Football Partnerships

By Alex Kotler

PlayBeautiful | The 2010 World Cup Experience

PlayBeautiful LLC is pleased to announce the official launch of PlayBeautiful | 2010 World Cup, an interactive, community-driven pop-up experience coming to New York City this summer for the entirety of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™.

Featuring real-time match viewing of every World Cup game, live demonstrations by the soccer industry’s top performers, video game competitions, film screenings, private events and an unparalleled retail environment, PlayBeautiful will be the top destination for residents and visitors to enjoy all of the excitement of soccer’s signature tournament.

“PlayBeautiful will provide New York City residents and visitors with a one-of-a-kind World Cup experience,” said Alexander Kotler, Executive Director of PlayBeautiful and Founder of Football Partnerships.

Please visit www.playbeautifulnyc.com for more information, follow @iPlayBeautiful on Twitter and join the PlayBeautiful group on Facebook for updates.

Gunners shooting down the debt-load

SoccerexBusiness Daily are reporting that English Premier League side Arsenal FC have reduced their debt from £332.8 million to £203.6 million, thanks in majority to £96.6 million in revenue generated by the sale of 261 apartments at Highbury Square, site of the club’s former stadium.

Said Arsenal non-executive chairman Peter Hill-Wood, in response to servicing the debt and a £10.7 million profit increase year on year: “How we will use this surplus remains undecided but, in addition to investing in the team, I think we will examine investment in club projects and infrastructure, both in and around Emirates Stadium.”

With English Premier League clubs owing 56% of Europe-wide commercial debt it becomes all the more difficult to point a finger at Arsene Wenger, an economist by trade, for his buying policy.

MP & Silva becoming “King of the Jungle”

SportBusiness is reporting an agreement between the Football Association of Malaysia and MP & Silva agency, whereby the latter will sell the international media rights of the Malaysian national football teams - the ‘Tigers’ - until 2016.

“As the home of Asian Football Confederation, Malaysia plays a prominent role at the heart of Asian football, and Malaysians are fervently passionate about football and their national team, and we are honoured to play a long-term role in the international distribution of Malaysian football,” said Nicola Antognetti, Vice President of Football Acquisitions at MP & Silva and a member of Football Partnerships.

What is the trajectory of Malaysian football in your eyes?

Read the original bit by Kevin McCullagh in SportBusiness

Tiring out all of Brazil

Continental AG, the world’s fourth largest manufacturer of passenger tires, has committed to serving as the Exclusive Tire Partner for the FIFA 2014 World Cup™ in Brazil.

Having recently reached an agreement to be an official sponsor of Major League Soccer, the German outfit is has its sights on expanding throughout the Americas.

“We have already laid the ground for worldwide marketing communication in the next few years by renewing the FIFA partnership through 2014. As a central communications platform, [professional] soccer has been shown to be extremely useful in enhancing brand awareness in our core markets and in contributing to a steady strengthening of our premium Continental brand’s market position,” explained Nikolai Setzer, Continental Executive Board member for Passenger and Light Truck Tires.

Is there value and/or ROI for Continental AG in being the ‘Exclusive Tire Partner’ of FIFA?

Read the original release here

English Premier League 24/7. Dear Lord.

EPL Talk revealed last week that the English Premier League will launch a 24/7 television service next season, with all content available for rights holders everywhere - except Great Britain.

Programming would include classic Premier League matches, news and discussion programs. By way of the Q17 rule, requiring all managers to attend in person and participate in post-match interviews, consumers can also expect more face time with Premier League gaffers. Sir Alex Ferguson on the BBC, anyone?

A host is yet undetermined, yet - like EPL Talk - Football Partnerships throws its support behind the little man of the one-liners, James Richardson.

Read the article by the Gaffer in EPL Talk

By Alex Kotler

Onalfo returns to United fold

DC United announced this week that Curt Onalfo, a former player, director of youth development, and assistant coach at the club, will return to be the sixth head coach in the team’s history.

More on the Onalfo hiring

Watford avoid administration

Fordwat Limited has reportedly stepped in to keep Watford clear of the chop, or perhaps the toss, as former chairman and vice-chairman, Jimmy and Vince Russo, respectively, had demanded repayment on GBP 4.88 million in loans made through their company, Valley Grown Salads to the club.

More on the Watford rescue

The shirts off our back!

English Premier League side Arsenal FC are in negotiations with shirt sponsor Emirates Airlines to raise the value of the deal. One driver behind the initiative is the desire to increase available funds during the January period. Perhaps Stan Kroenke, who continues to up his ownership stake can open the purse?

More on Arsenal’s renegotiations

The FFF takes a gamble

The French Football Federation has announced the addition of gaming company PMU to its list of partners. The firm will reportedly sponsor the broadcast of the French National Team’s World Cup matches. Good to see someone else ‘handling’ things in France.

More on the FFF’s gamble

IN SPANISH: Belgian side expelled, release Spanish players

Jupiler Pro League side Royal Excelsior Mouscron has been expelled after failing to service debts of over EU 800,000. Five Spanish players, José Antonio Salcedo, Carlos Moreno, Manuel Mico, Jonathan Aspas y Alejandro Cortell, were released from their contracts.

More on this Royal shame

Arsenal director Stan Kroenke has increased his share in the London football club to 28.9%.

Mr Kroenke, the club’s largest shareholder, has bought a further 90 shares, at £8,500 per share.

Read the rest of the article

By Matt Cutler

Arsenal Holdings, the company that owns Arsenal Football Club, has reported record profits of £45.5 million for the year ending May 31, up from £36.7 million the previous year.

The company said turnover increased to £313 million thanks largely to television revenue and ticket sales reflecting the team reaching both the semi-finals of the Champions League and FA Cup during the 2008-09 season. Matchday revenue contributed £100 million and the sale of 208 private apartments at Highbury Square £88 million.

Read the rest of the article

Experienced executive Tom Fox has stepped into the role of chief commercial officer at English Arsenal.

With more than 20 years in the field, Fox is expected to bring a wealth of expertise to the club. He is a former Nike and Gatorade executive, working within a number of marketing and branding ventures, as reported by Media Week.

Read the rest of the article