Middle East Sports Investment Forum’s Post

🌍 Exciting updates from Budapest! 🇭🇺 This week, I had the privilege of representing our team at the second edition of the Football Forum Hungary. A heartfelt thank you to the incredible organisers for including us in the panel discussions on football and the Arabian event, and for giving LTT Sports the opportunity to speak and moderate several panels. 👏⚽ 🔍 During the roundtable on "Change in Sport, Business, and Governance," Olivier Jarosz reiterated the transformative idea from last year about creating a transregional competition #3si. According to our analysis at LTT Sports and experience in format and revenues competitions, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐮𝐞 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐬 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐠𝐮𝐞 currently stands at around 𝟏 𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧, but when 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐛𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚 𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐝𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬, 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐬𝐮𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝟐 𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 💶, 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚 𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐝𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 🚀💰 🤝 Meanwhile, at another session on "Arabia", Fathi Abou El Gadaiel from the Jeddah office proposed a similar initiative for the #GCC, emphasizing unity among GCC Leagues. Launching such a collaboration could lead to collective growth and empower the region to compete against Europe's top 5 leagues. 🌐⚔️ 🔗 These ideas could help the GCC address their current challenges, like Asian Football Confederation (AFC)'s limited competition scope, Kuwait’s declining football scene, the UAE's limited spots for local players in clubs, and Qatar’s need for more competitive games. Plus, advantages like freedom of movement between GCC countries, close distances, affordable flights, and currency flexibility—coupled with sustainable infrastructure and broad investment opportunities—could position GCC football as a formidable force on the global stage. ✈ 🏆 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘄𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟯𝗦𝗜 𝘃𝘀 𝗚𝗖𝗖 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗴𝘂𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 aramco MOL Group ORLEN S.A. 𝘁𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁? We might just take credit for sparking this initiative! 🏅🤩 Thanks Hunor Dudás, Tíra Thassy Dr., Gabor Horvath and panelits Gareth Jennings, Jordan Gardner, Nicola Innocentin, Andrea Sartori and Zsuzsa Dr. Csisztu #FootballForumHungary #SportBusiness #GCCFootball #TransregionalCompetition

VSI is excited to announce a symposium on the Multi-Club Ownership (MCO) model, taking place on 12th March 2025 in Manchester. This one-day event will explore the key trends and strategies shaping MCO in football and sports, delivered by industry experts and thought leaders. 🌍 Multi-Club Ownership (MCO) is changing the face of football, with over 300 clubs now part of global networks. City Football Group (CFG) is a prime example, managing 12 clubs, including Manchester City Football Club, New York City FC, and Melbourne City FC, under one vision. These clubs benefit from shared expertise, centralised scouting systems, and collective player development pathways. This model allows smaller clubs in the network to grow with the support of larger counterparts. For instance, CFG-owned Girona Futbol Club in Spain benefits from shared resources while developing talent for bigger clubs like Manchester City. But MCOs aren’t just about football—they create international fan bases, global sponsorship deals, and significant revenue streams, making them a cornerstone of football’s modern era. Want to learn how these models work and what it takes to build one? Register your interest: 🌐 Visit: www.vsiee.com 📧 Email: admin@vsiee.com VSI Executive Education Prof. Rob Wilson Tony Faulkner Managing Director #Leadership #MCO #Innovation #SportsManagement

A well designed business growth strategy!

I am excited to participate in the upcoming #eCAADe 2024. I am leading a workshop on #graph #machinelearning using #topologicpy and #pytorch geometric, chairing a session, and presenting two papers with Dr. Abdulrahman Alymani and Ammar Alammar, PhD

Middle East Continues To Dominate Football’s Rich List #MiddleEastern influence is intensely reshaping the sport’s economy. #Investments from the region have boosted the #financial metrics of top #clubs and have also positioned them as central #players on the #global stage. Clubs are increasingly viewed as platforms for branding, cultural diplomacy, and international influence.   According to Deloitte, the top 20 #Money League clubs hit a record of €10.5 billion in revenue in 2022/23, largely driven by Middle Eastern #investments. Manchester City Football Club, with €825.9 million in revenue, exemplifies how these #investments have become dominant in #football economics, actively transforming the #sports dynamics.   Middle Eastern influence extends beyond financial inputs, with 9 of the top 20 clubs in the rich list tied to #investors or #sponsors from the region. Manchester City, owned by Abu Dhabi City Football Group since 2008, topped the Money League in the 2021-22 season with revenues of €731 million. This sum included €373 million from commercial activities, €294 million from broadcast deals, and €64 million from matchday earnings.   Additionally, two other clubs in the top 20 are fully owned by Middle Eastern investors. Qatar Sports Investments, which began investing in Paris Saint-Germain in 2011 and took full control in 2012, positioned #PSG 5th with revenues of €654.2 million. Newcastle United Football Club, controlled by a Saudi-led consortium under the kingdom’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), ranked 20th.   Real Madrid C.F., ranking 2nd, Arsenal at 10th, and AC Milan at 16th, each have shirt sponsorship deals with Emirates. FC Bayern München, in 6th place, is associated with Qatar Airways. Everton Football Club, in the 19th spot, is owned by Anglo-Iranian businessman Farhad Moshiri.   Middle Eastern clubs are leaders in #technological integration, improving #fan engagement and expanding commercial ties. Their focus on #digital innovation enhances the #fan experience and opens up new #revenue streams beyond traditional matchday earnings, blending #football with #technology and #marketing effectively.   The influx of Middle Eastern investment presents challenges like maintaining competitive balance and regulatory #analysis. Yet, the #strategic approach of these investors outlines a strong growth plan, with efforts to privatize and professionalize #football clubs, signaling a shift towards more sophisticated, business-driven models.   The #MiddleEast continues to define its role in the global football market, shifting from being an #investor to a pivotal #influencer. This ongoing narrative of dominance in football’s financial landscape is a well-orchestrated blend of #finance, #technology, and soft power, heralding a promising future for the #sport on the global stage.   #MENA #Sport #ParisSaintGermain #ManchesterCity #Deloitte #Emirates #MohamedBinSalman #NewcastleUnited #Fans #Technology #OmarHadid

Will you be in London on 5 June? I'll be at the Emirates Stadium for the Middle East Sports Investment Forum 2024 (link below in the comments). It's a great opportunity to talk about sports and get to know each other in person. It's also the ideal event to learn about sport's growth in the Middle East. If you want to know more, write to me in dm. See you at the Emirates Stadium! #sportbusiness #footballbusiness #investments

Check out my recent article on the groundbreaking transformation of the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, where history meets cutting-edge innovation. 🏟️ #RealMadrid #StadiumRenovation #SportsInnovation

The agenda, speaker line up, and delegates for this event are very exciting! Seats are filling up quickly and the event is nearly sold out, so If you'd like to get involved or have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out! #sports #sportstech #middleeast #SportsInvestment #sportbusiness #investing

Wrapping up another memorable event outside of #Lisbon! Selecting the right location can have a large impact on the final outcome of any #event. What are your thoughts on this venue? Contact our #localexperts to start planning! #ovationdmc #dmc #eventplanning #ovationportugal #eventprofs

🌟 The Future is Now: Leny Yoro at Manchester United 🌟 The football world is buzzing with the news that 18-year-old sensation Leny Yoro has joined Manchester United! 🏟️ The intervention of former United legend Rio Ferdinand was pivotal in this £52 million transfer from Lille, securing Yoro amidst interest from Real Madrid. Rio’s personal touch, showcasing the club’s rich history and expectations, was key. This strategy underlines the importance of legacy and mentorship in modern football. ### Key Takeaways: - **Strategic Recruitment**: Rio Ferdinand's involvement highlights how clubs leverage legends within their networks to attract young talent. - **Investment in Youth**: An £52 million investment in an 18-year-old shows the increasing trend of investing heavily in youth players, banking on long-term potential. - **Player Expectations**: Young talents are now groomed with a deep connection to the club’s ethos, fostering loyalty and high performance. Yoro's debut against Rangers not only showcased his talent but also drew comparisons between his style and Ferdinand’s, hinting at a bright future. 🌟 ### Implications for the Industry: - **Mentorship Programs**: Clubs may benefit from developing structured mentorship initiatives with former players. - **Youth Investment**: Clubs are likely to focus even more on nurturing and acquiring young talent. 💬 What are your thoughts on this transfer strategy? Can other clubs replicate Manchester United's success in attracting young prodigies? #FootballTransfers #YouthTalent #ManchesterUnited #FootballStrategy #Mentorship #SportsIndustry Read more here: [BBC Sports - Leny Yoro Transfer](https://lnkd.in/e63-3Tct