It has often been described as the ‘best way’ to achieve promotion to the Premier League, with the Championship play-off final now just days away for both Hull City and Southampton.
For the supporters of both clubs, a chance to see their heroes emerge victorious under the arch of the national stadium is the dream they are searching for, but promotion to the top-flight will certainly mean just as much to those on the pitch and in the boardrooms.
In many ways, Saints are in a position which many would have expected them to be in before the Championship season commenced, only they have come from nowhere to reach Wembley for the second time in less than a month under Tonda Eckert after their FA Cup semi-final appearance against Manchester City.
And, whilst the spygate saga involving Saints and their semi-final opponents, Middlesbrough, has overshadowed plenty of the build-up to the EFL’s showpiece event, that hasn’t taken much away from the remarkable job which Sergej Jakirovic has done in his first 11 months at the MKM Stadium.
The Tigers were heavily bookmarked as relegation favourites before a ball was kicked after being hit with a two-window transfer fee restriction in July, but are now potentially 90 minutes from ending a nine-year hiatus from the Premier League after seeing off Millwall in the second leg of their play-off semi-final at The Den on May 11th.
As well as being broadcast globally, so Premier League fans can catch a first glimpse at new opponents next season, the play-off final is dubbed the ‘richest game’ in club football, but how much money is on the line this time around?
How much money Hull City or Southampton will bank through Championship play-off final success at Wembley Stadium?
As the years have progressed, the riches associated with the Championship play-off final have got even greater.
In 2025, Tommy Watson’s ‘parting gift’ for Sunderland against Sheffield United saw the Wearside outfit bank in excess of £200m as they returned to the top-flight for the first time in eight years.
Unsurprisingly, Hull or Southampton will bank an even greater sum this time around, with the winning side on the day reportedly set to receive a minimum war chest of £220m.
This comes from the Premier League’s renegotiated broadcasting agreement with various rights holders, in which the division’s 20 clubs receive a grand share of the £6.9bn deal.
The Tigers or Saints will also benefit from improved commercial and facility fees, as well as merit payments, and regardless of the outcome, both clubs will receive seven-figure gate receipt fees from the attendance in North London on Saturday afternoon, with over 70,000 general admission tickets available to the respective fanbases.
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What are Hull City and Southampton’s records in the Championship play-off final?
Remarkably, both clubs, throughout history, have been two of the best-performing sides in the Championship play-offs, although it would narrowly swing in Hull’s favour purely based on the fact they have appeared in more play-off finals than Saints.
Indeed, the Tigers had never been to Wembley before their first play-off final in 2008, when Dean Windass’ strike saw off Bristol City, at a time when the prize pot only stood at £60m, whilst Mo Diame’s curler against Sheffield Wednesday eight years later defeated Sheffield Wednesday.
Southampton also have a 100% record in the final, having beaten Leeds United two summers ago through Adam Armstrong’s first-half strike, but were unable to make the 2007 event as they lost to eventual winners, Derby County, in the semi-finals.
A win for Saints would see them rejoin Ipswich Town in the Premier League after just one season, while victory for Jakirovic’s side would mark the beginning of just a sixth season at top-flight level across 122 years of history.