Is football now a business rather than a sport?

[One Planer]

Just reading this:

St James' park is being re-branded.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/15670830.stm

Most, I say most. A lot of clubs now are moving to new "sponsored" stadiums or re-branding current ones in the hope of generating revenue. You have:

The Emirates - Arsenal
The Reebok - Bolton
Etihad (sp?) - Man City
Brittania - Stoke
Walkers - Leister

And many more.

Is football more about the money than the sport?

 

[Dodger]

Of course it is.

Likewise with golf,anyone who's club is still trying to run like a sports club rather than a business is doomed.

 

[johnboywalton]

Yes unfortunately, it is all about the £££££££££ nothing else matters like the supporters, history etc. until something is done about the wage bill, nothing will change

 

[fundy]

has been for a good 10 years at least - football and footballers lost touch with normal fans way back

 

[3offTheTee]

If you happen to support Blackburn with The Venky's I have no idea what it is!

 

[USER1999]

I would have thought that the naming of the stadium, and shirt sponsorship go pretty much hand in hand. It is something the club can offer, which costs them nothing, and they get millions for. What's the problem?

As long as the sponsors name isn't embarassing (like a condom manufacturer or some thing).

 

[19thagain]

I think the problem is that......football is NOT a business and therefore any way of raising cash to reduce the overspend is being considered.

I feel renaming does remove the historic link with a stadium but there again many traditional grounds are being resited to again raise money - so much for historical links!!

 

[Monty_Brown]

I would have thought that the naming of the stadium, and shirt sponsorship go pretty much hand in hand. It is something the club can offer, which costs them nothing, and they get millions for. What's the problem?

As long as the sponsors name isn't embarassing (like a condom manufacturer or some thing).

Sports Direct is pretty embarassing.

 

[stef92]

Sports Direct is pretty embarassing.

Yeah they may have well called it the "£4.99 plus 2 free" stadium…

Everything was going so well, then he goes and does that!

I'll let Smiffy describe him…

 

[Dodger]

The great man has pulled off another masterstroke and has taken a huge step toward the club receiving much needed income for nothing yet all the slackjaw Geordies are up in arms.

Insular lot.

It'll only matter a f**k in a Quiz.

 

[RGDave]

As long as the sponsors name isn't embarassing (like a condom manufacturer or some thing).

Hold on a mo'

A ground called The Durex stadium would be cool....

or even the femidom arena could be a go-er....

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Most of the Toon army don't want the name change but when has the opinion of the die hard fan, usuallly season ticket holders paying four figures sums each season for the privilege count. It has been all about the bottom line and profit margins since the 1980's when the league and cups first got sponsored along with shirts. Since the start of that slippery slope it has become a business and out of the reach of a lot of proper fans. Clubs are no longer the centre of the working community and families are getting priced out. Nothing is ever going to change that now until we get 60,000 seaters filled with no-one except corporate sponsored businessmen and their clients

 

[StuartD]

Slightly off topic but did anybody watch the Linfield v Glentoran game on Sky the other night.

A couple of mates were over in NI and went to the game. It cost £8 to get in

£8 to watch a game of football. 2 teams going at each other 100%. Some rather tasty tackles but no prima donas, everybody just got up and on with the game. Ok the quality wasn't great at times but I yearn for those days again

 

[Imurg]

Let the Toons keep St James' Park name and lose the 10 million - or whatever - they're going to get for it.
10 million = 1 decent player.

It's a no-brainer.

It's a name FFS. The name of the club is the same.

Can't see the issue.

 

[USER1999]

Name footy club that makes a profit. There aren't many. Possibly the arse. Can't think of a second one.

 

[Dodger]

Slightly off topic but did anybody watch the Linfield v Glentoran game on Sky the other night.

A couple of mates were over in NI and went to the game. It cost £8 to get in

£8 to watch a game of football. 2 teams going at each other 100%. Some rather tasty tackles but no prima donas, everybody just got up and on with the game. Ok the quality wasn't great at times but I yearn for those days again

Huns by any chance.....?

 

[StuartD]

Huns by any chance.....?

Wouldn't be mates if they weren't