Premier League: US owners dominate over half of 20 clubs August 21, 2026 The Premier League returns this evening for its 35th season, and clubs have become commodities traded by some of the world’s richest and most influential investors. From private equity funds to billionaires to sovereign wealth, this current crop of 20 team owners – this season seeing Hull City, Coventry City and Ipswich Town replacing Burnley, [...]
Old Spice Trafford: Which brands could splash £150m sponsoring Manchester United’s new stadium? August 19, 2026 Technology, financial services and northern brands are favourites to stump up a potential £150m to sponsor Manchester United’s New Trafford stadium, experts have said. Despite only eight of the Premier League’s 20 teams having naming rights sponsors for their stadiums – notably Arsenal, Manchester City and Everton with Emirates, Etihad and Hill Dickinson respectively – [...]
New Premier League rules could see £11bn invested into new stadiums August 17, 2026 Alan Sendorek explains why we are seeing a third revolution of football stadium development on these shores. The third football stadium revolution in England is underway. At least two-thirds of Premier League clubs, and a substantial number lower down the pyramid, have either recently completed a major stadium upgrade or have one planned. Everton and [...]
Pre-season tours: Inside the economics of football’s summer money-spinners August 14, 2026 Football’s summer tours have turned into travelling commercial platforms bringing together big fees, sponsors, merchandise, media and global fan growth, explains Simon Dent. For most football supporters, pre-season used to mean low-key friendlies against a local non-league team, some heavy-legged players and a chance to see the new signing for 30 minutes. For clubs, it [...]
Chelsea fans stunned as ticket sharing equated with sexual misconduct August 12, 2026 Chelsea have stunned supporters by equating unauthorised ticket sharing with sexual misconduct in their sanctioning guidelines for the new season. Premier League clubs are cracking down on ticket misuse but long-standing season ticket holders, who have long shared log-ins and built networks to help each other buy tickets, feel unfairly targeted. Bots and touts remain [...]
Gary Lineker forks out £10k to save England World Cup dream August 5, 2026 Gary Lineker and a group of private backers have come to the rescue of the England men’s amputee team while the Football Association refuses to fund them. The governing body stopped its financial support in 2006 and, despite now backing seven para teams, still excludes the amputee side. The England team, Nations League winners in [...]
Manchester United agree £20m a year deal with betting giant August 4, 2026 Manchester United has agreed a mega £20m-per-season deal that will see gambling giant Betway become a sponsor of their training kits. The agreement comes in the same season Premier League clubs introduced a ban on gambling and casino brands featuring as front-of-shirt partners on home and away kits. The deal is reportedly the biggest of [...]
Manchester United’s new stadium is a test of sports finance – but markets have a solution August 1, 2026 Manchester United’s proposed 100,000-seat stadium represents one of the largest sports infrastructure projects currently under consideration in Europe. The development is intended to become the centrepiece of a wider regeneration of the Old Trafford area, combining a new sporting venue with commercial, residential and entertainment uses. For investors, however, the defining question will be less [...]
Cristiano Ronaldo on Mars: Where will sport take us in the next five years? July 30, 2026 Tech disruption, athlete power and new formats: sport has changed dramatically since Ed Warner started writing weekly about the industry in 2021. This column – based on my weekly newsletter, Sport Inc. – has just reached its fifth anniversary. The book of the same name is three years older. In this short span of time, [...]
Manchester United accused of banning loyal fans to make space for big-spending tourists July 22, 2026 Manchester United supporters have accused the club of attempting to force out season ticket holders in order to generate more revenue from tourists and corporates. Season ticket holders of several decades started receiving emails – seen by City AM – informing them their accounts had been restricted after the club identified activity “that may indicate” [...]