Arsenal takeover

[Chang Elephant]

Is this a roundabout way of asking if ive met your mrs? I have, and the outcome was similar.

That's the mother in law

 

[The Esk]

Perhaps Arsenal have read the "fake bid rumour" chapter from Bill's book "what to do when the Board is under pressure"

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Arsenal are a very obvious choice for investment. They have a large, new stadium that generates an insane amount of money each game. As a business they make a profit each year, and are regular participants in the Champions League.

As such, they have an incredibly solid foundation from which extra investment could return them to title contenders.

We have none of that. We have an old stadium that needs replacing, that on match days generates a pittance compared to London clubs. We never make a profit, which coupled with the high wage/turnover ratio doesn't really suggest we're on a sound long-term commercial footing, and whilst we do ok on the field, we haven't been in the CL for years and it would take a good sized investment to turn us into regular title contenders (look at Man City for a benchmark).

Apart from all that though I can't see why they'd want to buy Arsenal over us either. Madness.

 

[arminisgod]

No way that type of money will change hands for them.

Why? The biggest club in England capital. State of the art stadium, huge fan base.

Defo worth that money

 

[sheeds]

Why? The biggest club in England capital. State of the art stadium, huge fan base.

Defo worth that money

I think the figures are on the high side

BBC Journo on radio 5 basically rubbishing the figures and not very convinced on the story

 

[njligernj]

Suspiciously large proposed bids from unnamed middle east "investors" wanting to take over English football clubs are ten a penny, though of course Arsenal would present one of the few sane opportunities for actual investment (ie: putting money in and expecting a return on it) in the Premier League.

Are they going to dump the cost of buying the club onto the club itself Glazer style? If you are spending enough to keep them in the CL mix (or even increasing to be a title contender) it will take a lot of Arsenal's 15-30m profit years to start seeing a profit. If the game is to one day flip the club to a new owner for even more money well there are limited buyers out there who want to spend 2b+.

The "investment" aspect of these deals is questionable at best. I'd much rather buy a cheaper club and build them a new stadium (be it us or someone else) for less money than taking over such an expensive club. Be more fun too. I guess middle eastern royalty don't typically sympathize with underdogs. I bet they are the type of monsters who play Barcelona on footie manager.

 

[The Esk]

Are they going to dump the cost of buying the club onto the club itself Glazer style? If you are spending enough to keep them in the CL mix (or even increasing to be a title contender) it will take a lot of Arsenal's 15-30m profit years to start seeing a profit. If the game is to one day flip the club to a new owner for even more money well there are limited buyers out there who want to spend 2b+.

The "investment" aspect of these deals is questionable at best. I'd much rather buy a cheaper club and build them a new stadium (be it us or someone else) for less money than taking over such an expensive club. Be more fun too. I guess middle eastern royalty don't typically sympathize with underdogs. I bet they are the type of monsters who play Barcelona on footie manager.

This is not a large transaction by wealthy Middle Eastern standards, and in their psychology, trophy assets are the only worthwhile purchases.

 

[pfim]

Unnamed Middle East bidders who promise to invest millions in the club and lower ticket prices. People are so gullible, what a joke.

 

[njligernj]

and in their psychology, trophy assets are the only worthwhile purchases.

True ... which is what I was getting at ... although the City takeover shows some level of flexibility (I know ... I know ... stadium). As I mention in the board thread there isn't anything this board can do about the stadium (as they have proven) but they could make us a more attractive brand (more so to US and other investors who value the "grand old team" history angle more). Probably not even real though so not worth that much hand wringing.