The tournament’s success is a relatively recent phenomenon. The first
edition did not take place until 1960. Only when the field was reduced
to four was the venue for the semi-finals and final decided. The
tournament grew incrementally and it took until England hosted in 1996
for the Euro field to reach 16 countries.
Forbes: European Championship a lightning rod for Platini’s critics – But are they right?
Last summer’s European Championship hosted by Ukraine and Poland is estimated to have generated over $1.5B in sponsorship and broadcasting revenue for the UEFA, the governing body for soccer in Europe.
