http://www.forbes.com/sites/kurtbad...ops-the-worlds-50-most-valuable-sports-teams/ We're clearly one of the biggest clubs in the world, and per the list above the 4th most valuable football team (most in the list are gridiron teams). Seems weird that we don't capitalise on this fully. I don't see why there cannot be an Arsenal store in Africa or the far east.
that figure is based on the price of the clubs shares on the PLUS market Arsenal arent cash rich like Madrid, Barca, and United... let alone Madrid or PSG or Chelsea. and Arsenal are just behind on everything and trying to play catch up. Pretty sad.
I think there'll be a lot of new developments like this in the next couple of years. IMO Arsenal see Africa as a big potential market
Hey, how about we get a friggin' US store that A. isn't virtual and B. doesn't look like it was put together as an after thought? Some "brands" (if we must call our club such) actually seem to think that exposure to the US market is attractive and lucrative so it sure would be nice if our club thought so too. Bad enough they avoid coming here like we are a leper colony but if they could just make it a bit more appealing for us to lob money to them, that would be peachy. How hard is it to find an American banking partner so I can get am Arsenal Visa card? How about a direct deposit deal on my membership like UK Gunners can get (and the discount that comes with it) through said bank? It just seems like there are some simple things that the club could do (and that any other business would do) to improve support in one of, if not the, most desirable markets.
I do wonder how big the US 'soccer' market actually is for a club like Arsenal. I'm not saying the club ought to ignore it, but with the US fascination with such international sports as American Rugby, Rounders, Netball ;-) etc. as the market as big as somewhere like Africa where football is much more important I'd be interested if someone had some figures showing potential spend etc.etc.
But United don't have a backer. Yes, the Glazers are rich, but never bankrolled them like Shiekh has done for City. United's turnover is not that much higher than our own, and this is due to better commercialisation. We would also have more disposable funds for transfers if we tackled our debts. United is selling shares on the Singapore Stock Exchange for this end. Why can't we sell shares to fans? Even if it's a small figure, like 5-!0%, I'm sure many would be tempted to buy them. A store in the Far East, or even in a big African city like J'Burg, or in NYC, would expand the club's brand. We probably are behind since the club is not capitalising on our global name.
Even though football is still small in the US, i'd imagine of those who do follow football Arsenal is one of the better supported/followed clubs. This is a US-based forum after all, most posters in most sub-forums are American. It's just weird, that since under Arsene we essentially are one of the world's biggest clubs, but the board isn't doing enough to build on that. The tour to Nigeria could have been beneficial. Next time, we just need to select a safer country. Why not a tour to UAE or Saudi? Or to South America?
neither do Madrid and Barcelona, but lets just gloss over those names (also Bayern) Over £100 million is "not that much higher" than Arsenal? really? New York Stock Exchange. and what do you mean tackle our debts? The 20 million a year the club are paying towards the Emirates is not a problem. I also think if the club paid that loan early, they could incur a penalty. I just said this in my post.
So there are other factors involved, if not all clubs have big backers. The point I am making is instead of us moaning that City has an advantage, look for alternative sources of revenue. I think in Real/Barca's case, well they are sports clubs with teams in numerous sports, most of which probably goes to fund the football team. Again, they have other revenue sources, the board doesn't seem to proactive and innovative enough in developing extra revenue streams.
There are 2 people who own the vast majority of Arsenal shares. One isn't going to sell until at least a point where he thinks he'll get maximum profit, and the other is trying to hoover up as many as possible. For what it's worth, ManU are selling shares because they're in a pretty desperate need to lower their debt, and they may not be massively successful
I. Said. This. In. My. Post. But those other clubs I mentioned have a head start on Arsenal, and we may not recover from it. I doubt the other sports make up anywhere near 10% of the total revenues for Real and Barca. They get money from their big stadium and all the sponsorship deals they signed. Again, those clubs have a head start on Arsenal. United and Bayern have been doing it for a decade and Barca and Madrid finally cleaned themselves up in the mid noughties.
oh for sure. that still doesnt mean their commercial revenue dwarfs ours and most clubs around the world. if you want to get on them, get on them about that foul TV deal.
i still don't understand why the other clubs don't just threaten to break away and let them play each other 38 times a season unless there is collective bargaining and split of tv rights.
They aren't crap, it's just a list of the perceived market value of the assets owned by each club, including, but not limited to real estate and properties, commercial deals, contracts, and how much shares are/have sold for, et cetera. Arsenal might be a valuable club, but it's mostly an intangible value. And the tangible value is low liquidity (as it relates to the transfer/wage kitty).
I don't know what you mean by 'somewhere like Africa' given the Africa is a continent and the US is a country, but... the US has more soccer players than the average size of an African country. Disposable income also is much higher. Add to that the Premier League is marketed here (for some ) already and that Arsenal is one of the more popular English clubs, and I think it's fairly reasonable to assume that the US would be a good market for Arsenal products. (Plus we're owned by an American ffs!!)
Africa's a continent ? shit, why didn't anyone tell me. I thought it was an island off the coast of Mexico. Anyway, just for you information, you don't have to compare countries just to countries. The US has more soccer players than the size of an African country ? So you moan about me comparing a continent and a country, and then you compare a quantity with an area of land? Scary. Anyway, the number of soccer players doesn't really have much direct relevance to the potential market for Arsenal. Yes obviously it is, but my point is that how much of that higher disposable income is going to be left to spend on Arsenal merchandise etc. after the various other 'bigger' sports have had their take. The premier league is broadcast across Africa, and is pretty damn popular there, and Arsenal is also one of the more popular English clubs there too. I should think it is, but what I was asking was how it compares to the African market. Oh lovely. Not really relevant, but still lovely
I think the broader point is that the club's ownership is not adequately leveraging the assets it does have, even in light of the point you make about being cash rich. I think the current mindset/business model is a failure for this reason. The ownership manages the club like we are Everton or Aston Villa.
Well, I think it does make sense to compare a country to a country instead of a country to a continent, but that's just me I suppose. And when I said 'size' I was referring to population. I thought that was clear, but maybe it was not. I'm not sure what tangible way one could answer your question. I thought showing the amount of players of the sport alone (excluding fans) in the country would be a good start given that at least we know they have an interest in the sport. Next, showing how on average income levels are higher here than in countries in Africa would be a good next step. The safe assumption would be that if you have a large contingent of people interested in the sport with relatively high disposable incomes, then you would expect there to be a demand for products related to that sport. Now, the Premier League is popular here, and the Arsenal is one of the most well known English clubs. There seems to be a good case for exploiting the American market. Sure there are other sports here, but I'm not sure how that is relevant when I specifically isolated a group who likes this sport. It is very possible to spend money on more than one sport, ya know. Now, don't get me wrong. I have no issues with the Arsenal traveling anywhere. I just don't see why they have not tried here. It seems like every other big club around the world that has had to tap into foreign markets has come to the conclusion that the American market is worthwhile. that must say something. Now, maybe the "African" market (whatever the hell that means?? lol) is a good one too, but given that our owner is American and the club has a connection with the MLS, it would seem to make sense for them to come here.
I think Arsenal just got their YouTube account up. Hopefully, we'll see tunnel cams next season like what they are doing at Man $hitty and Liverpool. Also, there are a lot of of NFL and MLB teams on the list. Even though the fanbase might be smaller on a global scale than footy, the value and buying power of the American market is immense. Arsenal should come to L.A. next season.
You should talk to some Everton and Villa fans, and ask them if they think Arsenal is poorly run. I can only guess what answer you would get.
Or we can say that we are the "Everton/Villa of the Big Clubs"--the only ones among the elite which is, comparatively speaking, run on a miserly, shoestring budget, that clips coupons religiously, eats out only once a month, and asks for its utility bills to be averaged out for the year, in order to make the winter heating bills more manageable .
Miles, Good point but you also have to look at disposable income and immigration as factors. Soccer is, among non-naturalized Americans, an middle class to upper class passion. Growing up poorer, I was lucky to have a mom who was an Anglophile who had me playing and watching soccer from a very early age (as well as watching Fawlty Towers and Python, great woman!) but generally, the people who follow have quite a bit of disposable income. Not to sound denigrating or jingoistic but, one American suburbanite is worth so much more in sales than are five residents of most third world countries. I am not saying that is a sign of any superiority or a good state of affairs for long-term global economic and sociological growth but, just the current state of affairs. An Arsenal versus the MLS tour, broadcast on ESPN and/or Fox and FSC will have a greater financial impact than in any market aside from Asia. Then you have the "New American" factor. The US has a massive number of African and Central/South American "New Americans". Those folks are generally bringing their soccer passion with them but coupled with new opportunities for income growth unlike what they have previously had. Each weekend my pub probably has between 25 and 50% New American representation amongst Gooners. Yes, as an Arsenal fan, I want to see the Arsenal pummeling some MLS players because I love the Arsenal. I want that to happen at some US college stadium, in front of 80,000 scream fans because I love football. Imagine this, final "friendly" before the season starts. Night time at Ohio State Stadium and Arsenal and Manchester United are about to take the field. The game is broadcast live on Fox on a Monday night at 8 pm. The field level camera pans up and 102,000 people have filled the stadium (between Utd, Arsenal and OSU, it is a massive sea of red). Fox has every star from its TV and movie roster in attendance and every cameraman has their seat numbers. A restraining order keeps Tommy Smyth 1000 yards from the stadium and the game begins... Arsenal might get a bit more recognition after that...