LIV Golf

[Deleted member 29109]

I’ve made this point before on this thread, the Saudis have to change their position in human rights, discrimination etc. Their aspirations to be a world economic and tourism hub won’t succeed if they are executing people because of their sexuality.
If you study KSA, you can see these changes starting to be implemented - so while people (quite rightly) call out the Saudis for their HR issues, we should also acknowledge that they recognise they have issues that need addressing.
The country is the base of an outdated religion (aren’t they all?) that drives their legal system - they live by the Quar’an - and they won’t discard that overnight.
It’s a shame we can’t do political discussion, particularly on this topic as it’s very relevant.

Sports washing does work it seems.

 

[mikejohnchapman]

Oh Jon.....what have you done....?
Not signing for LIV - not sure I care too much about it to be honest
But you used the words Growing the Game and I'm not greedy......
Really?
Have they not thought up anything different to make you say?

Bit like in the Miss World contest saying they wish for world peace!

 

[mikejohnchapman]

I have hears that Tyrell Hatton is on the cusp of signing

To join Jon Rahm in Team Angry?

 

[Bdill93]

The difference with Premier league footballers is that it's money that's being generated by the sport. The players themselves are the main reason that the top clubs are getting so much money from TV deals, sponsorship etc so why shouldn't they get their percentage of that money? With LIV it's a country with trillions of dollars throwing their cash around with no concern about making a profit or even breaking even.

They are not in golf to make a loss overall. They will look for profits in the future (maybe post-merger). They clearly do not care about short term losses.

 

[evemccc]

He doesn’t need it. Just obviously doesn’t care that he’s being used as cover for human rights atrocities. Same as dj and brooks and all the other multi millionaire scumbags who just wanted more.

Seeing the world in such a black and white binary really is something..

You think Dubai, Qatar and Abu Dhabi isn’t built off exploited labour? Plenty of sports, including golf, have prostituted themselves to get ME money…
But because they’re shoe-horned into the establishment status-quo eco-system (EURO TOUR/PGA Tour to China) it’s all okay…


Not saying your principles are wrong at all. Just that a lot more nuance and context is required IMO when you make over-simplified blanket moral statements

 

[BrianM]

They are not in golf to make a loss overall. They will look for profits in the future (maybe post-merger). They clearly do not care about short term losses.

That’s business though, you’ve got to speculate to accumulate

 

[DeanoMK]

I don't blame Rahm for taking the money (because it's a ridiculous amount) but I've not watched any LIV golf up to this point and I won't be watching going forwards either. Him signing changes nothing around my opinion of the whole thing.

 

[D-S]

For me this diminishes the appeal of the PGA Tour and the DPWT slightly but as the LIV Tour doesn’t appeal to me in the first place, this move doesn’t make it appeal any more now. It also further increases my scepticism about anything golfers say (or other sportsmen for that matter).
So overall I am down on the deal.

 

[Imurg]

I don't blame Rahm for taking the money (because it's a ridiculous amount) but I've not watched any LIV golf up to this point and I won't be watching going forwards either. Him signing changes nothing around my opinion of the whole thing.

This.
They could take the entire top 50 and it still wouldn't entice me to watch it because it just doesn't appeal.
Looks like I'll be sticking to the DPWT until that gets gazumped too and then I'll save a few quid by cashing in my NowTV.....

In a way I kind of hope they all regret taking the money and running...

 

[sunshine]

Does bringing sport to countries like Saudi, laying down what is expected if Saudi wants events, not help to change their views?

It doesn't work like that though. If Saudi want something they fork out a lot of cash and do what they want. Nobody lays down what is expected of them or tries to change their views.

 

[sunshine]

Seeing the world in such a black and white binary really is something..

Obviously a Newcastle fan

 

[sunshine]

The difference with Premier league footballers is that it's money that's being generated by the sport. The players themselves are the main reason that the top clubs are getting so much money from TV deals, sponsorship etc so why shouldn't they get their percentage of that money? With LIV it's a country with trillions of dollars throwing their cash around with no concern about making a profit or even breaking even.

Do you really think Man City generate all that revenue to cover the transfer fees and salaries of their squad?

 

[ColchesterFC]

They are not in golf to make a loss overall. They will look for profits in the future (maybe post-merger). They clearly do not care about short term losses.

It's going to take decades before they get a return on investment, if at all. For 2021 the revenue of the PGA Tour was $1.6 billion dollars and according to the report in the link below their expenses were also $1.6 billion meaning zero profit for the year. LIV must have comfortably spent over 3 times that amount already. They're going to have to massively increase the income streams to become profitable before they even start getting back any of what they've already invested.

How Revenue is Spent at the PGA Tour (2021)

The PGA Tour, Inc. is a tax-exempt, non-profit 501 (c) 6 – a membership organization for touring professional golfers – up to a maximum of 156 who participate in 47 events (44 regular e…

paddockpost.com

 

[ColchesterFC]

Do you really think Man City generate all that revenue to cover the transfer fees and salaries of their squad?

Of course they do. Even if some of their sponsorship deals are over inflated and come from friends of the owners or the owner's subsidiary companies, which is I believe part of the 115 charges they're facing from the PL. Man City's income from TV rights, sponsorship, prize money, match day receipts, replica shirt sales etc covers the transfer fees and wages of their squad.

 

[Deleted member 1147]

For me this diminishes the appeal of the PGA Tour and the DPWT slightly but as the LIV Tour doesn’t appeal to me in the first place, this move doesn’t make it appeal any more now. It also further increases my scepticism about anything golfers say (or other sportsmen for that matter).
So overall I am down on the deal.

I don't care who's playing. So long as they are bloody good (which they all are) I'll watch, assuming I have nothing better to be doing at the time, and it's on TV.

 

[Bdill93]

It's going to take decades before they get a return on investment, if at all. For 2021 the revenue of the PGA Tour was $1.6 billion dollars and according to the report in the link below their expenses were also $1.6 billion meaning zero profit for the year. LIV must have comfortably spent over 3 times that amount already. They're going to have to massively increase the income streams to become profitable before they even start getting back any of what they've already invested.

How Revenue is Spent at the PGA Tour (2021)

The PGA Tour, Inc. is a tax-exempt, non-profit 501 (c) 6 – a membership organization for touring professional golfers – up to a maximum of 156 who participate in 47 events (44 regular e…

paddockpost.com

They have plenty of years of oil left before they need the income streams generating profit.

It blows my mind that people think they need instant profit, these guys literally sneeze a billion quid they are not playing a short term game.

PGAT is a non-profit organisation, I wouldn't expect them to be rolling in it, reserves to cover emergencies (eg - covid) and not much more.

NEWCO (or whatever it may be named in the end) is for profit, and watch them milk it for fun in 15-20 years. Once you have the monopoly on golf then I'm sure making profit would be easier.

 

[Mel Smooth]

Guys, you do all realise that Rahm's move forces all the LIV guys back onto your TV's in the near future don't you. Within 2 years, you will be watching the most enthralling golf you've ever had access to.

 

[Dando]

This.
They could take the entire top 50 and it still wouldn't entice me to watch it because it just doesn't appeal.
Looks like I'll be sticking to the DPWT until that gets gazumped too and then I'll save a few quid by cashing in my NowTV.....

In a way I kind of hope they all regret taking the money and running...

i've heard they're looking to televise the Ellesborough comps but it'll go out after midnight so it doesn't scare the kids

 

[Bdill93]

Guys, you do all realise that Rahm's move forces all the LIV guys back onto your TV's in the near future don't you. Within 2 years, you will be watching the most enthralling golf you've ever had access to.

I'm all for LIV - but this is rather too bold.

The Ryder Cup is this and always will be.

Looking forward to seeing Rahmbo at JCB though!

 

[Dando]

Do you really think Man City generate all that revenue to cover the transfer fees and salaries of their squad?

no they make some of it up