What drives the value of football clubs: An approach based on private and socio emotional benefits
The present paper shows how, in the soccer clubs sector, where the average financial results are negative, the value of football clubs is not related to income, but to sales turnover and gives a theoretical explanation for that. The literature has shown that the profitability of the industry is generally negative already at the level of operating profit. However, the difference between market value and book value is broadly positive, showing that the market recognizes to these companies a quid pluris in terms of value, not explained by the most rational and generally accepted methods of business valuation. The present study aims to explain, through an empirical analysis, why the value of a football company can not be estimated only on the basis of expected financial results, but it requires considering the overall benefits for shareholders, represented also by private benefits of control and socio emotional benefits.