SINGAPORE: English Premier League club Arsenal wants to have
deep and long term commitment in Asia through the promotion and
transfer of soccer skills.
But it also hopes to score through commercial ventures like retail
stores and even selling property, says the club's managing director
Keith Edelman.
The English Premier League trophy was displayed in Singapore
recently as part of the initiative between Arsenal and Tiger Beer
to bring the action closer to fans.
And Arsenal, which claims to have some eight million fans in Asia,
wants to be more involved in the region, one of its important
growth markets.
It wants to adopt a long term rather than a personality-driven
business strategy.
"We are much more interested into getting into the grassroots
support and developing from there upwards rather than bringing in
big names," said Mr Edelman while on a stopover in Singapore.
This includes technology transfer through soccer schools.
But there'll still be some commercial ventures, like setting up
stores in Asia.
And, Arsenal is even planning to market 700 flats in Singapore,
come September 2005.
"They will be in the old and existing stadium Highbury, and they
will be outstanding flats in what will be a historic building,"
said Mr Edelman.
The latest development is part of the new stadium which is under
construction.
It is three months ahead of schedule and due for the 2006 season. -
CNA