Leeds United to follow Liverpool approach with £10m windfall on cards at Elland Road
Leeds United could reap up to £10million per season thanks to their deal with Red Bull as they follow a similar approach to Liverpool, according to Kieran Maguire.
The football finance expert, speaking to TBR Football [11 July], says the partnership deal – branded as comfortably the most lucrative in Championship history – could earn Leeds an eight-figure sum per season in the Premier League thanks to marketing via the global conglomerate.
Promotion to the top flight in the upcoming season would bolster the figure to a maximum, as Leeds go down a similar route to Liverpool in their partnership with Nike, amalgamating with brand figures such as LeBron James.
“Having links with other markets and products is likely to be a step forwards for Leeds commercially,” Maguire said.
“We have seen Liverpool take a similar approach with Nike and their relationship with their ambassadors, the likes of LeBron James and so on.
“Therefore, we could see Leeds host a Red Bull Cup with RB Leipzig and so on.”
Leeds United partner with Red Bull
Maguire believes Leeds United could be prepared to host a tournament in conjunction with Red Bull at any stage, likeliest to be during a pre-season campaign.
He cited the Emirates Cup – ongoing and hosted by Arsenal since 2007 – as well as the Betway Cup involving West Ham United.
Leeds fans’ ire at the bold Red Bull branding emblazoned across this season’s shirts – in red, no less – may be mellowed when weighed up with the financial benefits for the club to progress.
The links at board level between the club and NFL franchise San Francisco 49ers, whose president Paraag Marathe is chairman at Elland Road, emphasise the network Leeds now have and the corporate basis on which it operates.
If this movement is carried out correctly in the consideration of staunchly proud traditional football supporters, the potential for success could be scary.
But if it starts descending towards a Leipzig-style story arc in West Yorkshire, the notion of Leeds United as a global football club before business enterprise will rear its head extremely quickly.
In other Leeds news, the club are set to benefit by a transfer decision made last year by Andrea Radrizzani.
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