SPFL unveils record-breaking prize money for flagship cup

The Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) has substantially increased the prize money for clubs playing in next season’s Premier Sports Cup.

The league has announced that clubs will receive over £3.5m in prize and TV money for the 2024/25 Premier Sports Cup, marking a 14% increase from this year’s competition.

This boost in financial support aims to enhance the overall competitiveness and prestige of the tournament, and marks a record-breaking sum in the league’s history.

Next season’s Premier Sports Cup winners will receive £400,000. Each participating club is guaranteed at least £30,000, a 25% increase from this season and additional sums are available as facility fee payments for all live television matches. The total payout to clubs for the competition will exceed £3.5m for the first time ever.

Neil Doncaster, Chief Executive of the SPFL, commented: “We’re delighted to announce record prize money for our flagship cup competition next season.

“Premier Sports have been fantastic supporters of the League Cup and of our national game. That investment has enabled us to further increase the funds we can make available to clubs competing in our premier cup competition.”

In terms of the aforementioned TV facility fees, any club (home or away) participating in a match chosen for live broadcast by Premier Sports will receive a TV facility fee of £18,000 for the first-round group stage and £30,000 for the later rounds.

Breaking down the prize distribution for the Premier Sports Cup, the winner, as mentioned above, stands to receive £400,000, while the runner-up will be awarded £200,000. 

Losing semi-finalists will still secure a substantial sum of £150,000 and quarter-finalists who fall short will receive £100,000, whereas clubs defeated in the second round will receive a payout of £60,000. 

In the first round group stage, the five worst runners-up will be granted £36,000 each, while clubs finishing in third, fourth and fifth positions will receive £34,000, £32,000, and £30,000, respectively.

Recently, the SPFL has been attempting to secure better deals for the league. Earlier this month, the league were reportedly close to a deal with William Hill, which would see the betting operator become the title sponsor.

In the reports it was said that the agreement would be worth around £10m, which will be of great financial benefit to all 42 member clubs.

Doncaster added: “We’re all looking forward to the return of the Premier Sports Cup, with the draw for the first-round group stage taking place at 1pm on Wednesday 29 May, live on Premier Sports. Seeding pots for the draw will be confirmed early next week.”