World Cup will double football market growth for 2014
21/05/2014
The figure represents average annual growth of 4% since 2006, the group said. However, in years in which the FIFA World Cup takes place, including 2014, growth is greater.
NPD said year-on-year growth in 2014 will be twice as high, at 8%, and pointed to the World Cup as the most likely reason. Its market analysis covers boots, kit and equipment for the game.
A Paris-based NPD analyst, Renaud Vaschalde, said on announcing the figures that years in which a major international tournament takes place, such as the World Cup or the European Championship (another competition for national teams that takes place only every four years), there is a strong drive for growth, whereas the years without these events are flat.
“We think, nevertheless, that the rate of growth is likely to slow in the next five years,” Mr Vaschalde added. “The main reasons are market saturation in Europe, an ageing population and increasing urbanisation, which is making it more and more difficult for people to find enough space in which to play football close to their homes.”
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