Table of Contents

• Struggle to find TV deal leaves French football cl …

• Lessons from Spain’s performance at Euro 2024: Ins …

• Top Tickers

• ‘Even Jordan doesn’t have his face on a sneaker’: …

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Struggle to find TV deal leaves French football clubs fearing bankruptcy

League president Vincent Labrune predicted broadcast revenues of €1bn a season but reality has proved different

French football is at a critical juncture. Ligue 1 clubs are on the brink of financial collapse due to a failed TV rights negotiation. Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) president Vincent Labrune had promised broadcast revenues of €1bn per season, but reality has fallen short.

Key points:

• Major Broadcast Partners Withdraw: Canal+, Amazon, and beIN have all ruled out making offers, leaving Ligue 1 scrambling for alternatives.

• Financial Turmoil for Clubs: Many clubs are heavily reliant on broadcast revenue. The uncertainty has led to halted transfer plans and difficulties in securing bank loans.

• Potential Solutions on the Table: Options include a €2bn deal with DAZN (over a five-year period but with the annual payments), dependent on subscription targets, or launching a dedicated channel with Warner Bros Discovery (deal worth €600m annually). Both come with significant risks and challenges.

Ivan Blum, a former French TV rights executive who works in sponsorship and marketing, says: “I think Labrune’s major mistake was to overstate the value of the rights. He thought we could get a deal like they do in Spain, Germany or Italy but we don’t have the same number of subscribers. We don’t have this culture of football on TV.”

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Lessons from Spain’s performance at Euro 2024: Insights for the business world

How Spain’s dominant performance at Euro 2024 under coach Luis de la Fuente can be applied to the business world, teams and organizations to succeed as a group of individuals

Okay, England vs Spain in the final. Anything is possible. Final, after all. Overall, however, I was more impressed by the performance of the Spanish team than the English. For me, the lessons from Spain's dominant performance at Euro 2024 that I believe can be applied in business are the following:

1. Foster a Community Spirit: Spain's squad was a tight-knit family, emphasizing unity. Cultivate a strong organizational culture where every team member feels valued. This boosts morale, reduces turnover, and enhances productivity.

2. Embrace Calculated Risks: Spain’s bold strategies, like Lamine Yamal's record-breaking goal, highlight the importance of calculated risks. Encourage experimentation and innovation in your company to drive growth.

3. Seize Opportunities Bravely: Just as Spain capitalized on key moments, businesses should act swiftly on market opportunities. Invest in new ventures, expand into new markets, or adopt innovative technologies to stay ahead.

4. Prioritize Efficiency: Spain maximized possession with strategic play. Similarly, streamline business processes, reduce waste, and optimize resource allocation to deliver greater value efficiently.

5. Maintain Clear Structure: Spain's clear tactical structure was key to their victory. Ensure your business has a well-defined organizational structure and clear roles to facilitate smooth operations.

Number 6 to 9 are: Make Strategic Decisions, Stay Goal-Focused, Be Prepared for the Unexpected, and Keep Composure Under Pressure. So, let’s see how they will perform in Sunday’s final…

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‘Even Jordan doesn’t have his face on a sneaker’: How Stan Smith became both a tennis and fashion icon

From court to culture: The evolution of Stan Smith

It’s rare for somebody to be talented and charismatic enough to become an icon in one field. It is rarer still for somebody to become an icon in two. As sports journalist Cari Champion notes in the documentary ‘Who is Stan Smith?’, which explores the remarkable life of the two-time grand slam champion, activist and style icon: “He has his face on a sneaker. Even Jordan doesn’t have his face on a sneaker.”

“So there’s something of Stan’s personality that’s imbued in the shoe. It’s understated. It’s elegant. It’s stately. And I think that’s why it works.” In the mid to late 1970s, it became increasingly common to see people wearing sneakers casually, outside of the gym and integrating them into their individual outfits.

The rise in popularity of the Stan Smith sneaker coincided with a slump towards the end of his tennis career and it began permeating a wide array of cultures in the UK and US. Young soccer fans began wearing them on the terraces in the UK, partly inspired by David Bowie donning the sneaker in the late ‘70s.

Then came its impact on hip-hop culture, led largely by the Beastie Boys and RUN-D.M.C.’s world tour in the late 1980s and the release of the single ‘My Adidas.’

“Every community embraced that shoe,” Pharrell Williams says in the documentary—“Hustlers, drug dealers.”

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Then in today's edition I would like to point out our current podcast episode. Fatih Enginar, former water polo player, now a successful entrepreneur in the sports business world, was a guest of our host and former Ghanaian national player Hans Sarpei. Fatih, who is behind Basketball 3x3 St. Pauli, among other things, shared some valuable wisdom from his grandfather, also against the backdrop of the ever-increasing isolation, often associated with hatred and rejection.

So, Grandpa Fatih gave his grandson this advice: If you really want to, eat your bread alone. However, it will never taste as good on its own as it does when you share it with other people in a social gathering…

Feel free to share your bread with whoever you want, listen to our podcast (in German) and enjoy the rest of the day as much as possible!

Irg

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