Size is not important, it’s how much they want to play with it that truly matters!
What on earth are we talking about? Well, this is clearly a reference to the current attempts by Major League Soccer to penetrate enter the Las Vegas market in a manner that will satisfy all involved.
Still confused?
MLS is currently working on a deal to make Las Vegas the location of the league’s 30th soccer football team.
Wes Edens and Nassef Sawiris, the Billionaire owners of Aston Villa, are conducting negotiations alongside the MLS and the state of Nevada to ensure the creation of a franchise team within the next three years.
There are still concerns over whether Las Vegas is a viable market for a new franchise.
As the Washington Post points out, the Las Vegas metro area is 29th in population in the United States and the No. 40 media market, which would be the league’s smallest.
Despite these concerns, MLS chief Don Garber remains adamant that the team would be a success.
“Market size in the future of media will be less important than market engagement,” explained Garber “Where is the future growth and opportunity happening, and where do we think MLS can be successful?”
Essentially, Garber is saying that the MLS will see greater commercial success with a small passionate audience than with a larger passive one.
While the merits of this approach will take time to prove, Garber is actively working on removing the League’s reputation as a retirement home for big-name stars.
According to Garber, the league’s commercial success no longer depends on players like Ronaldo, Messi, or Neymar choosing to end their careers in the U.S.
"You know, when Zlatan [Ibrahimovic] left Major League Soccer, no one said he went to retire in Italy, and frankly I was insulted by that. Because if Zlatan came to us at the same age when he went back to Milan, it would've been a retire move on his part. He worked his tail off in MLS and he's worked his tail off in Serie A. So I'm not quite sure why we're viewed differently, but it is what it is."
✍️ Deal of the Week
Bayern Continue Expansion into Asia 🌏
Bayern Munich is stepping up its efforts to corner the Asian market ahead of rival European clubs.
One aspect of their strategy appears to be the opening of physical offices in Asian countries. The club launched its Shanghai office in 2017 and has followed that up with a new office in Bangkok.
The club will use its office in the capital of Thailand to help build a bigger audience in Southeast Asia, India, and Oceania.
Bayern already has a strong presence in Southeast Asia, with the FC Bayern Youth Cup and Allianz Junior Football Camps being regular fixtures in the region.
This deliberate focus on the Southeast Asian market has already resulted in the formation of 39 official fan clubs.
As Asia rapidly embraces football, most of Europe’s top clubs are working hard to establish a strong following in the region. This includes tours and training camps as well as the use of Asian social media sites like Weibo or We Chat.
🤪 Weird Deal of the Week
Puma Becomes Cheque Mate with Magnus Carlsen
Usually, when sportswear companies team up with an athlete they release a collection of products related to that athlete’s sport.
For Ronaldo, they bring out football boots and for Steph Curry, they might release workout gear or a special basketball.
So, what on earth is Puma going to release as part of its new long-term partnership with Norwegian Chess Grandmaster Magnus Carlsen?
A Puma branded chess clock?
While the merchandise is still a mystery, Puma has announced that the collaboration will involve the creation of content and activations for chess enthusiasts, with the hope of attracting more fans to the game.
Puma will also be sponsoring Carlsen’s incredibly popular online chess tournament known as ‘The Champions Chess Tour.’
For Puma, the move appears to be part of a strategy to represent a more nuanced view on what it means to be an ‘athlete.’
“We often think of sports as being physical, but you also need mental strength,” explained Puma chief executive Bjørn Gulden.
“Few people embody that spirit like Magnus, who is widely regarded as the best chess player of all time. We are proud that he has become a part of the Puma family.”
Carlsen himself also appears to be very positive about the new deal: “Being part of a great company such as Puma and joining so many people that I personally admire, is special to me. As a chess player, I am a huge fan of sports and that makes this partnership even better.”
📱 Social Media Madness of the Week
Le Mans Driver Fined 20k for Peeing 🚽
Those in authority always have a problem whenever someone wants to use the bathroom.
Just look at the education system. Every teacher is automatically programmed to respond to any request for a bathroom break with this infamous phrase:
‘You should have gone before class!’
We are not sure if the stewards at the Asian Le Mans Series are in fact part-time teachers, but they do appear to have a similar no-nonsense approach to peeing.
During a red flag at the recent ALMS race in Abu Dhabi, driver Alfred Renauer was spotted by a marshal urinating behind a post next to the track.
After an investigation (let’s hope they had access to a steady stream of information!) the stewards issued Renauer with a quite incredible €20,000 fine, although half of this amount is suspended until Renauer publically apologizes for his action.
While it is easy to feel sorry for the driver, the stewards did have a legitimate reason for the sanction.
“in certain cultures where acts or deeds vary in levels of acceptance, the panel of stewards recognise that in the United Arab Emirates, such an act is extremely disrespectful and is a criminal offence.” explained the stewards in their statement.
🎬 Video of the Week
In this week’s video, we got the chance to interview Gerard Piqué about his latest adventure in NFT’s with Sorare. We also asked him about the potential applications of NFTs in the wider world of sports.
Enjoy 🙂