It really does make me laugh when people but things like "what you say is futile". It's like ending a sentence saying "fact", just because you believe it, doesn't really make it so. There are a number of reasons which make the Etihad sponsorship somewhat more valuable than you are insinuating, and if you had read the Deloitte report, maybe you wouldn't need me to spell it out for you.
The exposure we received last season was actually higher than anyone else's. We received more money per game, as more of our league matches were televised than anyone else's. More people saw our team play, which means more people saw the Etihad sponsor. I'm not sure, but I think basic economics tells us that means the Etihad sponsor is the most valuable in the league. Another interesting point is that we had the most Champions League games televised on terrestrial this year, too. Though this might be influenced more by the calibre of teams we were playing, the point is the same.
Now, I know I'm not stupid. Just because we were on the telly more than United and much more than Liverpool doesn't mean our sponsorships are more valuable. We don't sell anywhere near as many shirts as they do worldwide, and I seriously doubt our success will last long enough to see us match the numbers. But to call me deluded when you're the one who isn't looking at the bigger picture is hypocritical to say the least. The £40m-per-season Etihad deal doesn't just cover shirts and stadium rights. It's the whole area around the stadium too, and the approved developments that are coming in a few years. We are building a completely new stadium for reserves and youth games, completely new training facilities and a new training centre. The only thing not included in the deal is the Sixth Form school the club are building and gifting to the council.
Compare the full-scale of the deal with the rise the investors predict, and I hope you aren't too one-eyed to see we aren't exactly ignoring the FFP rules, like PSG. Our wage bill has been cut, our revenues have risen greatly in all areas, the stadium is getting filled (with some of the cheapest tickets in the league) and general expenditure is dropping. The value of the deal is definitely inflated to an extent. But so is everyone else's. All clubs are finding a way to circumvent FFP regulations. United have an Official Matchday Potato Snack Partner, and an Official Drinking Responsibly in Asia Partner.
That Panini analogy was a good one though, genuinely not heard that one before.
