NFL fixtures have provided Tottenham Hotspur with a valuable additional revenue stream, but the profits may be considerably smaller than some estimates suggest.
Former Manchester City financial adviser Stefan Borson believes Spurs could be making around £1m per game at the bottom line, rather than the reported £6m.
Stefan Borson delivers fresh Tottenham Hotspur Stadium financial verdict
The latest NFL fixture at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium saw 61,322 spectators attend the Jacksonville Jaguars' meeting with the Philadelphia Eagles on October 11th, setting a record attendance for an NFL game at the north London venue.
The venue has hosted several NFL matches since October 2019, with the fixtures providing a source of income beyond football.
However, suggestions that Spurs could generate upwards of £6m per game through rental fees, catering and merchandise have been challenged by Borson.
Speaking to Football Insider, the financial expert suggested that figure could represent gross revenue rather than the profit Tottenham ultimately retain.
“I don't think these games are worth much more than £1m at the bottom line,” Borson said, pointing to the costs involved in staging NFL fixtures.
Those expenses include transforming the pitch, setting up the stadium and providing the necessary staffing.
Borson also questioned claims about the importance of the NFL revenue stream, arguing that relatively little of the money generated necessarily translates into profit.
However, he stressed that the arrangement remains positive for Tottenham, providing income from non-football events and helping the club make greater use of its purpose-built stadium.
With a minimum of two NFL games hosted each year, even profits closer to £1m per fixture could represent a useful annual contribution.
The record crowd against Philadelphia also demonstrated the continuing appeal of NFL games in north London, with Tottenham's venue offering a dedicated home for American football alongside its regular football schedule.
FGG says: Spurs' NFL deal remains valuable despite the profit debate
The distinction between revenue and profit is crucial when assessing Tottenham's NFL business.
A reported £6m generated per match sounds impressive, but the costs of staging an event mean that figure cannot automatically be treated as money going straight into the club's accounts.
Even if Borson's estimate of around £1m in profit is closer to reality, the fixtures still provide a worthwhile additional income stream and help maximise the use of the stadium.