[Exclusive] Saudi Pro League (SPL) "Big Four" Fandom

Part II: "Big Four" Data

Source [X (formerly Twitter)]: Al-Ahli

2023/24 ROSHN Saudi League [Saudi Pro League (SPL)] “Big Four” Match Attendances

Overview

Matchweeks 1-27

Friday, August 11, 2023 - Sunday, April 7, 2024

• SPL “Big Four” Clubs

  • Al-Ahli (Jeddah)

  • Al-Hilal (Riyadh)

  • Al-Ittihad (Jeddah)

  • Al-Nassr (Riyadh)

• Each of the “Big Four” clubs is “privatized” and majority-owned (75%) by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), the sovereign wealth fund of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), as part of the Sports Clubs Investment and Privatization Project.

Source: MSKhan Lab Analysis

Source: MSKhan Lab Analysis

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SPL Future Mission & Vision

“Access the Saudi Professional League to the top ten best league in the world. technically, commercially, financially and Media.”

• 2022/23 Europe’s “Big Five” Leagues Winners

  • Bundesliga (Germany)

    • FC Bayern Munich

  • La Liga (Spain)

    • FC Barcelona

  • Ligue 1 (France)

    • Paris Saint-German (PSG)

  • Premier League (England)

    • Manchester City FC

  • Serie A (Italy)

    • SSC Napoli

Source: MSKhan Lab Analysis

Source: MSKhan Lab Analysis

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*Note:

• Stadium capacity and utilization rate has not been taken into consideration for analysis as “Big Four” clubs, bar Al-Nassr, host their home matches in multiple stadiums of varying capacities.

• Inter Miami CF [United States (US)] has been added in the analysis as the club too has adopted the “superstar-acquisition” model, as evidenced by the signings of Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba.

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Al-Ahli

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Al-Hilal

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Al-Ittihad

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Al-Nassr

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SPL Matches Between “Big Four”

2023/24 AFC Champions League (ACL) Match Attendances

• Has the "superstar-acquisition" model adopted by the soccer clubs in KSA translated into large away match attendances in 2023/24 ACL host countries such as Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Uzbekistan, Iraq, Iran, India, and Qatar?

• Find the answer here:

  • Sayeed’s LinkedIn Post

Digital Value of SPL Fans

• Thank you, Luis Viveiros, for sharing Horizm’s “Digital Value of Fans 2024” report.

• SPL’s Digital Data and Insights

  • Audience (Followers) = 106.24 million

  • Value Generated = EUR 88.26 million / USD 94.19 million / SAR 353.32 million

  • Value Per Fan = EUR 0.83 / USD 0.89 / SAR 3.32

  • Average Engagement Rate (Post Performance and Quality) = 8%