NEVER before has promotion carried a greater reward. Clinch a return to the Premier League at home to Cardiff this lunchtime and Hull City can plan to cash a cheque worth a reported £120m.
The vast financial returns only add to the magnitude of an anxious final day in the Championship and, importantly, could finally alleviate the Tigers' dependency on owner Assem Allam.
Two and a half years since taking over a club described as a "financial basket case" following relegation from the top flight in the summer of 2010, Allam's personal investment of over £60m has laid the foundations for a bold new empire to rise in East Yorkshire.
Justification for such an eye-watering outlay could be just 90 minutes away and manager Steve Bruce believes the gold at the end of the top-flight rainbow will owe everything to Allam's gamble.
"The one thing we don't think about is money, or you shouldn't do anyway," said Bruce, asked if the riches at stake added pressure to today's season finale.
"We're in football to achieve something and get success. It would be a great achievement because no-one gave us a hope in hell at the start of the season.
"It's been a remarkable season and we have to finish it off so we can have something on our CV.
"The owners are the ones who will be looking at the financial implications and I hope, for the chairman and his family, we can do it.
"They deserve a big pat on the back. No disrespect to Hull, but I don't think there were many people out there who would put their hard-earned money into saving the club like he has done. I hope for him, in particular, we can do it, because he's had a massive investment in the last couple of years."
City, of course, have been here before. A reported £60m prize was secured with promotion to the top flight in 2007-08, only to be squandered alarmingly before relegation followed two years later.
The same mistakes will not be repeated if City return to the promised land and Bruce already has a long-term vision building in the first season of a three-year deal.
He added: "I had the chance to manage Wigan in the Premier League and they've been there for eight years. They're the benchmark we all have to look at being a so-called smaller club.
"They've done it, West Brom have done it. Why not get in there and why not have a plan to put in place? If Wigan can do it for eight years, anyone is capable."
City fans will be encouraged by Bruce's plans but know nothing will come without a final show of nerve.
The visit of Championship title-winners Cardiff to the KC Stadium requires a win if the Tigers are to take the giant leap back into the Premier League, but belief has been tested by City's closing stumbles.
A 1-0 loss at Wolves, a 0-0 draw against Bristol City and a 2-0 defeat to Barnsley have enabled Watford to reduce the gap to just one point, but Bruce has every faith the flunked tests have taught valuable lessons.
"You get caught up in the whole thing and before you know it, you can't put one foot in front of the other," he said.
"If nerves gets a hold of you then you're in serious trouble. Maybe it was a case of that last week at Barnsley.
"You gain from the experience of those days and I hope last week has stood them in good stead for what to expect."
Without a show of resolve today, the Championship play-offs could be City's only hope. So has Bruce given a thought to that eventuality?
"Nope, not one. I can honestly say that, not one."
City fans must hope it is something he will never have to contemplate.
