Good Morning. It's Thursday 1st May, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road Are naming rights up for grabs to help pay for ER redevelopment Ambitious Elland Road redevelopment plans to extend capacity to 53,000 are finally underway, but where is the money coming from? While the total cost remains undisclosed, comparable projects have exceeded £200 million. The club aims to secure £100 million through private investment, with the balance likely sourced from a combination of debt and equity contributions from the 49ers Enterprises ownership. The success of this ambitious undertaking hinges heavily on Premier League revenue. This income stream will be crucial for servicing any accumulated debt and bolstering the confidence of private investors. However, the precise financial mechanisms employed by the 49ers to manage the stadium makeover remain unclear. Further complicating matters is the potential for compromises to appease the 49ers’ commercial aspirations. A key area for potential revenue generation lies in naming rights. Unlike European football, where shirt sponsorship dominates, US sports franchises rely heavily on stadium naming rights for substantial income. The NFL, NBA, and MLB routinely secure multi-million dollar deals, far exceeding those typically seen in European football. For example, the 49ers' renewed Levi's Stadium naming rights agreement is worth approximately £12.5 million annually, while the Crypto.com deal with the Los Angeles Lakers surpasses £500 million over 20 years. This disparity highlights a significant opportunity for Leeds. The planned expansion of Elland Road, adding 20,000 seats, is projected by football finance lecturer Kieran Maguire to more than double matchday revenue, potentially increasing it from £30 million to £60-70 million. This would place Leeds' home gate receipts on par with Premier League giants like Chelsea and Manchester City. The question remains whether the 49ers can leverage this potential to secure a similarly lucrative naming rights deal, and at what cost to the club's traditions and fan experience. The balance between financial ambition and preserving the club's identity will be a delicate one to navigate. Speaking exclusively to Leeds Utd News Maguire said:- “It’s a significant time to announce it,” “While it’s an increase of 20,000-ish, I think Leeds can more than double their matchday income from the current £30m to a pinch point of £60-70m. That will put them on a par with the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City. “The challenge will be finding enough corporate takers at the right price point to justify the investment in the expansion. They certainly have the fanbase to fill the stadium – that’s not the issue. But the yield per fan who is buying the season ticket doesn’t tend to warrant the investment. “You have to be innovative. Seat licenses aren’t very popular but can provide funding. Stadium naming rights could do some of the heavy lifting in terms of paying for the stadium. All of these things would have to be considered. “Given that Leeds are owned by the 49ers, I think these will be part of the driving force for the funding aspect of the new stadium. It’s about how they find the money and what is going to happen in the interim, especially if they go back into the Championship in the next few years.” please log in to view this image Cherries want £7.5m for Rothwell - but is he worth it? Leeds United face a crucial summer of rebuilding, and the question of Joe Rothwell's future hangs heavy in the balance. The midfielder, currently on loan from Bournemouth, has undeniably contributed to the Whites this season, clocking a significant 2345 minutes before a calf injury prematurely ended his campaign. His creativity and ability to drive forward from deep, a unique skillset within the Leeds squad, are undeniable assets. He's also arguably their best set-piece taker, although that’s hardly a ringing endorsement. However, the question isn't simply whether Rothwell is a capable Championship player; it's whether he's Premier League material, especially given Bournemouth's £7.5 million price tag. The £7.5m fee feels particularly steep. The argument for signing Rothwell weakens considerably when considering the availability of players like Josh Brownhill on free transfers this Summer. Brownhill possesses a similar skill set and experience, representing excellent value for money compared to Rothwell’s price tag. Considering this, acquiring Rothwell seems financially unwise. Even if he were a free agent, his suitability for Leeds would be questionable. His Championship pedigree doesn't automatically translate to Premier League success, and the squad may benefit more from younger, potentially higher-ceiling players. The risk of paying a premium for a player with limited longevity and uncertain Premier League capability is high. Letting go of players such as Rothwell, Byram, Guilavogui, Firpo and even Gruev are emotionally difficult, especially when there's a perfectly good bench they can sit on during match days. Leeds will need to be ruthless this Summer if they are to avoid the same fate as Southampton, Leicester City and Ipswich Town; perhaps the clear out starts with Farke? please log in to view this image
Ruthless is the word. Its side before self. Some of these players its the end of the road there job here has been done. No room for sentiment. Its big boy decisions now Farke has also done what he was brought to do here if thats the end of rhe road so be it. The gap is massive now and its not to take chances anymore we have to be on the ball from the getgo and by that we need players in asap to go to pre season to gel as a group no good bringing players in 1 or 2 weeks before the start. Massivr couple of monrh ahead.
Morning all I would keep Gruev, he is highly underrated player. Rothwell on the other hand, I will say hell NNNOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!
Morning all. Interesting that with the announcement of the stadium, there was no indication of a timeline. Is this for when were established pl in a few seasons or does it start imminently
West Stand first with enabling works starting September 2025; Outside Broadcasting (OB) Compound in “north” Park and Ride, alongside a separate HV Room within Fullerton Car Park. Estimated start on site September 2025 Renewal of existing utilities – September 2025 Temporary floodlights to the west stand – November 2025. Temporary turnstiles during construction – December 2025. Temporary hospitality marquee (c. 1,900sqm) within Fullerton Car Park. Estimated start on site January 2026. Demolition works to the west stand and related areas. Estimated start on site February 2026
Afternoon all Radz got criticised as he didn’t know how to run a football team. Paraag and the 49ers are definitely experts when it comes to stadium income generation, I’ve no idea what the figures will be or the income generated but I trust them to get it right. I’ve always expected us to be edging towards the Redbull stadium, I’ll complain if we don’t invest in the team and show improvement once it’s all in place Keep Gruev as a squad player, unless Rothwell is a give away price we should be looking at better. Ampadu, Tanaka, Gruev then a signing who is better than all three should be the aim
Newcastle are said to be going in strong for the Burnley keeper Trafford as a long term replacement for Pope. Their number two Dubravka is 36 so they might be shopping for 2 and Burnley will need a new keeper, Man U are also looking for one, it’s not going to be easy finding a decent one
It was your use of the phrase “long term replacement”, which I took to mean bringing in Trafford as no. 2 to eventually replace Pope.
Well one of them was on the bench for Cardiff, when we put 7 past Cardiff's 1st choice keeper, so hopefully not.
Likely, I just think it highlights, if we are smart, good enough is available for the next level without paying stupid fees.
