The 2023–24 season may have ended just in time for Stoke City to catch their breath, but the 2024–25 schedule will be released the following month.
After three straight victories and clean sheets to finish the season in 17th place, Stoke has reason for optimism under Jon Walters and Steven Schumacher, assuming they can make some key additions during the summer transfer window.
The new fixture list will be unveiled on Wednesday, June 26 at 9:00 a.m., according to confirmation from the EFL. StokeonTrentLive will broadcast it live. Early in July, Sky Sports will confirm the broadcast picks for August and September. The remaining picks will be confirmed until January, just before the season begins.All EFL opening games will be televised live to kick off the Championship campaign on the weekend of August 10. The customary blackout restriction does not apply on a weekend when there is no planned Premier League activity, therefore they can still start off that Saturday at 3pm.
Sky will broadcast live coverage of at least 24 Stoke games, including all of the midweek games, Boxing Day, Easter, New Year’s Day, and the championship game. Every Carabao Cup match will be televised. There will be games on television on Friday nights and throughout the lunch hour on Saturday and Sunday.
The new £935 million five-year agreement with Sky will completely revamp the football schedule. That equates to rights fees of £895 million and “additional marketing benefits” of £40 million. According to the EFL, Championship clubs will be “46 per cent better off” with this arrangement, which is £60 million per season more than the previous one.
Because of their TV deals, Premier League clubs are typically guaranteed around £100m, while the Championship is in a different league. Stoke’s media and television revenue increased to £9.25 million in their most recent financial statements from £8.95 million in the prior year. The difference between the top two divisions will not be much reduced by even an additional 46%, because the financial regulations are so strict that any extra income is a blessing.
Stoke season ticket holders can guarantee their current seat for 2024–2025 until Friday, May 17. Fans who have had to switch seats owing to the modifications can currently purchase tickets in the south stand, which is being rearranged to accommodate home supporters, with licensed standing constructed over the upper section. On Monday, June 10, the general sale will begin.
In the Championship, 46 rounds of league games will take place across 33 weekends, 9 midweeks, and 4 bank holidays. 36 weekends and 6 midweeks will see Leagues One and Two compete.
Starting this season, the Football League Trophy and League Cup will remain in their current formats. In the middle of August, the Carabao Cup will debut. On May Bank Holiday weekend in 2025, however, the play-off finals will occur.
Day of fixture release: Wednesday, June 26, 2024, at 9:00 a.m.
Starting date: August 10–11, 2024; First Round: August 13–14, 2024; Carabao Cup Final: Sunday, March 16, 2025
Season finale: Saturday, May 3, 2025
Final weekend of the playoffs: May 24–26, 2025