There is a report today that with a year of their existing 10-year contract to run, O2 were reviewing their association with Arsenal http://www.footballtradedirectory.com/news/2011/august/manchester-united-sign-new-partner-as.html? It may not have any bearing nor might there be a different outcome but a good end to the last season and bedding down players to hit the ground running for this new campaign would almost certainly have counted in our favour. Wouldn't winning the EPL last year have been great advertising for O2? Makes one really question the thinking of the management and board. If the responsibility of performance on the pitch and the sourcing of players to achieve this end lies with the management, then the board should have had their say when no one was bought in January let alone the delays through the summer. If as we may suspect, that the board are culpable in such matters then it really is very short-sighted but as we know, such bodies are not known for their sharp thinking.
There are plenty of mega profitable companies that would be willing to sponsor Arsenal. Both Gazidis and Kronke have a great track record of securing corporate deals for their businesses. I don't see this issue having any relevance as an excuse to knock the board.
Why would you say that and I can assure you I am not looking for excuses to knock the board as you imply. If their decisions and I stress the word if since I don't know if they should bear the responsibility for not agreeing or arranging transfers in time, but if they did then why should this not impact on the club's ability to secure sponsorship? Would a large corporation not be more willing to sponsor a winning team than one that gathers negative headlines? If you consider Man Utd's many sponsorship arrangements, perhaps an argument could be made that winning really does attract commercial deals. I think the comment I have made is very fair and not intended to pour scorn on anyone but rather to raise a mater for discussion since this is after all, a forum.
Mobile networks are now competitive - O2 cannot splash the cash anymore. Expect a better and more lucrative sponsor.......
02 are making the decisions here at the moment, so the board cannot make any move until 02 decide what they want to do. The board still have a year to negotiate another deal, there are plenty of corporations who would want to sponsor Arsenal. You'll find that most companies will do their own PR and won't be influenced by 'negative headlines' spun by the tabloids. Arsenal are a massive brand that transcend the red top guff. I don't see any problems arising from the board being able to negotiate a new deal, Gazidis and Kronke have built their business reputations on commercial brokering.
You're right Dutchmaster, mobile operators are now having to watch cash and if rugby was O2's reported focus... Problem tough is that we seem to lag behind Utd so much in sponsorships.
Man Utd are a bigger brand than Arsenal, so naturally they will be able to secure more lucrative sponsorship deals.
Apart from Lagging, we've got them beat on that. and to be honest, every team in england lag behind united at the moment..
Forbes list us as of July this year as the 7th most valuable sports team in the world and 3rd most valuable on the football list. That gives us a listing higher than the Ferrari F1 team, New York Giants, Barca of course and Mclaren F1. Utd top everyone here as you'd expect and we are around 2/3rds their value and Chelski again worth around 2/3rds of our net. Quite an interesting list. Do have a look - http://www.forbes.com/pictures/mli45fdhk/no-1-manchester-united#content We might be 2/3rds in value of Utd but correct me if I'm wrong, Utd have vastly greater commercial contracts than us. It's not even a liner relationship AFAIK.
