Clubs eye $20m Asia jackpot
By David Davutovic
February 17, 2008
ASIAN football heavyweights are set to unveil an enhanced Champions League blueprint in the first phase of a bold vision to compete with Europe's top leagues.
The stakes have consequently been raised for the A-League preliminary final between Newcastle Jets and Queensland Roar, with the winner gaining entry into the 2009 Champions League, where the tournament budget will be raised to $20 million.
That pool will signify an increase of more than 100 per cent from the current format and, while the funds have not yet been allocated, it will undoubtedly prove a financial boon for A-League clubs. Increased TV revenue will also ensure a more lucrative competition in years to come, although that may not come into play until 2012.
Clare Kenny Tipton, the Asian Football Confederation director of marketing and communications and assistant general secretary, said grand plans were afoot for the 2009 competition.
"We want to commercialise it so we can compete with European football," Kenny Tipton said.
"We want to create the environment where the best players in the region remain here and play because the money is on par with what is on offer in Europe.
"While it's not the definitive model, 2009 will be a big step forward. It may be 10 to 20 years before we see the ideal format.
"There will be more prizemoney, a new format that will be more competitive and the plan is to make it more beneficial for all the clubs."
Central Coast have already qualified for Asia as the A-League minor premiers, while the other spot will go to their grand final opponents, the Jets or the Roar.
A competition overhaul will be discussed at a meeting in Kuala Lumpur in May. Football Federation Australia chief executive Ben Buckley, who will attend the meeting, said the A-League had a "very good case" for additional Champions League spots.
"With more prizemoney, particularly at an earlier stage in the tournament, it would substantially cover the costs and lead to a surplus," Buckley said.
"More importantly, the corporate world is more in tune with what the Champions League can deliver, so sponsorship is more accessible."
The AFC Professional Leagues Committee will sanction stricter qualification guidelines, aimed at advantaging more professional leagues such as the A-League, J-League of Japan and K-League in Korea.
While every club gets a travel subsidy, currently only the winner earns prizemoney ($660,000).
Sydney FC, who qualified for last season's tournament as winners of the inaugural A-League season, did not capitalise on the opportunity. If they had their time again, club officials believe they would stand to make a profit of at least $500,000.
Sydney were narrowly pipped in their group by eventual champions Urawa Red Diamonds.
"We want the clubs to make money," Kenny Tipton said.
"It's also up to the clubs to really embrace and exploit the Champions League commercially. Urawa Reds want to be the Manchester United of Asia, not only performance-wise but in terms of their whole commercial operations.
"We want all clubs in Asia to have that ambition.
"There is no doubt Urawa elevated themselves higher via the Champions League.
"As soon as they qualified, they signed sponsors, they had an exclusive Champions League shirt sponsor and they doubled their shirt sales."
By David Davutovic
February 17, 2008
ASIAN football heavyweights are set to unveil an enhanced Champions League blueprint in the first phase of a bold vision to compete with Europe's top leagues.
The stakes have consequently been raised for the A-League preliminary final between Newcastle Jets and Queensland Roar, with the winner gaining entry into the 2009 Champions League, where the tournament budget will be raised to $20 million.
That pool will signify an increase of more than 100 per cent from the current format and, while the funds have not yet been allocated, it will undoubtedly prove a financial boon for A-League clubs. Increased TV revenue will also ensure a more lucrative competition in years to come, although that may not come into play until 2012.
Clare Kenny Tipton, the Asian Football Confederation director of marketing and communications and assistant general secretary, said grand plans were afoot for the 2009 competition.
"We want to commercialise it so we can compete with European football," Kenny Tipton said.
"We want to create the environment where the best players in the region remain here and play because the money is on par with what is on offer in Europe.
"While it's not the definitive model, 2009 will be a big step forward. It may be 10 to 20 years before we see the ideal format.
"There will be more prizemoney, a new format that will be more competitive and the plan is to make it more beneficial for all the clubs."
Central Coast have already qualified for Asia as the A-League minor premiers, while the other spot will go to their grand final opponents, the Jets or the Roar.
A competition overhaul will be discussed at a meeting in Kuala Lumpur in May. Football Federation Australia chief executive Ben Buckley, who will attend the meeting, said the A-League had a "very good case" for additional Champions League spots.
"With more prizemoney, particularly at an earlier stage in the tournament, it would substantially cover the costs and lead to a surplus," Buckley said.
"More importantly, the corporate world is more in tune with what the Champions League can deliver, so sponsorship is more accessible."
The AFC Professional Leagues Committee will sanction stricter qualification guidelines, aimed at advantaging more professional leagues such as the A-League, J-League of Japan and K-League in Korea.
While every club gets a travel subsidy, currently only the winner earns prizemoney ($660,000).
Sydney FC, who qualified for last season's tournament as winners of the inaugural A-League season, did not capitalise on the opportunity. If they had their time again, club officials believe they would stand to make a profit of at least $500,000.
Sydney were narrowly pipped in their group by eventual champions Urawa Red Diamonds.
"We want the clubs to make money," Kenny Tipton said.
"It's also up to the clubs to really embrace and exploit the Champions League commercially. Urawa Reds want to be the Manchester United of Asia, not only performance-wise but in terms of their whole commercial operations.
"We want all clubs in Asia to have that ambition.
"There is no doubt Urawa elevated themselves higher via the Champions League.
"As soon as they qualified, they signed sponsors, they had an exclusive Champions League shirt sponsor and they doubled their shirt sales."
