Joined
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9,926 Posts
Its been a common topic over the last few years, the condition of "The
Beautiful Game" and the way t has been developing. And after all of it, the thing it
boils down to is that little word, money....
Football has boomed over the last 4 - 5 years mainly with the advances in
technology and the huge corporate business that is Sky television. When Rupert
Murdoch first unveiled Sky to the masses, I'm almost 100% sure that he didn't
have a clue that it would develop so far that not only would you be able to see
almost all big and small matches live, but also determining the start times and
dates of big matches. Sky's a fantastic source, don't get me wrong, but over the
last few seasons, Sky have pumped millions, and millions and millions into the
Barclays Premier League. The clubs get their share, but the differences between
the first place share is so incredibly vast compared to that of the team that end
up 10th. All of this is like a huge weight falling constantly on the "weaker" teams,
and they simply can't compete with the big worldwide teams, such as Manchester
United and Arsenal.
Another big thing, and I'm sure everyone is well aware of this, but the cost of
going to view your favourite team in action now is actually a big deal almost,
because of the cash you have to fork out to the men at the top, who in turn pay
wages and maintain the club as well as funding their own pockets and off-shore
accounts. Take an average fan living in Manchester who is a One United member
and is interested in going to a League game on a Saturday. He could pay
anything up to £50 for his ticket in and then another £20 on
food/drink/merchandise. Its something that will crash the pocket of many fans.
Another example of this is me. I live in Ireland and don't get across that much, but
when I do, it can cost over €500 after taking tickets, travel, and foo/drink into
account. This is all increasing and season tickets are now under a ridiculous
scheme and the prices ain't dropping either. Just think of the days when you
could walk to a game, pay a tenner at the gate, go in, enjoy the game, and walk
home. Those days are now long gone and its the money men at the top who are
dictating the cash in our hands.
Since there is actually competition off the field, clubs at the top need huge
revenue to deal with costs mainly players wages. These days wages can range
from "as little as" £500 ranging as far as £150,000, and all that in one single
week! Blame the players for accepting it? No...if you were given a huge salary
such as the above, you wouldn't say, no. Its the fact that the millions and millions
around football is destroying the game! Transfer fees are at incredible heights!
Some reports have claimed that Real Madrid are prepared to pay, a whopping,
£/€100,000,000 for Manchester United's, Cristiano Ronaldo, along with meeting
his wage bill which is no small sum. This raises the bar and I fear that in years to
come the little boys will all be gone and the big boys will be battling, not i football
terms, but in money terms. Football is a fantastic game to 99.9% of people in this
world, but the 0.1% of them find it a business, a quick way to suck money out of
the good and keep for their own wants. And who is it that suffers? Us.
People have lost interest, given up, can't afford to pay the demands of clubs
ticket prices and such and its driving these once committed fans away that is
destroying the modern game. Unfortunately, I can't see this all changing for the
better, but getting worse and worse until only the executives can attend games
and them clubs complain about the lack of atmosphere! Its a vicious cycle that the
big clubs are in, and they can't get out of it.
What do you think of the money factor in football and is it destroying the game?
Beautiful Game" and the way t has been developing. And after all of it, the thing it
boils down to is that little word, money....
Football has boomed over the last 4 - 5 years mainly with the advances in
technology and the huge corporate business that is Sky television. When Rupert
Murdoch first unveiled Sky to the masses, I'm almost 100% sure that he didn't
have a clue that it would develop so far that not only would you be able to see
almost all big and small matches live, but also determining the start times and
dates of big matches. Sky's a fantastic source, don't get me wrong, but over the
last few seasons, Sky have pumped millions, and millions and millions into the
Barclays Premier League. The clubs get their share, but the differences between
the first place share is so incredibly vast compared to that of the team that end
up 10th. All of this is like a huge weight falling constantly on the "weaker" teams,
and they simply can't compete with the big worldwide teams, such as Manchester
United and Arsenal.
Another big thing, and I'm sure everyone is well aware of this, but the cost of
going to view your favourite team in action now is actually a big deal almost,
because of the cash you have to fork out to the men at the top, who in turn pay
wages and maintain the club as well as funding their own pockets and off-shore
accounts. Take an average fan living in Manchester who is a One United member
and is interested in going to a League game on a Saturday. He could pay
anything up to £50 for his ticket in and then another £20 on
food/drink/merchandise. Its something that will crash the pocket of many fans.
Another example of this is me. I live in Ireland and don't get across that much, but
when I do, it can cost over €500 after taking tickets, travel, and foo/drink into
account. This is all increasing and season tickets are now under a ridiculous
scheme and the prices ain't dropping either. Just think of the days when you
could walk to a game, pay a tenner at the gate, go in, enjoy the game, and walk
home. Those days are now long gone and its the money men at the top who are
dictating the cash in our hands.
Since there is actually competition off the field, clubs at the top need huge
revenue to deal with costs mainly players wages. These days wages can range
from "as little as" £500 ranging as far as £150,000, and all that in one single
week! Blame the players for accepting it? No...if you were given a huge salary
such as the above, you wouldn't say, no. Its the fact that the millions and millions
around football is destroying the game! Transfer fees are at incredible heights!
Some reports have claimed that Real Madrid are prepared to pay, a whopping,
£/€100,000,000 for Manchester United's, Cristiano Ronaldo, along with meeting
his wage bill which is no small sum. This raises the bar and I fear that in years to
come the little boys will all be gone and the big boys will be battling, not i football
terms, but in money terms. Football is a fantastic game to 99.9% of people in this
world, but the 0.1% of them find it a business, a quick way to suck money out of
the good and keep for their own wants. And who is it that suffers? Us.
People have lost interest, given up, can't afford to pay the demands of clubs
ticket prices and such and its driving these once committed fans away that is
destroying the modern game. Unfortunately, I can't see this all changing for the
better, but getting worse and worse until only the executives can attend games
and them clubs complain about the lack of atmosphere! Its a vicious cycle that the
big clubs are in, and they can't get out of it.
What do you think of the money factor in football and is it destroying the game?