The following article on Ivan Gazidis and Tom Fox gives an insight into the business side of Arsenal (at least from a US point of view). You may also find it interesting:
http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2011/08/15/Franchises/Arsenal-main.aspx
Understanding the business side of Arsenal
posted on 15/8/11
It's interesting certainly. But all I read is "money money lets make some money". Which, to be fair, is their job.
Compare it to Dein, who understood the club. He gets it as a fan.
These guys don't.
posted on 15/8/11
Good article. And five . But it all adds up to the money men being the money men and thinking of nothing but money.
So where is the feeling for the club, the history, the success and/or the failures on the pitch?
I don't think these guys have it nor do they know what they've bought into. I have a horrible feeling they think they've bought a money making machine driven by shirt sales in the Third World.
To Hell in a handcart anyone..............???????????????????????
posted on 15/8/11
Talk about putting the cart before the horse. The idea that you can build brand value around what? Where the hell is the product in all of this? It doesn't matter if Arsenal has 30 partners or 6. The point is that any company wants to see its brand associated with success. With excitement about new players. You don't sell replica shirts of £12m unknowns.
You can't hope to generate income after selling your best players. Sponsors don't want to sign long term deals with a club whose CL position is threatened.
Talk about a stupid strategy. Doomed to fail. Usmanov pointed this out 3 months ago. Why should any multinational want to be associated with a club that can't even keep its best players?