...in this issue, English Football Association CEO Brian Barwick tells us why there is so much to be optimistic about across football and business, from the grassroots of the game to the peak of its success, and the important part that each of us plays in that journey. With the new Wembley Stadium a marker towards not only English, but global football success and optimism, rarely before has a senior figure given such an honest analysis of where football has delivered us, as business people and as fans.

We have deep insight into this season’s key issues of ownership and broadcast, Keith Harris and Dan Jones, while UEFA’s William Gaillard presents his vision for Europe’s governing body.

Sponsorship expertAndy Korman gets to the heart of football’s fiery climb through commercial and promotional awareness, while Professor Chris Brady predicts how business looks set to radically develop our football habits in years to come.

We visit the Copa America, Benfica, and Dubai Sports City, and are invited behind the scenes with Manchester United’s award-winning IT team, whilst also scrutinising the latest advancements in performance analysis, communication systems, stadium maintenance and event logistics.
 

VIEW From The Top
In just over two years in charge as Chief Executive Officer at the English Football Association, Brian Barwick has comfortably outlasted and outclassed both of his two predecessors. JAMES EVANS talks with him about the key issues in British football

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 SMILE For The Camera
As accountancy giants Deloitte & Touche release their annual football finance research, Sports Business Group partner Dan Jones speaks to Football Businessmagazine about the changing face of television sports media, and why there are so many reasons to be optimistic as we prepare for a new dawn of commercial broadcast

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 DRESSED To Impress
Football Business sits down with Raphael Peck, Vice President, Product Creation and Merchandising Manager of innovative performance apparel manufacturers Under Armour

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 UNLOCKING YOUR CLUB’S HERITAGE: New Paths To Profit
Martin Burkhalter is Managing Director of ‘Vizrt Sports’, the world’s leading provider of real-time 2D and 3D broadcast graphics and media asset management systems. Here, Martin writes exclusively for Football Business magazine about the technological advances that can enable our clubs to convert sporting history into modern-day profitability

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 More Than A PITCH
When Arsenal locked the gates on their Highbury Stadium for the last time on May 7th 2006, they left behind a landmark to English and European football. James Evans meets the Emirates Stadium Head of Hospitality Steve Brice and hears how the gunners are exploiting the commercial potential of their new home.

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 What's In A NAME
Why should clubs stop at shirt sponsors and stadium deals, as business begins to consider how long it might be before other clubs choose to grasp the obvious commercial and promotional angles that partnering themselves with big business can present? Chris Green reports

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 SHOW Me The Money
The advent of the premiership brought with it a new dawn of business and sports commercialism in the UK. With its impact on the game spreading unrelentingly across Europe and the rest of the world, James Evans talks to arguably the UK’s leading sponsorship lawyer, Andy Korman.

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 Own GOALS?
Football Business speaks to Keith Harris, Executive Chairman of Seymor Pierce, a former Head of the Football League , on the board at Wembley National Stadium Ltd, and widely regarded as one of the world’s leading authorities on ownership and its potential implications on the game of football.

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 EMBRACING The Digital Age
Martin Burkhalter is Anderlecht may not have the global pulling power of Real Madrid, Barcelona or Manchester United, but in terms of revenue optimisation and brand image, the Belgian club continue to enhance their reputation as one of the most proactive in Europe; their core task being to complement advancements of new business principles with the various challenges that a highly-traditional and community-aware background provides

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 BEHIND The Scenes
For all the appearance of a smooth matchday operation and seemingly effortless system management – from players to media to the fans themselves – the responsibility that sits on the shoulders of logisitics service providers is colossal.

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 EYES On The Prize Copa A m e r i c a 2 0 0 7
With only three years separating CONMEBOL’s official award of the from the first ball being kicked, Football Businessexplores a remarkable construction and infrastructure project, and examines the commercial impact the tournament will have on a country where a vast number of people still live in poverty. By RICHARD EWING, in Caracus

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 On The MOVE
Tabs FM’s flexible software solutions for Ibrox Stadium mean Glasgow Rangers staff can access all data while on the move

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 From Humble BEGINNINGS
Speaking to Riedel Communications’ Rental Director, Marc Schneider, it is not difficult to see how a company that formed 20 years ago with a stock base that comprised just four radios, has grown to become one of the world’s leading providers of digital intercom systems at sports events as varied as the football World Cup and the Asian Games

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 A Case Study On Terraflor, At The Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, Australia
In pursuit of eliminating the stress and anxiety that might be felt by sports venue managers and event organisers (not to mention groundsmen), the premise has been on companies at the cutting edge of pitch protection to develop comprehensive, efficient, yet highly-versatile systems that ensure that pitch-level events don’t translate into ground-level damage.

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 TALKING Heads
In a special four-man showcase of opinion, we open up a unique debate on Europe’s governing body, sampling the thoughts and opinions of some of the industry’s most highly-regarded commentators, where the question is clear – where is European football heading? Compiled by Nick Judd and Richard Aldhous

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 Net GAINS
Manchester United’s recent redesign of the club’s official website brought with it a range of industry prizes and plaudits, plus a nomination of Best Sports Website at the ‘Oscars of the internet’ – the 2007 Webby Awards. Fitz Auden talks to Mark Hargreaves

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 Get SWITCHED ON To Lighting Innovations
More than ever then, higher standards are being asked of stadiums’ lighting systems to ensure that both the moving and still cameras can pick up the perfect football image.

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 PLAIN SAILING: Solving Accommodation Shortages
With accommodation always limited at major sports events, floating hotels are seen as the smart alternative. Floating Hotel AB is leading the way as Andreas Larsson and Richard Aldhous discover

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 BRAND Loyalty
Luis Maia talks with Sport Lisboa e Benfica’s president Luís Filipe Vieira about the club’s changing fortune, which has seen the membership rocket since he put in place a marketing and PR campaign that saw the club’s membership rise to over 170,000, more than the likes of Manchester United and Barcelona

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 The IRONS Age
Ron Pearce, Deputy Stadium Manager at Upton Park, discusses the first-class FSI Systems now in place at West Ham United FC

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 Tracking DEVICE
Sport Universal Process is the leading provider of comparative evaluation performance analysis in European football

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 GLAZING The Roof
Michael van Acht, Global Products Manager for Lexan Thermoclear Sheet at GE Plastics, tells Football Businessmagazine about the extensive research and technological advances that have gone into ensuring spectator comfort and safety in the world’s major sporting arenas

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 Football Business.com Business Start up - PINEAPPLE
The field of panoramic photography is relatively specialist, and while producers of other types of artwork are common, their operation is invariably restricted to local markets. Our aim was to approach this sector from a national perspective, servicing and providing quality expertise across the board using superior equipment and with the ability to work to improved economies of scale in comparison with independent producers.