Friday 6 May 2016 13:38, UK
Middlesbrough and Brighton will battle it out in the richest match in world football when they clash at the Riverside on Saturday.
The winner will secure the final automatic promotion spot to play in the Premier League next season and will benefit from an increase in revenue of at least £170m over the next three campaigns.
If the match, which will be shown live on Sky Sports 1, ends in a draw, Middlesbrough will be promoted.
Whichever team misses out will finish third in the Championship and will join Hull, Derby and Sheffield Wednesday in the play-offs and get a second chance at hitting the jackpot.
The £170m figure is an increase of £40m and is a combination of the extra revenue the promoted side will earn from playing in the Premier League in 2016/17 and guaranteed parachute payments in 2017/18 and 2018/19 should they be relegated after one season.
According to analysis from Deloitte's Sports Business Group, if the promoted side survive their first campaign in the top flight the increase in revenue will be at least £290m.
Having secured promotion earlier in the week, Burnley, who are already in receipt of parachute payments in 2015/16, will see a minimum uplift in revenue totalling £110m over the next three seasons, compared to what they would have received if not promoted.
"This has been one of the most competitive seasons in recent history at the top of the Championship," said Deloitte's Richard Battle.
"The fixture list has been kind to neutrals, who can enjoy a winner-takes-all clash at the weekend, normally only seen at Wembley in the Championship Play-Off Final.
"The beauty of football is its unpredictability, and it will be only when the final whistle blows at the Riverside that we will be sure which team will gain promotion to the Premier League and in turn earn football's most lucrative prize.
"The prize for Middlesbrough or Brighton becomes at least £290m if the promoted club survives their first season in the Premier League. Watford and AFC Bournemouth have successfully stayed up this year, with Norwich City the only newly promoted club that is fighting relegation."
