🏇 League Structure & Competitive Format
Elite individual tour across 16 global destinations – LGCT is a premier individual show-jumping series featuring up to 15–16 rounds on four continents, with only the top ~30 riders qualifying in each Grand Prix and accumulating points.
Scoring & championship – Each Grand Prix win yields 40 points, and only a rider’s best eight results count toward the season title. Winners also gain a “Golden Ticket” to the prestigious Super Grand Prix at the Prague Playoffs.
Complementary team league (GCL) – Since 2016, the Global Champions League runs alongside LGCT as a franchise-based team competition resembling F1: teams invest ($2 million), include an under-25 rider, and compete strategically with mid-season transfers and shared prize funds ($38 million).
💶 Prize Money & Financial Stakes
Massive purses – In 2025, LGCT will award over $36 million in prize money across its legs . For end-of-season finals (Rabat + Riyadh), 2024 total prize pools exceeded $22 million, including a $1.25 million Super Grand Prix.
Top-tier payouts – Champions often earn hefty rewards: e.g., Scott Brash’s 2014 season yielded over $852,000 total, including nearly $300,000 for a single Grand Prix victory.
📈 Business & Growth Strategy
Digital‑first, Direct-to-Consumer (D2C)
In 2023, LGCT partnered with WePlay, aiming to expand fan engagement and increase revenues via ticketing, hospitality, OTT (GCTV), and e-commerce channels.
Media Rights Expansion
From 2024–26, SPORTFIVE handles global media rights, enhancing LGCT’s broadcast presence across continents. Sports Media Venture continues to distribute rights via platforms like beIN Sports, Discovery, SVT, Sky Italia, etc…
Premium Sponsorship Ecosystem
Title sponsorship by Longines (since 2013) and partner brands like Massimo Dutti support prestige and financial foundations, with top riders receiving luxury prizes. LGCT markets bespoke sponsor packages (global to local event rights), exploiting strategic alignment with elite lifestyle and sport.
Franchise-style Team Investment
GCL’s model sees substantial back-end investment ~$2 million per team, offering sponsors high profile, strategic exposure and youth development opportunities.
💰 Revenue Breakdown
Prize Money: In 2025, LGCT distributes over €36 million across 16 legs. The Super Grand Prix at the GC Prague Playoffs offers €1.25 million alone.
Ticketing & Hospitality: From €25 day passes to exclusive VIP packages (~€11,000 in Cannes), ticket revenues and upscale hospitality experiences (GC Lounges, VIP access) make up a significant portion.
Digital & Merchandising: After partnering with WePlay, LGCT saw a tenfold social media audience growth and a 150% year-over-year traffic increase—boosting ticketing, GCTV subscriptions, and e-store sales.
Media Rights & Sponsorship: SPORTFIVE holds global media rights for 2024–26. The title sponsor Longines (partner since 2013) extended its commitment through 2027. Secondary sponsors like Massimo Dutti and local event partners also fund via bespoke packages.
📊 Audience Metrics
Digital Reach:
Instagram: ~380 K followers with a healthy 1.07% engagement (~4,100 likes/post)
YouTube: 86 K subscribers, ~36.7 M total views, averaging ~4.5 K daily views; estimated monthly ad revenue of $136–187.
Live Attendance: Premium venues like Cannes, Rome, and Monaco attract thousands per event (e.g., Roman Grand Prix in 2024 drew a packed Circus Maximus).
TV & OTT: OTT live streaming via GCTV plus broadcast through beIN Sports, HBO Max, DAZN, and others—further amplified by SPORTFIVE’s global media partnerships.
🎉 Fan Experience
On-Site Experience:
Leisure & Entertainment: Beyond top-tier sport, events feature commercial villages, food trucks, fashion zones, family pop-ups (like pony parks), and charity competitions .
VIP & Hospitality Zones: Ringside lounges, exclusive watch trials (Longines), pre/post-event receptions, celebrity networking opportunities—including appearances by royal families, Hollywood stars, and business moguls .
Accessibility: Easy spectator engagement with free morning sessions and tiered ticket pricing, appealing to casual fans and families.
Digital Engagement: Live Streaming: GCTV provides multi-angle, real-time coverage with commentary.
Social Content: High engagement through rider interviews, behind-the-scenes content, and highlight compilations—especially across Instagram and YouTube.
✅ In Summary
LGCT delivers a seamless sports-entertainment ecosystem: Financially anchored by prize funding, ticket/hospitality, digital and media revenues. Digitally robust with high engagement across platforms, rapid growth post-digital strategy shift. Fan-centric—mixing elite competition, accessible venues, lifestyle hospitality, and deep media immersion.
🔍 Summary
The LGCT combines high-level athletic competition with a robust commercial engine: League design ensures elite performance focus, season-long narrative, and lucrative competitive stakes.
Commercial model drives diversified revenue: prize money underpinned by D2C income, media value, and luxury sponsorship. Global expansion is fueled by digital transformation (WePlay), global broadcast partnerships (SPORTFIVE, Sports Media Venture), and lifestyle branding via Longines. Team competition adds strategic depth and sponsor appeal, elevating LGCT into a multi-faceted, professional sports entertainment network.
In essence, LGCT has redefined show jumping as a globally televised, investment-ready league—melding sporting excellence with strategic business growth.