Gaffer’s Banter

Man United tours Asia again

Man United just announced their 2009 Asian Tour. It includes 4 cities:

China, Malaysia, Indonesia, and South Korea.

It is United’s 7^th Asian tour since 1995.

The announcement of this year’s tour was made in Venetian, Macao, where United has a shop. Not doing very well though, but I guess the shop is more like an image branding thing. What kind of real fans would run all the way to Macao to buy their stuff?

Why do they all come anyways?  Is it to see the fans or being ambassadors for the EPL?   Or is it just to earn a big fat lump sum?  I guess there are lots of fans out here would love to see their idols or their favorite team. I just wonder how much fanfare contributes to the total revenue stream. Is it significant enough to be compare to revenue coming from unwavering supporters?

Great singers go on tour to strut their stuff.  We pay good money to watch a good movie.  But why are we paying anything to watch big football clubs come over for exhibition matches and kick around the ball against club a quarter of their size.

Man United were asked by the AFC to cancel their last tour 2 years because it clashed with the Asian Cup. There will be huge amount of publicity locally and numerous commitments to sponsors this time around, especially if they win the Premiership title and Europe again.  But I just do hope under the glamorous schedule, there is time to help the domestic football here.

But seriously, what fans here really need is constant communication with the club and players during the season. We don’t get to go to Old Trafford or Anfield. We only get to admire the action from TV. Supporters of various degrees follow the club all year around. There are the setting goals at the beginning of the season, fantasy leagues, late kick-offs, chasing titles, and transfer gossips in the off-season. More importantly, we need daily intake of everything about the club. Now, why can’t the club come direct to us during the season?

I hope the clubs will try something new to regularly CONNECT with their global supporters, since football is a game for the masses.  If they do that, the amounts of revenue generated per season would equal if not surpass the fees they gain from touring.  Not saying touring is all bad. But considering it is only a publicity stunt, it hardly impresses the faithful.  The amount of secondary sponsorships and local joint promotions will attract equalling revenue and desired branding effect.

If they can do that, more will convert and less crtictics will call them cash hungry.