Can you just imagine the revenue the NFL is passing up by not letting corporations sponsor the team jerseys? They already have the stadiums, the televesion contracts, the commercials, the banners at the games, but for some strange reason the uniforms are sacred? Of course I'm ignoring the bigger issue that it's an online gambling joint that was involved in the deal, but the NFL could certainly learn a lot from European Soccer.
By the way, £70 million = $123.1 million
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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=D&xml=/sport/2006/04/04/sfnfro04.xml
Manchester United were last night accused of "double dealing" and of being "unprofessional" as sponsorship talks with online gambling company Mansion dissolved in acrimony.
The Gibraltar-based casino and betting firm believed they were close to tying up a world record £70 million deal to sponsor the club for the next four years.
But, according to Mansion's chief operating officer David Kinsman, negotiations were terminated on Sunday after it became clear United were talking to other potential backers.
"We are not naive businessmen by any stretch of the imagination but this has left us flabbergasted," Kinsman said. "This might be the way Manchester United do business but it does not suit us.
"It was indicated to us that we had done a deal and I flew in from China for a meeting with [marketing director] Andy Anson to that effect. It was something of a surprise, therefore, to be told on Sunday night that United had been negotiating with someone else.
"During the negotiating process we had no idea this kind of double dealing was going on. Manchester United have not acted as we expected. We were very surprised the discussions were terminated in what we consider to be an unprofessional manner."
Kinsman's extraordinary attack will add fuel to the criticism of the way United are run since American tycoon Malcolm Glazer took over last year.
He said he did not once meet with any member of the Glazer family during the discussions and is mystified at their decision to turn down the deal.
In addition to netting United £17.5 million-a-year, there were opportunities for a joint online gambling venture and for United to buy 20 pent cent of Mansion if they floated on the Stock Exchange.
But United's decision to halt talks with Mansion does appear to indicate that the club are close to tying up a deal with a new partner to take over from Vodafone, whose £9 million-a-year deal finishes at the end of this season.
Another mobile phone giant, Nokia, could be the favourites to clinch the deal now, although Etihad Airways have also been linked with the club.
Mansion are not the first company to go public on their failure to reach an agreement. Last month the Korean electronics giant LG revealed they had walked away from a £10 million-a-year deal.
A United spokesman said: "We would understand why anybody would be disappointed at not securing the shirt sponsorship deal for Manchester United.
"We have not and do not enter into periods of exclusive negotiation and every party we have discussed the shirt sponsorship with are aware of that. Our priority is to look for the most appropriate deal for Manchester United.
"We have been having discussions with Mansion, and we are sorry they feel that way and wish them every success in the future."
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Revere14
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By the way, £70 million = $123.1 million
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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=D&xml=/sport/2006/04/04/sfnfro04.xml
Manchester United were last night accused of "double dealing" and of being "unprofessional" as sponsorship talks with online gambling company Mansion dissolved in acrimony.
The Gibraltar-based casino and betting firm believed they were close to tying up a world record £70 million deal to sponsor the club for the next four years.
But, according to Mansion's chief operating officer David Kinsman, negotiations were terminated on Sunday after it became clear United were talking to other potential backers.
"We are not naive businessmen by any stretch of the imagination but this has left us flabbergasted," Kinsman said. "This might be the way Manchester United do business but it does not suit us.
"It was indicated to us that we had done a deal and I flew in from China for a meeting with [marketing director] Andy Anson to that effect. It was something of a surprise, therefore, to be told on Sunday night that United had been negotiating with someone else.
"During the negotiating process we had no idea this kind of double dealing was going on. Manchester United have not acted as we expected. We were very surprised the discussions were terminated in what we consider to be an unprofessional manner."
Kinsman's extraordinary attack will add fuel to the criticism of the way United are run since American tycoon Malcolm Glazer took over last year.
He said he did not once meet with any member of the Glazer family during the discussions and is mystified at their decision to turn down the deal.
In addition to netting United £17.5 million-a-year, there were opportunities for a joint online gambling venture and for United to buy 20 pent cent of Mansion if they floated on the Stock Exchange.
But United's decision to halt talks with Mansion does appear to indicate that the club are close to tying up a deal with a new partner to take over from Vodafone, whose £9 million-a-year deal finishes at the end of this season.
Another mobile phone giant, Nokia, could be the favourites to clinch the deal now, although Etihad Airways have also been linked with the club.
Mansion are not the first company to go public on their failure to reach an agreement. Last month the Korean electronics giant LG revealed they had walked away from a £10 million-a-year deal.
A United spokesman said: "We would understand why anybody would be disappointed at not securing the shirt sponsorship deal for Manchester United.
"We have not and do not enter into periods of exclusive negotiation and every party we have discussed the shirt sponsorship with are aware of that. Our priority is to look for the most appropriate deal for Manchester United.
"We have been having discussions with Mansion, and we are sorry they feel that way and wish them every success in the future."
----------
Revere14
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