A Tale Of 2 Sports

0

They both play “football” and both teams wear red. The similarities end with the fact that both teams are owned by the Glazer family.

Founded in 1878, Manchester United (Orginally the Newton Heath railworkers team) was privately owned until 1990. With the newfound status of being a Plc came ownership bids and eventually Malcom Glazer came out on top. For a lot of Manchester United fans this was a hard pill to swallow, for many it felt like a robbery. For the Glazers, it was shrewd business.

When the Glazer’s took control at the Old Trafford soccer club in 2005 they did so by not committing a cent of their own wealth and at a time where the Manchester United brand was booming and worldwide. It was almost a licence to print money. Dollars or Pound! The massive loans would be paid off by the massive merchandising sales, TV revenue money, huge transfer fees and big money winnings. With millions upon millions rolling in every year the Glazers had pulled off a coup of epic proportions. Except that all came tumbling down in 2013.

When Sir Alex Ferguson retired Manchester United was never the same team. The original plan was to be that the millions rolling in would help support the Tampa Bay Buccaneers organisation. Competitive contracts for the best players coupled with the best facilities, all paid for by the success of this soccer team thousands of miles away.

Instead Manchester United have cycled through managers, high contracts that have to be paid without any return. Soaring transfer fees for players that didn’t perform and didn’t recoup transfer fees, if any money at all. No homegrown stars to sell. No trophies to earn money. In the last 5 years the soccer team has been spending more than it has been earning.

Flip back over the pond and the story is pretty similar. Barren years without playoff football and empty seats. Blackouts and paying fired coaches. Both teams need leadership. Both teams are struggling.

Whilst the original business plan may have been sound it would be now that the Glazer family have to decide who they are backing. Currently fans in Tampa are frustrated with ticket prices hiking and the quality on the field declining.

If the Glazers decide which team they will support then team and family will be better off for it. Right now it’s like fighting a war on two fronts. Confusing and unwinable!

#BucsReport

Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmail