''or if anything the purchase of the brand just means that we'll see some official Cosmos jersey's and merchandise come out'' Peppe Pinton sells original ellesse Cosmos jerseys, but at 250 us each one, this is a bit too expensive for me
Given the fact that Jack Bell came out with it on the 'Times, I am pretty much inclined to believe that, at the very least, a sale of the naming rights and ancillary trademarks was made to Paul Kemsley. And I do caution ppl who are enthused that this may not happen in MLS, or at all given Kemsley's financial problems. It may end up just being another purchased asset, but how much value can it accrue if it isn't active. Already most of a generation has never heard of them. Depending on how much he paid for them then he has to think that at least the idea of a barnstorming team is viable. Which I would welcome. Perhaps he sees it as necessary to reintroduce it's global brand.
A problem with MLS is that it targets the wrong fanbase. As many have stated before, the soccer mom and rec league tickets are definitely fun and, at times, profitable, but the "fans" won't show up on a rainy day. They won't sing and stand. And they surely won't travel. For those that don't know who the Cosmos are, I'm sorry but you've been filtered out. If you are a dedicated, live-and-die footie fan in the US, then you should know who the Cosmos are, regardless of age. One of the best recent sports documentaries is dedicated to it. If any potential "fan" says they don't know who the Cosmos are, then that tells me what kind of "fan" they are...and the misuse of funds in trying to obtain their "fandom." Because they surely won't travel.
We know who they are, certainly. I guess, what I'm saying is that once upon a time, "everyone" knew who they were, whether they followed the sport or not. They may not have followed the team but they knew who they were. They had a big brand, kinda like the Lakers or Yankees of American footie. They may still have that reverence among soccer fans here, but they no longer have that type of branding. Perhaps barnstorming is a way of reintroducing the brand in a big way rather than going grassroots.
At this point, that may be true, but it still raises at least two big questions: Who will play for them? Who will play against them?
Has anyone seen the sales price yet????? Regardless, its gotta be worth it. Whether for barnstorming (gag) or a potential MLS franchise, the Cosmos brand is priceless. You are literally buying history! This is one of the reasons it was hard for me to follow the league during its first years (although I did), its hard to root for or against a team that has no history. I root against New England because they've been to MLS cup and are the Buffalo Bills. I root against DC because they have the most titles. I root against Houston because they used to be my beloved Earthquakes. And then there are teams that I pull for once my teams out (that wolud be about six months ago). My point is that I wouldn't pull for any expansion team, but a team that had the likes of Pele and Company....that would be rad. I already have a cosmos jersey! ..........Pele #10 ofcourse
Since the report of the sale, have we seen anything at all from the people who purchased the trademarks? Isn't that awfully strange?
At this point, that may be true, but it still raises at least two big questions: Who will play for them? how about Zinedine Zidane, Luis Figo, Pavel Nedved, Ronaldo Fenomeno (for the old timers) Freddy Adu (for the kids) and John Wolyniec (for the homers)... Who will play against them? i dunno, who is the soccer version of the Washington Generals? Montreal L'Impact?
If this was a summer team, it could play preseason against the top clubs...as seen in many charity/American tour games.
I think its brilliant if at first he brings the team back as a celebrity tour team. Not a Globetrotters though. Something along the lines of the 'friends of Zidane vs friends of Ronaldo' type games which benefit a charity. Instead of the 'friends of' concept, one of the teams could be made up of international stars playing in Cosmos jerseys for the charity while the other could be a real team looking for a tax write off. Its free marketing of his Cosmos brand, gets people excited to see a group of stars wearing the shirt, and feels great since its all for a charity. If the new owner has the contacts, I imagine his connections plus the names Cosmos and Pele would get stars to volunteer their time for a good cause. Behind the scenes they could put an ownership group together (if needed), secure a permanent stadium deal, work out the details of an expansion franchise, and even secure the rights to some big (aging) euro stars who are out of contract. After a few years when people are used to the NY Cosmos 'all star team' they could announce the MLS expansion and their first big time DP (hopefully someone who had played for them in the friendlies). It wouldnt be seamless, but it could transition the worldwide fan support and brand name well enough to draw fans and good players alike if done correctly.
the weird thing about MLS that many people do not know is that the league owns 51% of the team, thus your ability to make money off things like shirt sales are reduced if you were a 'globetrotters' team. If it was a charity team, just think about the money raised for TV rights and shirt sales if you were an independent company. Get Zidane-Ronaldo-Beckham-Carlos-Figo-Nedved... together and give them Cosmos jerseys. You pay them with shirt sales and ads. So on the Becks jersey to sell an add to Herbalife for a few million and give that to the all-star and split the shirt sales with him. 100k at $70 per jersey is a lot of money when you can be selling massive amounts of shirts world wide. Then you get a crew together to film the game and uplink it and sell the broadcasting rights or put it online and sell ads on your site. Sure the proceeds to the game (gate sales) can go to a charity and it is technically a charity team, but it could be very profitable, much more profitable than an MLS franchise in theory and no need to put money down on a franchise fee or a stadium. I think if done right it could be an amazingly successful business model because every year there will always be another great player looking to retire or find another big paycheck. Cosmos could always find players to play and the world tour aspect might be a big sell for these guys nearing retirement. Would you rather move to the US for 9 months a year if you are not from here or just go on 3 week tours with the Comsos and keep getting paychecks from shirt sales while you spend time at home. Cosmos in the MLS would be cool but from a business stand point I think you can make more money and have lower overhead if you just had an all-star team that you were paying via advertising and shirt sale revenue.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/article-1217781/Charles-Sale-Stoke-supremo-Peter-Coates-cries-foul-rant-refs.html Small worthless bit on the NY Cosmos and Kemsley...but thought it was worth posting.
Well it appears, at least, that the UK sheets are taking this thing seriously. It would be nice if Kemsley would release a statement and clarify his plans going forward. But if he starts hiring ppl that would also be encouraging.
Recent topics of Paul Kemsley: He fell off the Sunday Times Rich List Sale of Selhurst Park Sale of Lloyd's
I dont care what the british rags have to say... I will believe any thing cosmos related when its printed up in THE NY TIMES DAILY NEWS NEWSDAY OR EVEN THE OFFICIAL HUMAN TRASH RAG OF THE NY POST... if i dont see any news on these print ny media papers I AM NOT INTERESTED in what out side of NY rags have to say about the cosmos or the supposed owners of the name have to say
maybe not 20,000 but when i was living down in peru over the summer, i went to some Alianza Lima matches with some friends of mine down there. One macth against sporting cristal, i was with about 2000 (maybe more) of the Comando Sur walking to a neutral stadium that they were playing at. So im sure anything less than 3000 making there way to stadium on foot wouldn't be that bad.
Sunday Times business section report. Plans for the new Cosmos to play a match v Spurs in Central park, next summer. Pele to be President of the Kemsley owned enterprise. No confirmation of any players but the usual beckham approach ( not confirmed) mentions a new retail, lifestyle, music brand ?? cant find link or would post
I can not get excited about this... What a crime..... The Cosmos legacy the team is nothing more than some traveling freak show circus.....a traveling circus?? friendly games??? no way I'm backing that with my money.... This will in NO WAY help US Soccer the american game MLS or any thing else to further progress the game here or develop american talent along side world stars that want to WIN some thing be that at the tail end of their careers or their prime......... If the Kemsley owned enterprise HAD ANY REAL BALLS OR EVEN CARED ABOUT THE COMPETATIVE LEGACY OF THE COSMOS HE WOULD GET THIS TEAM IN MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER.... over and over again I have heard about the reinvented cosmos as a traveling harlem globetroters type team...... they can have all the major stars they can sign they can be the globe troters they can play a whole season of meaningless friendly games and win a bunch of WORTHLESS Friendly cups all that adds up to bull shit... If The Energy drinks wins one simple MLS cup guess what RED BULL NY would be MORE GLORIOS than a friendly playing traveling circus cosmos....... But this is what would have been expected from the greedy brit that bought the name a greedy pepe ******** pinton and the MERCINARY pele... go ahead start up your traveling side show... I will rather support MLS and if energy drink is not the brand i can support i'll take a drive to philly or DC and support the league by seeing one of those teams from time to time....at least they play for a FIFA sanctioned league where 3 points are on the line and every thing adds up to trying to win a championship...sport and competition in every sence of the word... this has greed written all over it and THIS ABORTION IDEA will not last 3 years....cosmos 2.0 will be just a fad at best and will have the same fate as cosmos 1.0 and then the damage will be really done and no way that name comes back for a 3rd sequal...... it really sucks man the NY market just cant get it right in soccer, the awful drink brand and their constant drink marketing reminder on one side and the best alternative is going to be a traveling exebition freak show????????? what a mess.. poor world class suckers that will pay to see any of this......enjoy the friendly games CHUMPS i rather watch games on fox soccer channel or Nacional on Gol tv at least those games really mean some thing.... Hope MLS and US Soccer Block this rip off from ever being staged cosmos will have to always ask US Soccer for permission to play with in the united states hope us soccer has the balls to not sanction these games no matter how much cash these jokers throw at them... Kemsley man up and put your team in MLS and play in a competitive league and restore the cosmos as a proper professional club in a FIFA sanctioned league the Cosmos legacy is worth more than being a part time traveling circus that plays for no honors.... way to protect the cosmos image pepe ******** all these years you proclaimed yourself as the care taker of the legacy some care taker you turned out to be.......
way to protect the cosmos image pepe ******** all these years you proclaimed yourself as the care taker of the legacy some care taker you turned out to be.......[/QUOTE] I read an interview with Peppe Pinton a few months ago in which he claimed he would even give away the Cosmos brand for nothing, but only to the RIGHT OWNERSHIP GROUP. But now it seems he sold the rights to a wealthy man from England.