Reuters Soccer Blog
World Soccer views and news
Are sponsored stadiums worth it?
Juventus are to become the first Italian club to have their stadium sponsored.
The concept is so alien to Italians that Juve had to hold a presentation in Milan this week to explain what it was all about, and to look for sponsors. I went along hoping to speak to the directors about potential transfers but most of my Italian colleagues asked question after question about this strange new marketing trend.
Having attended the first game at the Reebok Stadium in Bolton 11 years ago, I’ve become rather used to the idea and don’t think it differs much to sponsored shirts.
Certainly in the case of Bolton Wanderers, the revenue from the sponsorship deal has gone a long way to helping them stay in the Premier League. Several of Germany’s excellent stadiums built ahead of the 2006 World Cup are sponsored, like Munich’s Allianz Arena, and fans there are generally happy.
But should we be worried about where all this is heading? Does every time we mention the name sound like an advert?
Vlog on the pitch – should Fulham have stuck with Sanchez?
For a change this week, vlogmeister Owen Wyatt and Deputy Sports Editor Jon Bramley decided to discuss the bottom end of the Premier League.
Jon thinks Fulham should have stuck with coach Lawrie Sanchez for longer but Owen disagrees. What do you think? Little has improved under Roy Hodgson and the west London club look poised to follow Derby County through the Premier League trapdoor.
White-knuckle ride for white-shirted Bolton, Fulham and Derby
One of the greatest things about Subbuteo, besides giving generations of kids endless table-topping fun, was the chance of studying the team colours chart.
Where else could you learn at a glance that your claret and blue squad could be either West Ham, Burnley or Aston Villa, or that Plymouth Argyle were the only team in the Football League to play in green shirts (as did amateur giants Hendon) and that Blackpool were unique for being the only team to play in tangerine.
