Baljit Rihal’s Post

🔗 Multi-Club Ownership in Football: A Game-Changer for the Industry ⚽️ Multi-Club Ownership (MCO) is rapidly reshaping global football. According to Pitchbook, more than 40% of clubs in Europe’s top 5 leagues are now part of MCOs in the 2024/2025 season. Here's a deep dive into what MCO entails and why it matters... ✅ Key Benefits of MCO: ▪️Talent Development and Transfer Synergies: Feeder clubs nurture young talents, optimizing player development and transfers. ▪️Financial Stability and Investment: Shared resources and distributed investments enhance financial stability and efficiency. ▪️Brand Expansion and Marketing: Expands global reach and engages diverse fan bases through cross-promotion. ▪️Strategic Collaboration: Aligning playing styles and management practices enhances strategic coherence. ▪️Sponsorships and Partnerships: Creates shared commercial opportunities and global partnerships. ▪️Infrastructure and Facilities Sharing: Cost savings through shared training facilities and medical resources. ▪️Knowledge and Expertise: Leveraging best practices across clubs improves performance and management. ▪️Fan Engagement: Expands global fan bases through consistent brand experiences. ❗ Challenges and Risks: 🔻 Conflict of Interest: Ethical concerns when clubs with shared ownership compete. 🔻 Regulatory Scrutiny: Complex compliance with diverse regulations, such as UEFA's Article 5. 🔻 Transparency Issues: Complex ownership structures can raise concerns among stakeholders. 🔻 Competitive Balance: MCOs may exacerbate wealth concentration, widening the gap between elite and smaller clubs. ➕ Notable Examples of MCO: ▶ City Football Group: Manchester City (England), New York City FC (USA), Melbourne City FC (Australia) ▶ Red Bull GmbH: RB Leipzig (Germany), FC Red Bull Salzburg (Austria), Red Bull Bragantino (Brazil) ▶ 777 Partners: Everton (England), Hertha BSC (Germany), Genoa (Italy). Pacific Media Group: Barnsley FC (England), AS Nancy (France), FC Thun (Switzerland) ▶ David Blitzer (Bolt Football Holdings): Crystal Palace (England), Augsburg (Germany), SK Beveren (Belgium) ⚖ Regulatory Landscape: ↪ UEFA Article 5: Prohibits clubs under the same ownership from competing in the same European competition, with recent exceptions when the FIFA allowed Manchester City and Girona FC, both majority-owned by the City Football Group, to compete in the Champions League due to significant changes in the management structure ↪ FIFA Loan Cap: From July 2024, clubs can only have six players loaned in and out simultaneously to prevent excessive loaning Multi-club ownership is driving new dynamics in football management. While offering strategic advantages, it also brings ethical and regulatory challenges that must be balanced to maintain the sport's integrity. ⚽ 🚩 #footballbusiness #sportmanagement #multiclubownership #tobesports

🔗 Multi Club Ownership in Football, focus on strategic benefits, risks and challenges, the biggest MCO investment groups and a view on the regulatory landscape! 📈✔️ Check it out! 📲 #footballbusiness #sportmanagement #multiclubownership #tobesports

Through long-term strategies, small football clubs can outperform bigger ones: • Sporting & Business Success: Clubs aim for sporting success to satisfy stakeholders and secure business achievements. • Team Value Management: Increases in team value come from developing first-team players, integrating youth players, and excelling in player trading. • Budget Efficiency: Clubs with effective budget management, like Real Sociedad and Atalanta B.C., outperform those with larger budgets. • Decision-Making Quality: About 50 sport management decisions annually influence a club’s ability to translate budgets into quality teams. https://mck.co/49vTrN3 #football #players #soccer

MLS + European football clubs. ❓ Who benefits the most? MLS clubs are propelling their growth by strategically engaging in international partnerships. Or... Is it the European clubs that need to grow in the attractive US market? 😎 It's a win-win situation! ✅ Benefits for Major League Soccer clubs ☑ Exposure to Worldwide Talent Partnering with clubs from football-rich regions like Europe and South America provides MLS clubs with a vast talent pool. ☑ Youth Development and Academies Aligning with globally recognized clubs renowned for successful youth academies enhances MLS clubs' ability to fine-tune their youth development programs. ☑ Enhancing Coaching Expertise Collaborations with foreign clubs expose coaching staff to new methodologies, fostering a cross-pollination of football philosophies. ✅ Benefits for both MLS and European clubs ☑ Building a Global Brand Beyond player development, joint branding and marketing efforts raise visibility and appeal to international audiences. ☑ Fan Engagement and Growing the Fanbase Engaging with international clubs through events and friendlies attracts diverse fan bases and expands the club brand globally. ✅ Two interesting cases 🔷 Sport Lisboa e Benfica + FC Dallas Goals: ✔️ An exchange of technical knowledge, training methodologies, and knowledge that has contributed to the development of notable national team players. ✔️ Offering young talents exposure to diverse playing styles and cultures for holistic personal and professional development. 🔺 Sport Lisboa e Benfica: Benefits from the strategic importance of the United States in Benfica's growth strategy, given the rapid rise of football among young Americans. 🔺 FC Dallas: The collaboration with a club like Benfica is in line with the club's desire to develop talent from the bottom up. 🔷 FC Bayern München + Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) Key Highlights: 🔺 FC Bayern München With offices in New York, Shanghai, and Bangkok, continues its commitment to support the growth of football globally. The collaboration with LAFC adds an international dimension to talent development. 🔺 Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) Sees an opportunity to grow globally, share best practices, and elevate the sport and brand on an international stage. ✅ Final Thoughts Internationally, football is developing rapidly, as is also evident in the transfer market. These international alliances offer access to: 🔸 global talent 🔸 enhancing coaching standards 🔸 generating revenue 🔸 building a formidable brand 🔸 fostering fan engagement ❓ Which other partnership would you like to see in 2024? #footballbusiness #linkedinsports #growth 

🤝 Red Bull Partners with Leeds United 🏟️ Exciting news in the football world! Global soft drinks giant Red Bull has struck a deal to purchase a minority stake in Leeds United. This partnership marks another strategic move by Red Bull, a company already well-established in the sports industry. Red Bull holds a significant presence in the energy drink market with a global market share of approximately 40% in 2023. Their involvement in sports is extensive, owning clubs in various parts of the world, including RB Leipzig (Germany), FC Red Bull Salzburg (Austria), New York Red Bulls (USA), Red Bull Bragantino (Brazil), and previously Red Bull Ghana. Their model focuses on developing young talent and creating competitive teams, which has proven successful across different leagues. Red Bull’s involvement has financially benefited the clubs they support. For instance, RB Leipzig has become a top contender in the Bundesliga and regularly competes in the UEFA Champions League. Red Bull Bragantino has also seen significant improvements, including competing in Brazil’s top-flight league and the CONMEBOL Copa Sudamericana. This track record suggests promising potential for Leeds United, both in terms of on-field performance and financial growth. The partnership includes shirt sponsorship for the upcoming season, further integrating Red Bull’s brand with Leeds United. Official Statements: “I am thrilled that Red Bull is joining us to build a bright future for Leeds United and shares our deep respect for this truly special club,” said Paraag Marathe, Chairman of Leeds United. “As Chairman, our consortium of investment partners will be invaluable to me as we approach this important moment for the club, now and into the future. Red Bull’s addition is a historic milestone that will further empower the club to reach its full competitive potential.” “We are delighted to be an important element and partner of Leeds United. A club that is certainly one of the biggest in England and has a rich and successful history. The ambition to bring Leeds United back to the Premier League and establish themselves in the best football league in the world fits very well with Red Bull. We look forward to the partnership and are optimistic and energized about the future,” said " Oliver Mintzlaff, Red Bull CEO Corporate Projects and Investments. I am eager to see how this partnership will unfold and what it will bring to Leeds United. With Red Bull’s expertise in sports marketing and development, this could be a pivotal moment for the club as they prepare for future challenges and opportunities. If you’re as excited as I am about this development or if you have insights to share, let’s connect and discuss! #Football #Investment #RedBull #LeedsUnited #SportsMarketing #FootballBusiness #Networking

Delo Sport's Annual Football Finance Report: Who Tops the Charts This Year? Delo Sport's Annual Football Finance Report: Who Tops the Charts This Year? Fo... Read More - https://lnkd.in/dC5SAuf5

Sunday strategies, The Beautiful Game Hello experts! How much do you think game style affects sponsorships, media, and partnerships? As you may know, on Sunday we have a big game coming up – the Euro Final. We are about to witness a clash of two remark able game strategies, and these approaches aren't exclusive to soccer. On one hand, we have the wonderful journey of Luis de la Fuente, Spain's manager, who has disrupted the competition with a young team. His style is reminiscent of Luis Aragonés during the 2008 Euro, where Spain, even without their most valuable player Raúl, won the championship. The confidence in each team member is incredible; everyone has a specific task to accomplish. Despite having great individual players, they play as one cohesive unit. On the other hand, we see Gareth Southgate with one of the most promising squads in recent times. 'The Three Lions' have been criticized over the past six years, with many blaming Southgate's style as poor. There's a prevailing sentiment that the team could have achieved more, despite reaching two consecutive Euro Finals and the semifinals of the last World Cup. Southgate's strategy relies on giving players the confidence to solve challenges through individual talent – eleven stars playing to win based on their own merits. Perhaps they have made it this far because of their brilliant players, or maybe this is a viable game style, a deliberate strategy. We are in for a brilliant game: on one side, growing stars supported by experienced veterans playing in perfect harmony; on the other, eleven proven stars showcasing individual talent. Do you recall similar cases in different sports? Who came out on top in those scenarios? Let me know your thoughts.

This Week's Women's Football: 💰 According to Deloitte, average revenues of the top 15 European women's football clubs grew by 61% to €4.3M over the last year. 1. FC Barcelona Femení remained at the top of the women's football money league. 2. Manchester United Women maintained the position with a strong commercial revenue. 3. Arsenal F.C Women brought in the highest match-day revenue. 4. Real Madrid C.F. Women jumped up to the third place with €7.4M in revenue, an increase of 416%. 🌟 It is predicted that women's elite sports will generate more than €1.1 billion in global revenues by 2024, with football leading at over €500 million. This growth is attributed to the professionalisation of women's sports, increased viewership, and sponsor interest. Football clubs and leagues are expected to make up around 26% of the total market. The increase in domestic league matches in major stadiums is noted, and clubs may consider building dedicated women's stadiums. Sponsors are showing interest in exclusive deals with women's clubs, and broadcast revenues are expected to rise with expanding competition formats. The establishment of NewCo (Women's Professional Game) in England is seen as a significant moment for the growth of women's sports. 🚀 → https://lnkd.in/gcqaAxiU 🇺🇸 National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) announced the 2024 season schedule and is also introducing NWSL+, its first-ever direct-to-consumer streaming platform — NWSL+. Starting this season, NWSL+ will stream 69 matches for free across the U.S., and all matches will be available for international viewers for free. (The app is coming soon!) 😎 Mayra Ramirez, Colombian Women's National Team player and former Levante UD Femenino, has announced her move to Chelsea Football Club Women for the highest transfer fee in women's football! ❤️🩹 Manchester City Football Club Women confirms that MD Jill Roord has suffered a rupture to her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). This makes 11 ACLs in 27 days of January. There is not enough research focused on women's football available. It's time to invest more funds in ACL research, facilities, and programs for women's football. I wish you a full and speedy recovery, Jill 🩵 #womensfootball

In the last 10 years, only 15 teams have won in Europe's top five leagues. It’s time to change the conversation of what winning looks like. ✅ Number of teams that won in the 5 major championships 🇩🇪 1 in Bundesliga 🇬🇧 4 in Premier League 🇮🇹 4 in Serie A 🇫🇷 3 in Ligue 1 🇪🇸 3 in La Liga ❗ 6 teams won 78% of the championships in the last 10 years. ❓ What does it mean to you? It could be: ☑ Positive winning loop The more a club wins, the more money it makes, and the best players it signs. And again and again. ☑ Correlation between winning and the number of fans Clubs with more fans have more money and more growth opportunities. ☑ Only a few clubs are run as businesses The clubs that do well in the business/corporate areas gain a competitive advantage. ✅ The Need for a New Offer Few fans have the privilege of seeing their club win a trophy. ❓ What does it mean? ❗ Clubs have to offer something else to their fans: ✔ to establish a lasting relationship ✔ to make them happy&proud ✔ to sell more tickets and merchandise ✅ Gen Z and live sports events ❗ 77% of Generation Z fans prefer to consume sports events remotely. New youth habits + a title race that often involves only two teams per league is a risk to football clubs. ✅ The Solution 👉 Clubs should start competing off the pitch in terms of what they offer their fans. It’s not about winning the UEFA Champions League. ❗ It's about making your fans HAPPY and PROUD of their team. It’s time to redefine what we consider a successful football club. ❓ What makes a football club successful besides winning? #footballbusiness #linkedinsports #innovation

Three ways how the German football landscape takes part in MCO, despite the 50+1 rule ⚽💡 Multi-Club Ownership (MCO) has become an everyday term in football business. City Football Group, Red Bull, and 777 Partners have been joined by other big players like RedBird Capital Partners Capital (AC Milan, Toulouse), 𝗩 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀 (Aston Villa, Vitoria de Guimaraes), and newly formed Red&Gold Football (FC Bayern, LAFC) that stir up international news on football club ownership. But Germany and its iconic 50+1 rule notably prevents majority control in clubs of outside entities and investors, in the best interest of the fans. So, are German clubs just left out completely or how do they take part in modern football club network building? 1️⃣     Giving investors minority or majority ownership following the 50+1 rule   777 Partners hold a majority capital stake in Hertha BSC GmbH & Co. KGaA (78,8%), but with only 2/5 seats in the supervisory board, the original association (3/5 seats) still has the voting rights majority and controls the club. Another example is David Blitzer and the Bolt Football Holdings owning a 45% stake in FC Augsburg 1907 with the according voting rights and thus merely taking an advisory role.   2️⃣      Establishing cooperations or partnerships   VfL Wolfsburg has chosen this option to partner with MLS side Orlando City SC regarding talent development, infrastructure, and marketing topics. Since 2021, the Austrian 2nd division side SKN St. Pölten has taken an additional development team role for Wolfsburg.   3️⃣      Becoming an investor yourself   FC Bayern München Bayern decided to choose this role when they founded Red&Gold Football in collaboration with Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC). Together with the former MLS champions, Bayern Munich aims to build a global network of teams to identify and promote young talents. Racing Club de Montevideo is the first club in South America now owned by Red&Gold, which is registered at Säbener Str. In Munich – Bayern Munich’s headquarters. #footballbusiness #multiclubownership