 130 million for the early games." The audience "will grow to 300 million" by the July 10 final at the Stade de France in Paris. In contrast, Super Bowl 50 in February "drew about 110 million viewers." Epstein: "We will deliver 51 Super Bowls in the next month." Epstein said that "he thought tightening regulations on corporate gift-giving and gift-accepting had put a chill on spending for events like these." He said, "It’s more difficult for companies to invite guests because of compliance issues," adding that the specter of terrorism and planned strikes "do not help either." For France as a whole, the tournament "is a drop in the bucket." Academics at the Centre for the Law and Economics of Sport in Limoges, France, estimate that it will generate an economic impact of €1.3B ($1.4B), "mostly from fan spending." Another €1.7B ($1.9B) has been spent on the stadiums being used for the event (BLOOMBERG, 6/10).
