FC Barcelona contribute 1.5 percent of the club's home city's gross domestic product (GDP), according to a new report by Deloitte which also hails Barca's impact on job creation, tax revenues and tourist numbers in the Catalan capital.
Research by the international professional services company found that Barca had an "economic impact" on the city of €906 million -- representing 1.5 percent of the value of all final goods and services produced in the city over the course of the 2014-15 season.
Deloitte also claim that Barca's activities are responsible for 16,620 jobs locally, and that for every euro of direct expenditure in Barcelona as part of the club's activities, €2.30 of GDP was generated.
The report said that the Catalan club, which recently did a deal with the Madrid-based tax authorities to end a court investigation of potential tax fraud in the 2013 signing of Brazilian superstar Neymar, was responsible for €242m paid in annual tax revenue of which 81 percent were paid directly by FC Barcelona and its foundation.
At the presentation of the research, the Blaugrana outfit's vice-president of finance Susana Monje, said that a three-pillared "management model" had helped make the football club such a "driving force" in the local economy.
"FC Barcelona is an important driving force for the city's economy and its importance is growing year after year," Monje said. "It works well, but nothing happens by chance. And in the case of Barca it is the result of applying a management model based on three pillars: sustainability, rigor and globalisation."
Deloitte's research also found that six percent of all tourists in the city cited the football club as their primary reason for their trip. This translated into 2.4 million visits to the city, 1.47 million overnight stays in the city and 1.57 million visitors to the Camp Nou Experience Museum.
Monje said that the club's current €600m 'Espai Barca' expansion of the Camp Nou would see even more economic benefit to the city in the future.
"Forecasts suggest that with the Espai Barça the club will generate €900m and it is surprising that this figure has been reached after just one season and without the effect of Espai Barca just yet," she said.
"Future prospects, therefore, are very positive. Barca and Barcelona have a symbiotic relationship. Espai Barca is vital for the club will be very beneficial to the city and will contribute to improving the economy and employment."