G14 to expand

KdjaCL

G14 looks set to expand
Wednesday, 16 May 2007 20:50

The G14 group of elite European clubs is set for major expansion after Lyon chief Jean-Michel Aulas was elected as its president.

The organisation was launched with 14 members in 2000, took on four new clubs in 2002, and will now consider inviting a further 16 teams to come on board.

G14 exists to provide Europe's most powerful clubs with an official voice at the highest level of the game, and it is understood the majority of clubs who would be asked to join would come from outside the traditional strongholds.

While clubs from England, Spain, Italy and Germany could benefit, G14 chiefs are determined to broaden the range of clubs in the organisation, which could see the likes of Celtic and Rangers push for inclusion, together with Russian, Turkish, Greek and Scandinavian outfits.

Aulas, who believes the organisation is capable of having a greater influence than it presently does, said in Glasgow this evening: 'We looked at the principle of expanding the G14 and I was only prepared to become the new president if everyone was in agreement.

'The principle was accepted unanimously and it will be discussed by a management committee in the coming weeks and months. We looked at the G14 and want it to expand geographically and be strengthened by other clubs.

'We want to ensure wider responsibility and carry on discussions with the four main bodies, in no particular order, FIFA, UEFA, FIFPro and the European Commission.

'We will work on a whole range of proposals to be able to strengthen areas and protect clubs' interests. We are big clubs and we are just like any other economic activity. We need to battle for our members.

'We need to be a body that is more proactive and makes more proposals.'

http://www.rte.ie/sport/2007/0516/g14.html

More clubs in it means more power to them, Chelsea still wont get in tho


kdjac

PHB

Chelsea sitll won't get in, I find that very funny

leninbenjamin

why is it still called the G14 when there's like 18 members in it...

astrofool

So they don't set the precedent of having to rename themselves every time a new member joins.

A Dub in Glasgo

leninbenjamin wrote:

why is it still called the G14 when there's like 18 members in it...

Probably the same reason UEFA call their cup competition 'The Champions League'

Jonny Arson

That European Super Duper League we all know the G14 want to set up is getting closer and closer if these new 16 members come on board

this is not good news for small clubs and small footballing nations

Chucky the tree

Jonny Arson wrote:

That European Super Duper League we all know the G14 want to set up is getting closer and closer if these new 16 members come on board

this is not good news for small clubs and small footballing nations

That will never happen.

redspider

If the G14 expands from 18 clubs to 34, it could increase the likelihood of a 'European Super League' under their contol, or at least give G14/G34 a greater influence in affairs. I think the latter aspect is the main point behind the idea of this expansion idea.

So far, the G14 clubs have shown a willingness to work with Uefa although Uefa are keeping a close eye and are favouring the big clubs (eg: CL money is not divided equally among participants, but is instead a 'complex' formula). But it could at some point lead to a power stuggle (ala the english league) and lead to fragmentation and new deals. Such is the way of sport in the modern era with so much money (fans/viewers money!) at stake.

G14 have been quiet in recent years so who know's whats around the corner, and new owners at Liverpool and Man Utd may see a change in the previous approach.

Redspider

KdjaCL

redspider wrote:

G14 have been quiet in recent years so who know's whats around the corner, and new owners at Liverpool and Man Utd may see a change in the previous approach.

Redspider

They are awaiting the verdict in their case vs FIFA over compensation for plays on international duty.


kdjac

RE*AC*TOR

Despite supporting a G14 team, i think the whole ethos of the G14 is detrimental to football. A European super league would marginalise so many teams.

r3nu4l

The major problem of course is the fact that all the advertising revenue as well as ticket gate sales would go to the new league resulting in national leagues being hit twice. Smaller clubs get big boosts in ticket sales when they are playing the big boys and that would be lost if big teams abandoned their national leagues in favour of a super-league.

As a result, I can't see a super-league happening.

ciaran76

I remember reading recently that Bayern Munich wanted out of this group as they said something along the lines of that this group were only after their own interests and not helping the smaller clubs.

Could be wrong but I am sure I read it somewhere.

Fratton Fred

Jonny Arson wrote:

That European Super Duper League we all know the G14 want to set up is getting closer and closer if these new 16 members come on board

this is not good news for small clubs and small footballing nations

Which is why they want Celtic and Rangers, so they can sell the TV rights to the old firm matches.

Celtic in particular draw massive world wide audiences, so if they can include them, they have a more attractive TV package to sell.

PHB

If the G14 wanted a super league, they would have had it by now.

A large part of the season they havn't made one is because in general the fans don't want one.

Fratton Fred

PHB wrote:

If the G14 wanted a super league, they would have had it by now.

A large part of the season they havn't made one is because in general the fans don't want one.

and the G14 care about that because......;)

redspider

> If the G14 wanted a super league, they would have had it by now.

Well, the G14 members did get what they wanted with the expansion of the CL (more qualifiers from each major league) and the divvying up of the TV money rights in their favour. For example, when Liverpool play Lille, Liverpool get more of the TV money than Lille do, and so on it goes for the major clubs and leagues. The CL is the european super competition that the G14 wanted, albeit it is still under contol by Uefa, but it has a lot of elements of what the G14 wanted and they have a major influence.

Its a negotiated situation and a power/contol struggle. The G14 clubs may or may not form a breakaway competition at some point. If they have 34 members, they will have a stronger power base for doing so. Uefa wont want to relinquish their control so it will depend on how they appease the financial desires of the larger clubs involved.

Its all about money.

Redspider

PHB

and the G14 care about that because......

Fans = money

Fratton Fred

PHB wrote:

Fans = money

I know, but clubs tend to worry more about sky tv than they do the interests of their fans. The bigger clubs anyway.

PHB

I know, but clubs tend to worry more about sky tv than they do the interests of their fans. The bigger clubs anyway.

They give that impression, but United are only as big as they are because they fill 70k week in week out. The hardcore fans give them a lot of money aswell.

Fratton Fred

PHB wrote:

They give that impression, but United are only as big as they are because they fill 70k week in week out. The hardcore fans give them a lot of money aswell.

They do indeed, but if those 70,000 didn't turn up, there would be another 70,000 waiting to take their place. There were major protests abut the Glaziers taking over, but that is all history now. I don't see any empty seats at Old Trafford.

I'm not singling out Untied here, I just think if the big clubs wanted a super league they would'nt be too worried about the fans. If they could get £3m for selling the tv rights against Barcelona, they could afford to play it in front of an emtpy ground, Which is never going to hapen anyway.

PHB

They do indeed, but if those 70,000 didn't turn up, there would be another 70,000 waiting to take their place.

That's just flatly untrue.

If they could get £3m for selling the tv rights against Barcelona, hey could afford to play it in front of an emtpy ground

Could they get 3 million though? The stadium ensures that you get 50 * 70000 = 3.5 million every week, ensured.

therecklessone

PHB wrote:

That's just flatly untrue.

Is it?

Utd are one of only two PL sides to announce ticket price increases for next season (Spurs are the other)...why? Because of the simple laws of supply and demand. That suggests that there is more than enough demand at Old Trafford to replace stay aways in the event of a move to a European league.

Not so long ago this board discussed the merits of the current CL, the majority were in favour of a competition featuring the best sides in Europe rather than the individual champions of the continent. How difficult would it be to market 19 home games against Barcelona, Inter, Real, Lyon, Milan, and the best that the English game has to offer? In place of Wigan and Fulham? Piece of piss IMO.

An expansion of G14 to include sides from the 2nd tier of European associations brings a Euro league closer IMO, the only way clubs such as the Old Firm have of cornering revenue is to compete in more attractive competitions, attracting more TV and sponsorship revenue, i.e. pan-European tournaments rather than domestic leagues. Why else has the Old Firm been toying with the idea of entry into the PL?

PHB

Is it?

Utd are one of only two PL sides to announce ticket price increases for next season (Spurs are the other)...why? Because of the simple laws of supply and demand. That suggests that there is more than enough demand at Old Trafford to replace stay aways in the event of a move to a European league.

Indeed, but, that doesn't mean there is another 70k waiting. At most the waiting list in 10k, and that's from the highest official estimates, it's probably lower.

leninbenjamin

therecklessone wrote:

Is it?

Utd are one of only two PL sides to announce ticket price increases for next season (Spurs are the other)...why? Because of the simple laws of supply and demand. That suggests that there is more than enough demand at Old Trafford to replace stay aways in the event of a move to a European league.

its not just simple supply and demand, it's also due to their monopoly power. there's only one Man Utd. if they raise prices, unlike most markets, fans aren't gonna start supporting another team who has lower prices. they are effectively exploiting fan loyalty.

therecklessone

leninbenjamin wrote:

its not just simple supply and demand, it's also due to their monopoly power. there's only one Man Utd. if they raise prices, unlike most markets, fans aren't gonna start supporting another team who has lower prices. they are effectively exploiting fan loyalty.

People continue to claim that on Spurs message boards as well. I think its bull to be honest. Supporting a team does not have to include regularly attending games, if it did then Utd would be restricted to 70k fans...instead of the couple of million who do support them.

Clubs like Bolton/Blackburn/Wigan/Boro who've suffered lower attendances for various reasons have found lowering prices does increase bums on seats. That suggests that the more you charge, the less you'll get through the gates. Breaking point varies for each club...

therecklessone

PHB wrote:

Indeed, but, that doesn't mean there is another 70k waiting. At most the waiting list in 10k, and that's from the highest official estimates, it's probably lower.

And is the length of the waiting list affected by the chances of actually securing a ticket? Remember, Utd have increased capacity by roughly 70% since the stadium went all seater post-Taylor.

Demand is elastic, if seats remain empty clubs lower prices and increase bums on seats. Assuming that Old Trafford would remain half empty for a Euro league based on current conditions is flawed logic IMO.

PHB

Assuming that Old Trafford would remain half empty for a Euro league based on current conditions is flawed logic IMO.

I think they'd lose a lot of customers, and a lot of them would start supporting different English clubs. There has been a huge rebellion against corportism in general, perhaps best shown by about 2500 United fans leaving and becoming strong fans of FC United. That was just because the Glaziers took over. A European Super League would send ripples throughout English football, and there would be a large rebellion against it.

Either way, it won't happen, so it's all academic.