Manchester United named top of the league for digital value generated by sports teams March 31, 2022 Manchester United generated the most digital value of any sports team in the world last year, according to a new report published today. The Digital Value of Fans 2022 report is based on social media performance and was created by audience platform Horizm, which works with leading teams in several sports. Despite a fourth consecutive [...]
Government recruits Oliver Wyman consultants to craft new football regulator March 29, 2022 The government have drafted in top consultancy Oliver Wyman to help design a new independent body that will be charged with regulating English football. According to reports from Mark Kleinman, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has hired the New York-based firm to help build a response to Tracey Crouch’s contentious review of football’s [...]
Everton FC registers £120m loss after pandemic impact and suspension of Usmanov support March 29, 2022 Everton Football Club registered a £120.9m loss in 2021, meaning it’s almost £400m down over the last four years. The beleaguered Merseyside club attributed its loss to the pandemic as it published annual accounts this week, against the backdrop of severed sponsorship with a sanctioned Russian oligarch. It said there were £170m losses despite a [...]
Chelsea bankers reject bids from Saudi Media Group and Woody Johnson March 24, 2022 The sale of Chelsea took a major step towards conclusion today when a number of bidders, including Saudi Media Group and Woody Johnson, were reportedly rejected. US bank the Raine Group, hired to sell the club by sanction-hit owner Roman Abramovich, contacted a number of unsuccessful bidders as it whittled down would-be buyers. Saudi Media [...]
Ed Warner: Does it really matter if Chelsea buyers are true Blues fans? March 24, 2022 Who are the wannabe owners of Chelsea trying to impress when they flaunt their fandom? Investment bank the Raine Group is only likely to give a jot when someone first stood in the Shed, or how long they’ve sat in the same seat in the Matthew Harding Stand, if this matters to HM Treasury. If [...]
Chelsea handed £30m cash boost and permission to sell tickets as government relaxes licence March 23, 2022 Chelsea have been handed a £30m boost from the government and given permission to sell some tickets again. The strict licence that the Premier League club has been operating under since owner Roman Abramovich was sanctioned was relaxed slightly today. It means Chelsea can receive up to £30m from their parent company “in respect of [...]
Tales from the Crypto: Will digital assets save sport sponsorship or prove a horror story? March 21, 2022 When you think of US cable TV giant HBO, blockbuster drama series like Game of Thrones, The Sopranos and The Wire immediately spring to mind. One of the first major triumphs for the network, though, was Tales from the Crypt, a horror anthology inspired by a cult 1950 comic book series. The series was successful [...]
World’s richest football clubs: Manchester City top Deloitte Money League for the first time March 21, 2022 Manchester City have been named the world’s richest football club in the latest edition of Deloitte’s Football Money League. City topped the list, which is based on revenue, for the first time after increasing their income to €645m (£571m) in 2020-21 – despite the effects of the pandemic. The Premier League champions climbed five places, [...]
FA Cup: Crystal Palace ride crest of a wave all the way to Wembley semi-final March 20, 2022 Crystal Palace’s season goes from good to better under Patrick Vieira, despite some uncertainty in the boardroom at Selhurst Park. Vieira’s dynamic young Eagles thrashed Everton 4-0 in south London on Sunday to reach the semi-finals of the FA Cup for only the second time since 1995. They had to weather early pressure but held [...]
Government puts ball in Chelsea’s court: sellers asked to nominate buyer and home for proceeds March 17, 2022 The government is taking a hands-off approach to the sale of Chelsea as the Premier League club’s extraordinary auction enters its final few hours. Despite freezing Roman Abramovich’s assets and only allowing the club to operate within the parameters of a strict licence, the government has indicated that it will not get involved in assessing [...]