European Countdown: 7 days to go

The first winners of the European title in 1978 got £1,000 for their troubles — so how much has being crowned the best band in Europe actually been worth over the years in cash terms...

The European title does come with additional goodies, but how much is the cash worth?

Show us the money...

The title of European Champion not only comes with the iconic Christopher Milton Stevens trophy, but also with some added goodies too.

Since 2017 the winning band has been presented with not one, but two euphoniums from the event sponsors and 2000 Euros in cash.

However, its not always been so — and for the most part it has just been a cash payout. So has winning the title been worth it over the years in real monetary terms?

Inflation

Taking into account the official UK Consumer Price Index inflation calculation, this is how much the cash first prizes are worth today:

1978 — 1982: £1,000 first prize

Worth today: £5,600 to £3,500 (Euro 6,471 to Euro 4,044)

1983: 5,000 Guilders first prize (£1,150)

Worth today: £3,848 (Euro 4,446)

1984 — 1986: £1,250 first prize

Worth today: £3,984 to £3,632 (Euro 4,603 to Euro 4,194)

1987 — 1989: £1,500 first prize

Worth today: £4,184 to £3,701 (Euro 4,834 to Euro 4,276)

1990: £2,000 first prize

Worth today: £4,508 (Euro 5,209)

1991: 6000 Guilders first prize (£1,820)

Worth today: £3,875 (Euro 4,477)

1992 — 1993: £2,500 (first prize)

Worth today: £5,130 to £5,050 (Euro 5,927 to Euro 5,841)

1994 — 2000: 3000 ECUs (European Currency Unit/Euro)

Worth today: £4,610 to £3,111 (Euro 5,327 to Euro 3,954)

2001 — 2002: 5000 Euros

Worth today: £5,117 to £4,907 (Euro 5,912 to Euro 5,670)

2003: 3,000 Euros

Worth today: £3,057 (Euro 3,532)

2004 — 2006: 5,000 Euros

Worth today: £5,365 to £4,916 (Euro 6,199 to Euro 5,680)

2007 — 2010: 2500 Euros

Worth today: £2,308 to £2,822 (Euro 2,667 to Euro 3,260)
In each of these years a euphonium valued at 7000 Euros was also given

2011 — 2013: 3000 Euros

Worth today: £3,120 to £2,782 (Euro 3,605 to Euro 3,214)
In each of these years a euphonium valued at 7445 Euros was also given

2014 — 2016: 1000 Euros

Worth today: £924 to £792 (Euro 1,067 to Euro 915)
In each of these years a euphonium valued at 7445 Euros was also given

2017 — 2018: 2000 Euros

Worth today: £1,786 to £1,805 (Euro 2,063 to Euro 2,085)
In each of these years 2 euphoniums with no list value given were also presented

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