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Weekly Brief - 2008-01-25

The Weely Brief,  highlighting recent soccer industry stories from around the World is provided to San Francisco Seals Fans courtesy of  FMMInternational See below for more information regarding FMMInternational.

Current and past issues of the Weekly Brief can be found in our News/Information section under the "Weekly Brief Archives".

* Americas *                                                  January 25, 2008

DC United Still Searching for Stadium
With negotiations to build a stadium for DC United in Washington stalled, the Maryland Stadium Authority has decided to spend $75,000 on a feasibility study to look at the economic impact and potential tax benefits of constructing a home for the soccer team in Prince George's County. Source: The Washington Post

MLS Postpones Decision on Naming New Franchise
MLS announced that it has again pushed back the timetable for naming its 16th expansion team, presumed to be either St Louis or Philadelphia, to as late as March 1st. Source: STLtoday.com

Chicago Secure Shirt Sponsor
The Chicago Fire announced that the international electronics retail chain Best Buy will pay between $2.5 million and $4 million per season for sponsorship rights on its jerseys. Some experts are now claiming that the revenue MLS is generating from such sponsorships will lead the major American sports leagues to follow suit. “Only time will tell if this works, but we'll know in the next few years if this is something other sports will look at” said Marc Ganis, president of Sportscorp Ltd., a Chicago-based sports consultancy firm. “But MLS could prove to be a fairly safe test market for American sports.” Source: the Chicago Sun-Times

McClaren Claims MLS Hurting Beckham Game
Former England manager Steve McClaren claimed that the low standard of play in MLS is damaging David Beckham’s international career, “David has gone from Real Madrid to a club in America where the sport is still at its beginnings. The MLS is developing but it’s not of the standard required for international football. I know David will keep himself fit, but it’s going to be very difficult for him to continue playing for England.” Meanwhile, the LA Galaxy will play a friendly match against FC Seoul in March 1st and Chinese 2nd division side East Asia in Shanghai on March 5, though Beckham’s participation will be limited to no ore than 45 minutes, if he plays at all. Source: Goal.com; Soccernet

USL Awards Franchise to Austin
The USL announced that Austin, Texas will be home to a USL First Division soccer franchise beginning in the 2009 season and that the Austin Aztex will be affiliated with English Championship side Stoke City FC. Source: Soccernet

Top USL Youths Will Train in England
The USL announced that 12 elite-level Super Y-League players from their 2008 Olympic Development Program will train with the Academy of West Ham United for10 ten days, with 10 outfield players and 2 goalkeepers will train within their corresponding West Ham Academy age group and attend EPL matches. Source: USLsoccer.com

American Tentatively Agrees to Purchase Troubled Irish Club
Irish-American businessman Jack MCarthy has agreed ‘in principal’ to take over Limerick 37 and thus save the fledgling Eircom League club from financial ruin. The takeover is expected to take place before the club accounts go before the FAI's First Instance Committee, which will deliberate on Limerick 37's application to participate in the Eircom League in early February. Source: Limerick Leader 

* Europe *

FIFA and UEFA Reach $250m Agreement with Clubs
Football clubs will receive $250m from FIFA and UEFA for letting their players appear in the final stages of the next European Championships and World Cup. Beginning with Euro 2008, UEFA pay clubs $3,800 for each day a player is involved in the latter stages, and the money will be shared among any clubs a player has been with in the 2 years prior to the tournament. Source: Soccenet

Liverpool Stadium Deal Finalized
Liverpool finally completed their $685m refinancing deal and revealed the latest design for their new 71,000 capacity stadium, scheduled to open for the 2011-12 season. A statement from Kop Football Holdings (Ltd), the American duo's holding company, confirmed that of the refinancing package, $210m will be debt tied to the club. Of that, $90m will be used for future player transfers and to meet the club's working capital needs, while $120m will provide the start-up money for the new ground. The package is expected to help Tom Hicks and George Gillett repay money borrowed for their $435m takeover in March 2007. Source: BBC

United Boss Defends Saudi Arabia Trip
Manchester United’s CEO David Gill defended the club’s decision to travel to Saudi Arabia for a lucrative mid-season match right after last weekend’s EPL encounter with Reading: “People don’t understand how the decisions are taken at Manchester United. We understand, quite rightly, that what happens on the pitch is the main driver of all our success, so we never make any decision that, in our opinion, will harm the push for honours.” Source: The Times

Colchester Stadium to Be Sold, Cardiff Stadium on Schedule
With Colchester set to move into the 10,000-capacity Colchester Community Stadium by next season, the local Council have confirmed that the current Layer Road ground is set to be put up for sale, and that it will be replaced a residential community. And although there were fears that court action taken against Cardiff City by the Langston Corporation might cause delays or cancellation, the Bluebirds claim their new stadium will be ready by the start of the 2009/10 season. Source: BBC

Fans’ Website Approves Club Takeover
Members of fans' website MyFootballClub.co.uk have approved the takeover of Blue Square Premier side Ebbsfleet United, with more than 18,000 members, out of a possible 27,000, casting their votes on the $1.25m takeover and 95.8% deciding on the purchase of the Kent club. Source: BBC 

* Rest of the World *

Board Will Discuss Future after New Zealand Football Reports Huge Losses
New Zealand football's 7 regional confederations agreed not to comment publicly until at least after an upcoming board meeting the end of the month on the fact that the national governing body, New Zealand Football, is about to record a $650,000 loss for the 2007 year. Source: TVNZ.co.nz
 * The Weekly Brief is published every Friday and delivered free via e-mail to registered users.
* FMMInternational is a London-based soccer consultancy with offices in New York and Beijing. For more information about our business, click here
* Interested in using the Weekly Brief for Press/Media Releases, then please contact us via info@fmminternational
* The information contained herein is believed to be correct, but should not be relied upon as such. All financial figures should be seen as indicative only as they may have been converted from another currency.