Chris Heck - President of Business Operations

[Hookeysmith]

I remember the red filth buying a kid from China (i think his name was Dong) he played once IIRC in a low key League cup game and was then loaned out to Antwerp.
He was that poor Red filth were actually refunded the transfer fee.

Reported that they sold over a million shirts in China - it may be exploitation but i think football teams have long fell off the moral high ground.

[Duncan Shaw]

We were in New York for a long weekend at the start of July and walking around, I saw that City have their own store (maybe on 5th Ave, certainly close) and I said to my wife - this is what we are up against, this is the level of exposure and marketing we need to get to (she was obviously not interested in the slightest and somewhat bemused!)  City are huge there now, but this is a good start, credit where it is due!

[ChicagoLion]

We were in New York for a long weekend at the start of July and walking around, I saw that City have their own store (maybe on 5th Ave, certainly close) and I said to my wife - this is what we are up against, this is the level of exposure and marketing we need to get to (she was obviously not interested in the slightest and somewhat bemused!)  City are huge there now, but this is a good start, credit where it is due!

They have only just opened that shop, so no one will know if its commercially viable or even reflects great support for Citeh in the States.
I would suggest its just another part of the hugely expensive money no object sports washing propaganda machine.
Citeh are not huge there now (compared to Real Madrid, Celtic, Barcelona Manure, Liverpool etc) but they would like everyone to think they are.
 

[Duncan Shaw]

 

We were in New York for a long weekend at the start of July and walking around, I saw that City have their own store (maybe on 5th Ave, certainly close) and I said to my wife - this is what we are up against, this is the level of exposure and marketing we need to get to (she was obviously not interested in the slightest and somewhat bemused!)  City are huge there now, but this is a good start, credit where it is due!

They have only just opened that shop, so no one will know if its commercially viable or even reflects great support for Citeh in the States.
I would suggest its just another part of the hugely expensive money no object sports washing propaganda machine.
Citeh are not huge there now (compared to Real Madrid, Celtic, Barcelona Manure, Liverpool etc) but they would like everyone to think they are.
 

That's good to know! We were only there briefly, and I saw lots of shirts and the shop was very in my face, and then saw some footage of their tour there, so assumed a big following. But anyway - we still need to apsire to being huge there 

[Drummond]

It's part of the City empire though. They are in so many countries, with fingers in so many pies it's scary.

I listed to The Rest is Football podcast earlier, and they highlighted the number of deals that City have done between their own clubs over the last few years; this is what we're up against and trying to replicate.

[ChicagoLion]

It's part of the City empire though. They are in so many countries, with fingers in so many pies it's scary.

I listed to The Rest is Football podcast earlier, and they highlighted the number of deals that City have done between their own clubs over the last few years; this is what we're up against and trying to replicate.

They have limitless amounts of money, only other Oil States can compete at that level. They are trying to buy status and give the appearance of a huge global fan base in a fake it until you make it play.
I saw an article saying their Brand value is significantly greater than Liverpool or Manure, despite the fact that they have no where near the same amount of fans. I wonder who sponsored the article. I do not think we are trying to replicate because we will always have a commercial imperative, which is not the case with Citeh its much more cynical than that..

[Drummond]

Yep, agree with that.

[john e]

something thats always confused me when it’s quoted about millions of shirt sales abroad

Why would say a Chinese person buy an official football club shirt when there are so many good quality fakes over there for next to nothing,
They are probably all made on china anyway, I doubt any of them are buying a football shirt where any of the money goes to the actual club

[kippaxvilla2]

I’m reliably informed the areas around the Wilton Lane stand remain largely a building site and hospitality will be lucky to be available for the first home game.

[pelty]

It's part of the City empire though. They are in so many countries, with fingers in so many pies it's scary.

I listed to The Rest is Football podcast earlier, and they highlighted the number of deals that City have done between their own clubs over the last few years; this is what we're up against and trying to replicate.

They have limitless amounts of money, only other Oil States can compete at that level. They are trying to buy status and give the appearance of a huge global fan base in a fake it until you make it play.
I saw an article saying their Brand value is significantly greater than Liverpool or Manure, despite the fact that they have no where near the same amount of fans. I wonder who sponsored the article. I do not think we are trying to replicate because we will always have a commercial imperative, which is not the case with Citeh its much more cynical than that..

To all of this, I would argue that City are a pretty big brand over here. Not to the level of the more established clubs, maybe, but I see people in their kits quite a bit (when I actually see people in kits which is not all that often). It is all anecdotal, of course, but I see them roughly the same amount as those other clubs with the exception of RM. Let's face it, by the time the Premier League began to make inroads in the US and be easily available, City were on the up, so many in the US saw a club "fully-formed" or close to it. The thing missing at that time was a huge star the likes of Beckham, Ronaldo, etc., but now with Haaland (who is a limited footballer, but is striking in a couple senses of the word) there is a real "face of the franchise" (to use an Americanism). The Aguero goal was in 2012 after all, so as America began to really start to pay attention, City were champions.

[Ads]

something thats always confused me when it’s quoted about millions of shirt sales abroad

Why would say a Chinese person buy an official football club shirt when there are so many good quality fakes over there for next to nothing,
They are probably all made on china anyway, I doubt any of them are buying a football shirt where any of the money goes to the actual club

Prestige for the middle classes. Same reason they flock to Bicester.

[astonvilla82]

I’m reliably informed the areas around the Wilton Lane stand remain largely a building site and hospitality will be lucky to be available for the first home game.

Was down collecting a shirt last week and was told all the hospitality boxes were being gutted,so that's gives them three weeks for completion

[Gareth]

I’m reliably informed the areas around the Wilton Lane stand remain largely a building site and hospitality will be lucky to be available for the first home game.

Hopefully they’ve got portaloos….will be an upgrade on the normal matchday bogs in Witton Upper…check could charge us Bog+ prices

[Percy McCarthy]

Somebody I know reckons the 150 lounge is all finished.

[Walmley_Villa]

A Villa ST holder relative works for City Football Group. What the average fan does not understand is they are run as a global business and invest heavily in venture capital etc. this is not Doug’s way of running football clubs anymore. The reason Pep has hung around is that he runs the football side with his people in place. They buy clubs around the world to have a network. Any of this sound familiar with how Villa are now run? CFG have a London office, what have we just opened?