Sport Today

by **Victoria Barret** » Fri, 11 Jul 2003 21:50:56

On the heels of Roman Abramovich's purchase of Chelsea, I'm thinking
it's unfathomable how some newly-minted American businessman has yet
to buy any football team in Europe.

Yes yes yes, a million times yes -- we all know football is not on the
American high-priority agenda just yet, but business is business, and
if there's one thing these people know, it's business. They'd make a
fortune if they bought Man Utd., in fact, any high-powered team, and
surely to goodness, some entrepreneur like Mark Cuban knows that.

Please, no flames about this not being a good idea. If a Russian
gabajillionaire can buy a team, then so can anyone.

by **Sven Mischki** » Fri, 11 Jul 2003 22:03:06

Quote:

> Please, no flames about this not being a good idea. If a Russian
> gabajillionaire can buy a team, then so can anyone.

Of course. And anyone can lose money with it. Making money with football
clubs is extremly difficult, so I would not invest any money in a club
if I had any. ;)

Ciao,
SM
--
The Sunday Times about 'The Two Towers':
'The darkness of this film comes not just from the hideous collection of
creatures - orcs, Uruk-hai, wargs and Liv Tyler...'

by **Dwight Beer** » Fri, 11 Jul 2003 22:23:59

Quote:

> On the heels of Roman Abramovich's purchase of Chelsea, I'm thinking
> it's unfathomable how some newly-minted American businessman has yet
> to buy any football team in Europe.

> Yes yes yes, a million times yes -- we all know football is not on the
> American high-priority agenda just yet, but business is business, and
> if there's one thing these people know, it's business. They'd make a
> fortune if they bought Man Utd., in fact, any high-powered team, and
> surely to goodness, some entrepreneur like Mark Cuban knows that.

> Please, no flames about this not being a good idea. If a Russian
> gabajillionaire can buy a team, then so can anyone.

Had, I won last night's Lotto--I'd be on my way to buying Wimbledon,
Selhurst Park and a few work permits (always assuming I could find a few
bribeable Brits). Maybe next time!

by **Ben Farrel** » Fri, 11 Jul 2003 23:08:26

I'm not sure if Cuban actually makes a whole lotta money out of the Mavs, I
think its more a case of its his little hobby. He was a fan before he bought
the team. The Dallas players referred to him as 'that crazy fan that sits
behind the bench.' He just has that much money (self made gazillionaire im
lead to believe) and decided to buy his favourite team, and turn that
franchise's on court performance around buy injecting as much money as it
required. I highly douibt whether he went into the venture with visions of
making money.

And anyway, with the state of football at the moment I think it would be
anything but a safe investment. Werent chelsea having serious financial
problems in the not too distant past, and we know about leeds and lazio's
current state of affairs...

Quote:

> > Please, no flames about this not being a good idea. If a Russian
> > gabajillionaire can buy a team, then so can anyone.

> Of course. And anyone can lose money with it. Making money with football
> clubs is extremly difficult, so I would not invest any money in a club
> if I had any. ;)

> Ciao,
> SM
> --
> The Sunday Times about 'The Two Towers':
> 'The darkness of this film comes not just from the hideous collection of
> creatures - orcs, Uruk-hai, wargs and Liv Tyler...'

by **Doan** » Fri, 11 Jul 2003 23:22:04

Quote:

> Yes yes yes, a million times yes -- we all know football is not on the
> American high-priority agenda just yet, but business is business, and
> if there's one thing these people know, it's business.

Which is probably why they'd never touch a football club. Without a cartel
system in place, you do not have a high return for the risks involved.

Quote:

> They'd make a
> fortune if they bought Man Utd., in fact, any high-powered team, and
> surely to goodness, some entrepreneur like Mark Cuban knows that.

Look at how many teams make a profit. Then look at the amount of profit
compared to income revenue. Much easier to make money elsewhere.

Quote:

> Please, no flames about this not being a good idea. If a Russian
> gabajillionaire can buy a team, then so can anyone.

Funnily enough, a guy I used to work with knew this met this guy at a
new-year bash at his Grandparents house 10-15 years ago. This was before he
made his billions.

Doan

by **Benn** » Fri, 11 Jul 2003 23:24:12

Quote:

> Subject : Am I the only one who has thought of this

>On the heels of Roman Abramovich's purchase of Chelsea, I'm thinking
>it's unfathomable how some newly-minted American businessman has yet
>to buy any football team in Europe.

>Yes yes yes, a million times yes -- we all know football is not on the
>American high-priority agenda just yet, but business is business, and
>if there's one thing these people know, it's business. They'd make a
>fortune if they bought Man Utd., in fact, any high-powered team, and
>surely to goodness, some entrepreneur like Mark Cuban knows that.

>Please, no flames about this not being a good idea. If a Russian
>gabajillionaire can buy a team, then so can anyone.

There is no money in football.

http://soccer-europe.com

by **Guray Aca** » Fri, 11 Jul 2003 23:20:53

Quote:

> On the heels of Roman Abramovich's purchase of Chelsea, I'm thinking
> it's unfathomable how some newly-minted American businessman has yet
> to buy any football team in Europe.

> Yes yes yes, a million times yes -- we all know football is not on the
> American high-priority agenda just yet, but business is business, and
> if there's one thing these people know, it's business. They'd make a
> fortune if they bought Man Utd., in fact, any high-powered team, and
> surely to goodness, some entrepreneur like Mark Cuban knows that.

> Please, no flames about this not being a good idea. If a Russian
> gabajillionaire can buy a team, then so can anyone.

I agree with you that business is business. These people are
extremely smart, and they'd go into any sector where they
believe they can make money.
They have bought newspapers, TV/radio stations in Europe in
the past.
Then, perhaps, the assumption that they'd make a fortune if
they bought Man. Utd. is not so true. And, Man. Utd. is an
exceptionally successful club in financial terms.
I think they find it more profitable to provide high-interest
loans to football clubs - not necessarily Man. Utd. - in, for
instance, developing countries.

by **jit ly** » Fri, 11 Jul 2003 23:29:09

Quote:

> On the heels of Roman Abramovich's purchase of Chelsea, I'm thinking
> it's unfathomable how some newly-minted American businessman has yet
> to buy any football team in Europe.

> Yes yes yes, a million times yes -- we all know football is not on the
> American high-priority agenda just yet, but business is business, and
> if there's one thing these people know, it's business. They'd make a
> fortune if they bought Man Utd., in fact, any high-powered team, and
> surely to goodness, some entrepreneur like Mark Cuban knows that.

> Please, no flames about this not being a good idea. If a Russian
> gabajillionaire can buy a team, then so can anyone.

I am thinking more along the lines that a newly minted multi-millionaire in
China, and there are probably a handful, might want to invest in one of the
English clubs. The mainland Chinese are rabid soccer fans, and a goood dose
of cross-marketing / branding / merchandising / whatever in both markets -
Britain and China - might be an interesting investment for such an
entrepreneur.

Cheers
Jit

by **Benn** » Fri, 11 Jul 2003 23:41:49

Quote:

> Subject : Am I the only one who has thought of this

>On the heels of Roman Abramovich's purchase of Chelsea, I'm thinking
>it's unfathomable how some newly-minted American businessman has yet
>to buy any football team in Europe.

>Yes yes yes, a million times yes -- we all know football is not on the
>American high-priority agenda just yet, but business is business, and
>if there's one thing these people know, it's business. They'd make a
>fortune if they bought Man Utd., in fact, any high-powered team, and
>surely to goodness, some entrepreneur like Mark Cuban knows that.

>Please, no flames about this not being a good idea. If a Russian
>gabajillionaire can buy a team, then so can anyone.

One more thing I forgot to mention, Abramovich's didn't buy Chelsea, he
bought Chelsea Village which includes hotels, restaurants, travel
agents, a health club and of course Chelsea FC. Presumably the club runs
at a loss and the rest of the operation runs at a profit. A sound
investment overall.

http://soccer-europe.com

by **Doan** » Sat, 12 Jul 2003 00:00:48

Quote:

> One more thing I forgot to mention, Abramovich's didn't buy Chelsea, he
> bought Chelsea Village which includes hotels, restaurants, travel
> agents, a health club and of course Chelsea FC. Presumably the club runs
> at a loss and the rest of the operation runs at a profit. A sound
> investment overall.

The rest of the operation is also running at a massive loss. Mainly because
of the massive bond issued to finance all those add-ons. The interest
payments on them not being met was the main reason Bates sold up.

The downturn in football, tourism, the economy and impending housing crash
in West London didn't help what was an already risky financial venture.

Doan

by **Guray Aca** » Fri, 11 Jul 2003 23:56:07

Quote:

> > On the heels of Roman Abramovich's purchase of Chelsea, I'm thinking
> > it's unfathomable how some newly-minted American businessman has yet
> > to buy any football team in Europe.

> > Yes yes yes, a million times yes -- we all know football is not on the
> > American high-priority agenda just yet, but business is business, and
> > if there's one thing these people know, it's business. They'd make a
> > fortune if they bought Man Utd., in fact, any high-powered team, and
> > surely to goodness, some entrepreneur like Mark Cuban knows that.

> > Please, no flames about this not being a good idea. If a Russian
> > gabajillionaire can buy a team, then so can anyone.

> I agree with you that business is business. These people are
> extremely smart, and they'd go into any sector where they
> believe they can make money.
> They have bought newspapers, TV/radio stations in Europe in
> the past.
> Then, perhaps, the assumption that they'd make a fortune if
> they bought Man. Utd. is not so true. And, Man. Utd. is an
> exceptionally successful club in financial terms.
> I think they find it more profitable to provide high-interest
> loans to football clubs - not necessarily Man. Utd. - in, for
> instance, developing countries.

Also consider this; a football club in Europe is almost always
associated with a limited customer base. For example, there is
no way that the owner of Man. Utd. would make money buy
selling products to people in Newcastle, Glasgow, Liverpool etc.
Only Man. Utd. fans will be interested in these products. This
situation is a lot more serious for clubs that are only regionally
popular such as NUFC.

by **LHeilb80** » Sat, 12 Jul 2003 00:23:44

Didn't Malcolm Glazer just buy a piece of ManU??

Lloyd Heilbrunn

by **Jouni Honkal** » Sat, 12 Jul 2003 01:51:37

Quote:

> Of course. And anyone can lose money with it. Making money with football
> clubs is extremly difficult, so I would not invest any money in a club
> if I had any. ;)

Indeed.

One name: Mark Goldberg. Sad, sad story of a man making millions out
of the IT boom and then wasting them into deteriorating a football club
into administration.

-jthx

by **shawn_pickr..** » Sat, 12 Jul 2003 02:23:59

Quote:

> I am thinking more along the lines that a newly minted multi-millionaire in
> China, and there are probably a handful, might want to invest in one of the
> English clubs. The mainland Chinese are rabid soccer fans, and a goood dose
> of cross-marketing / branding / merchandising / whatever in both markets -
> Britain and China - might be an interesting investment for such an
> entrepreneur.

this makes sense.

in england/france/germany soccer clubs are run in a way that they pretend
to try and make a profit, even though few do. picture the yankees/nets.

in spain/italy/greece soccer clubs are personal ego accoutrements of the
owner. picture the washington redskins and the dallas mavericks.

... Shawn Pickrell

by **shawn_pickr..** » Sat, 12 Jul 2003 02:24:44

Quote:

> The rest of the operation is also running at a massive loss. Mainly because
> of the massive bond issued to finance all those add-ons. The interest
> payments on them not being met was the main reason Bates sold up.
> The downturn in football, tourism, the economy and impending housing crash
> in West London didn't help what was an already risky financial venture.

which means that someone else will come along and snap up these assets
for a song. :-)

... Shawn Pickrell