The leap in quality is striking. For Eldense, the move up to Primera RFEF means a potential path to revenue that could fall well short of the hundreds of thousands, yet the dream is clear: access to broadcast income is a pivotal factor. In the best scenario, five hundred thousand to three hundred thousand euros would be the early impact, while promotion to La Liga would unlock substantial broadcast rights revenues that could reach multi‑million euros annually. This uplift, combined with prudent management, helps the club grow, stabilize finances, and establish a firmer footing in the higher tier without accumulating debt.
Having just arrived in the silver tier, the club has forwarded all relevant documents to LaLiga SmartBank for review. The salary cap system used in this division is designed to cap what a club can spend on its first team and supporting staff, including the head coach, the assistant coaches, and the fitness team. The cap also accounts for spending on affiliates, the youth academy, and other departments, ensuring a sustainable financial model for the season.
The Eldense squad was summoned on Tuesday, July 11, to begin pre‑season activities, not yet certain how much of Deportivo’s salary cap could be absorbed into their plans.
Within the framework, fixed and variable salaries, social security, signing bonuses, transfer costs (including manager commissions), and depreciation — defined as the annual portion of a player’s purchase price based on contract length — are all considered. Each club or SAD proposes a squad cost limit, and the Verification Body at LaLiga then sets the precise cap that supports the business’s financial stability. Revenue from television rights is distributed according to the governing regulations, with a fixed portion allocated to the competition’s organizer and the rest distributed to the clubs within the format. In practical terms, most of the revenue from television rights flows to the top division, with a smaller, but meaningful, share for the second division clubs.
Amid a situation similar to Deportivo’s, Amorebieta received 5.5 million euros in the 2021–2022 season.
Despite differences in how the two leagues distribute income worldwide, being in the silver tier compensates for many gaps. In the previous season, LaLiga SmartBank distributed a total of 217 million euros among 22 teams. Distribution criteria differ from those in the top flight. At the outset, 13.6 percent is allocated to the Supreme Sports Council and the national federation, with the remaining amounts distributed through a mix of sports performance and media reach. A portion is allocated evenly among teams, while the remainder hinges on a combination of results, audience metrics, and media presence. Media factors include subscription and stadium revenues, average viewership, and social reach.
The silver division accounts for a smaller slice of commercial rights revenue, approximately 10%.
The funds coordinated between the league and the federation add to broadcast income. A mutual fund previously produced additional payments to each club. In Eldense’s case, this can translate to a little over 6 million euros tied to publications and related expenses, likely keeping the salary cap within that range. Amorebieta’s example remains a benchmark for clubs navigating this tier, having received 5.5 million in the 2021–2022 season. The law also imposes obligations to support competition evolution, including contributions to owners’ funds in proportion to income, and participation in compensation schemes for staff transitions overseen by the federation, the sports council, and employers’ associations. Additional obligations include support for relevant workers’ unions.
operators
With roughly six weeks to go before the season starts, it remains unclear whether a one‑year contract has been signed. Major telecom partners and streaming platforms have discussed strategies for non‑exclusive audiovisual rights after last year’s auction, where a full package drew limited interest. Eldense supporters will still pay to watch their team on television, but the broadcast partner aims to deliver a higher standard of signal quality and reliability than in the past.
Fans can look forward to consistent, high‑quality broadcasts, reducing the risk of interrupted feeds and improving the overall viewing experience as the club eyes progression into higher competition.