EUROPEAN football’s new calendar has not proved universally popular among top level players after Manchester City’s Rodri mooted a strike.
But controversial changes to the Champions League and Europa League may provide a welcome boost to the UK’s hospitality industry.
AFPThe new Champions League format has caused a stir among players[/caption]
GettyBut pubs are set to benefit from the changes[/caption]
A TNT Sports press release read: “New research by the TNT Sports commercial team has found that pubs showing European football this season can expect to pour 23m additional pints.
“[That’s] a total of 200m pints across European game days, compared to 177m pints poured last season, a result of the new UEFA Champions League format and increased European game days across its club competitions.
“TNT Sports has created an xP (expected pints) league table, which shows pint sales for pubs showing the football across the UK on European game days.
“With more European football games than ever before, pubs showing TNT Sports can show more live football with venues tipped to sell more pints compared to last season, an approximate boost of £10m in sales across the UK.”
The company’s research showed that 93 per cent of pub-goers said they would go to the pub to watch the Champions League.
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But more than half stated that they wouldn’t normally go to the pub in midweek unless the Champions League or Europa League was on.
TNT Sports added: “Based on data from last season, the research also shows which regions are set to benefit the most from increased beer sales on European game days across the season, with the North West top of the table with an XP of 28.6m pints to be consumed.
“The South East is in second with 22.8m pints expected to be pulled, while London will see 19.5m pints served.”
Manchester United host FC Twente tomorrow night in a first ever Europa League-only week of European football.
Tottenham will follow on Thursday with a home game against Qarabag.
Title-chasing Man City and Arsenal are next in action on Tuesday, October 1.
City travel to Slovakia to face Slovan Bratislava while Mikel Arteta’s men face a huge test at home to PSG.
On Wednesday, October 2, Liverpool play host to Serie A surprise package Bologna.
And the same evening, Aston Villa play their first home Champions League clash in over 41 years as they take on Bayern Munich.
TNT SPORTSWith Man City, Man Utd and Liverpool all in Europe this season, the North West is set to sell the most pints of any UK region[/caption]