can we just get something straight

[Mike]

football isn't 'big business' by any stretch of the imagination. The turnovers of the biggest clubs in the world are piddling compared to 'medium size business' never mind big businesses.

and if billionaires want to make money, they wouldn't buy a club to do it. you'd make far more money with a thousand other financial investments with much less risk than you ever could than by buying a football club.

 

in short, nobody buys a football club to make money. im tired of hearing the same old cliches trotted out...'well footballs a big business now and they're only here to make money.' its patently nonsense.

[Romario]

That hockey/baseball player that Hicks bought (can't remember his name) got a 5 year deal worth 250 mill.

That's more than the cost of LFC!

[Mike]

That hockey/baseball player that Hicks bought (can't remember his name) got a 5 year deal worth 250 mill.

That's more than the cost of LFC!

 

$ romario. check the small print.

[sean]

That hockey/baseball player that Hicks bought (can't remember his name) got a 5 year deal worth 250 mill.

That's more than the cost of LFC!

 

 

Blinker

[Leo No.8]

Totally agree with that. Whilst I'm sure they all want their clubs to be 'profit making businesses' (to use the words of Gillett) they also have 'a few other business which are making money' (again in the words of Gillett). I'm sure a lot more money than Liverpool could ever make them.

 

I think most of these wealthy individuals get into the football for the kudos as much as anything.

Edited February 7, 2007 by Leo No.8

[Maldini]

...and the buzz

[Cobs]

...and the buzz

they should buy a bloody beehive then !

[fyds]

football isn't 'big business' by any stretch of the imagination. The turnovers of the biggest clubs in the world are piddling compared to 'medium size business' never mind big businesses.

and if billionaires want to make money, they wouldn't buy a club to do it. you'd make far more money with a thousand other financial investments with much less risk than you ever could than by buying a football club.

 

in short, nobody buys a football club to make money. im tired of hearing the same old cliches trotted out...'well footballs a big business now and they're only here to make money.' its patently nonsense.

 

needs re-iterating every five minutes at the moment, that does.

[Armin_Tamzarian]

Football isn't big business but media provision is. The single biggest factor in News International/Sky's conquering of the lucrative UK television market has been it's use of football. Likewise Mediaset and Canal Plus on the continent.

 

Football is also the only candidate for a 'global' sport. The Americans have realised that they're unlikely to break its monopoly on other markets around the world and they're moving to establish themselves as players.

 

The next generation of media providers will need this content to push their networks worldwide. So whilst it may not be a big business in itself it's worldwide popularity will be of increasing use to big business. That's before the advertising / sponsorship marketing potential of a sport with global reach grows even further.

[Maldini]

Football isn't big business but media provision is. The single biggest factor in News International/Sky's conquering of the lucrative UK television market has been it's use of football. Likewise Mediaset and Canal Plus on the continent.

 

Football is also the only candidate for a 'global' sport. The Americans have realised that they're unlikely to break its monopoly on other markets around the world and they're moving to establish themselves as players.

 

The next generation of media providers will need this content to push their networks worldwide. So whilst it may not be a big business in itself it's worldwide popularity will be of increasing use to big business. That's before the advertising / sponsorship marketing potential of a sport with global reach grows even further.

Interesting point, kind of a "loss leader" then?

[Rory Fitzgerald]

Trying to think outside the box here.

 

Look at the evolution of English football - more and more money has been pouring in.

 

Early on clubs made their money from the gate receipts

 

Then they also got some television money

 

The was probably a period of stagnation between the mid70's to early 90's were this was the case.

 

Sky Television then pumped more and more money into game and suddenly it was wall to wall football.

 

Widespread football stretched to America, Asia, Austailia etc and soon club's fan bases were massive given the expansion of media from the early 90's and now the advent of the internet.

 

Now there is even more money on the table for football next season.

 

Is this trend going to continue ? Is there a plateau coming ? Or will money start to drain away.

 

With particular reference to Mike's post - football is a big business in the sense that it is compared to football in the 80's and before rather than against other business industries.

 

I wonder how Liverpool can make a great return given the investment that is needed. I would believe that it is easier to make money by buying a 2nd division club for pittance and then under the right management and with the right investment - proceeds from promotions would be big if you can get to the Premiership but considering that Liverpool are there and at the pinnacle of it, I would agree that there is better financial investments out there IMHO.

[Cunny]

Football would need to change it's business plan to become a massive money maker, i.e.European league, Franchise system, no relegation/promotion, salary cap, spending limit, centralised merchandising/tv etc... like the NFL.

[honourablegeorge]

Fact is, the next wave of football money will be the ditching of TV deals, and clubs makign their games availble over the internet.

 

One of G&T made reference to Liverpool having "28 million registered fans" across the world. Now, I dunno where you sign up to the list, but if you can flog a quarter of them the game via the 'net for a fiver a pop every week, football quickly becomes "big business".

[Maldini]

Yeah, but a lot of those 28 million fans would be in third world/developing world countries were £5 is a hell of a lot of money

[honourablegeorge]

I'm pulling figures out of the air here, but there's huge potential there to reach a far, far wider audience than TV allows.

 

And unlike the TV deals, there'll be no sharing it evenly with Charlton or whoever.

[Maldini]

Yeah, I think the whole league have to allow it though so chances are the smaller clubs wouldn't allow it

[Bao]

I'm pulling figures out of the air here, but there's huge potential there to reach a far, far wider audience than TV allows.

Don't see that to be honest. I think it'll be a long way down the line before you see any form of media with a wider reach than TV.

[Frosty Jack]

Don't see that to be honest. I think it'll be a long way down the line before you see any form of media with a wider reach than TV.

 

erm....

[Magic8Ball]

Fact is, the next wave of football money will be the ditching of TV deals, and clubs makign their games availble over the internet.

 

One of G&T made reference to Liverpool having "28 million registered fans" across the world. Now, I dunno where you sign up to the list, but if you can flog a quarter of them the game via the 'net for a fiver a pop every week, football quickly becomes "big business".

we used to do that till the FA stopped us. In fact we were the first British soccer club to do so back in 2000-2001 season

I think that in part accounts for the registrations.

 

now for an internet business 28m active users is a lot of money via advertisement or a paid for service of some kind

I would be happy paying a reasonable fee to be able to see all Liverpool matches and reserve games where ever I were in the world

[_00_deathscar]

football isn't 'big business' by any stretch of the imagination. The turnovers of the biggest clubs in the world are piddling compared to 'medium size business' never mind big businesses.

and if billionaires want to make money, they wouldn't buy a club to do it. you'd make far more money with a thousand other financial investments with much less risk than you ever could than by buying a football club.

 

in short, nobody buys a football club to make money. im tired of hearing the same old cliches trotted out...'well footballs a big business now and they're only here to make money.' its patently nonsense.

 

Fair and valid point, and well made.

 

However, football, as has been mentioned, is the only true 'global' sport and hence the market still has a HUGE amount of potential which I think people are trying to exploit. Its not a mature market by any means. You are right though, it is a higher risk 'business' than running a proper business, but should they exploit the market well then BINGO! they've hit the jackpot.

 

Also, as has been mentioned (especially as we believe in the case of DIC), since football is a global sport that receives global attention, especially leagues like the Premier League and Champions League, fair sized businesses will try to piggy back on club coverage worldwide in order to gain attention.

[beejay]

While we're at it, why don't we also reiterate that they are not fans nor are they philanthropists.

[Skillz]

Trying to think outside the box here.

 

Look at the evolution of English football - more and more money has been pouring in.

 

Early on clubs made their money from the gate receipts

 

Then they also got some television money

 

The was probably a period of stagnation between the mid70's to early 90's were this was the case.

 

Sky Television then pumped more and more money into game and suddenly it was wall to wall football.

 

Widespread football stretched to America, Asia, Austailia etc and soon club's fan bases were massive given the expansion of media from the early 90's and now the advent of the internet.

 

Now there is even more money on the table for football next season.

 

Is this trend going to continue ? Is there a plateau coming ? Or will money start to drain away.

 

With particular reference to Mike's post - football is a big business in the sense that it is compared to football in the 80's and before rather than against other business industries.

 

I wonder how Liverpool can make a great return given the investment that is needed. I would believe that it is easier to make money by buying a 2nd division club for pittance and then under the right management and with the right investment - proceeds from promotions would be big if you can get to the Premiership but considering that Liverpool are there and at the pinnacle of it, I would agree that there is better financial investments out there IMHO.

 

No offense meant here but that is ignorant of the value of LFC. Liverpool are a global brand. I live on the other side of the world and they are huge yet not exploited.

 

Name a 2nd division club you can build WORLD renowned club for less? LFC has huge turnover, great history, famous tradition and most important of all, the greatest supporters on the planet.

 

Do not sell us short. If i was a billionaire i would of bid for LFC, not just because i was a supporter, because they are a great investment.

[RP]

 

Do not sell us short. If i was a billionaire i would of bid for LFC, not just because i was a supporter, because they are a great investment.

 

 

 

I guess there's a great illustration of why you are not a billionaire.

[Bootle Buck]

As they mentioned in the press conference buying Liverpool FC is not a neccesity to these guys they are doing quite well already. However, this is a new challenge to them that I am sure they will take with 110% effort. I see two men who with their experience and wealth can take our club to the next level which is the main reason David Moores is selling. They have built new stadiums, they have taken over teams(including different countries) and have backed them to the hilt. Neither strike me as meddlers or media whores, so maybe we have found a the perfect match.

[Lee W]

they should buy a bloody beehive then !

 

 

"Meet my mate...Stanley"