News broke yesterday that our current shirt sponsor, AIG, who took over from the contract Vodafone cancelled the season before we won the league, were in trouble. Their stock fell by 61% and it wasn’t looking good for the company, whose collapse could have massive effects on the global financial system.
However, the New York Governor, David Patterson, has today said “AIG still remains financially sound.” Their plan is to now loan themselves $20 billion held by its subsidiaries to provide cash needed to stay in business.
But what a collapse of AIG be such a bad thing for United?
Simon Chadwick, a professor of sports business strategy, has today said that given United’s current status in World football, being given the option of finding a new shirt sponsor would only mean more money for the club.
“Shirt sponsorship values appear to be holding their own well in the Premier League and also in Germany,” he said. “It may be an issue outside the Premier League but my view is that if Manchester United do have to find a new sponsor, they would almost certainly pay as much and quite probably more. United are currently European champions and Premier League champions, so they could not be in a better position. The issue for United would be finding the right sponsor with a global operation as a partner, to give the club global coverage, something AIG does perfectly at the moment.”
No doubt the Glazers will be rubbing their hands together, but for more than just this season. Whilst a new sponsor would bring in money, it would also mean new shirts would have to be produced. Nothing dates a shirt like an old sponsor, so no doubt fans would be rushing out all over the World to purchase exactly the same shrit, but with the new sponsor on it.
We have seen this happen before with the ugly blue shirt which initally had a Vodafone logo on the front, which was then changed to AIG.
Would you prefer a new sponsor and more for the club to help with the debt OR keep the AIG sponsor and save ourselves from needing a new shirt?
If we get a new sponsor we will most probably start printing shirts with the new sponsor in August, it’s rare for teams to change sponsors after the season starts.
I didn’t like Vodafone that much, don’t mind the look of AIG, how’s SHARP doing these days?
I miss SHARP
I wouldn’t mind SHARP or Unicef. I actually think that Unicef would be nice.
United wouldnt get any money from Unicef mate, and coz of the debts, we need to be sponsored by the biggest payers…
Its the unfortunate situation we are in with way the glazers financed us.
I think they way the economy is… i think we need to stay away from any financial insitutions etc as sponsors…..
I would like a sponsor that would make a real statement across the world…one of the known brands across the globe.
I dont actually mind AIG… but if united can cash in now by getting a better deal from someome else.. as we are double champions then they should use this opportunity… coz anyway of getting rid of this debt quicker is only good for our club.
unicef doesn’t sponsor anybody. in barcelona’s case, barcelona is giving money to unicef and providing free advertising space to raise awareness — their shirt.
Barcelona doing that for Unicef is pretty honourable to say the least.
I honestly think AIG is a pretty good sponsor, well the money is great (a British record) and the logo isn’t bad at all! Shame it’s American.
Though speaking of our friends in the USA, how about ‘apple’ as a sponser? Massive company only going to get bigger and a statement of this generation.
Sharp would be the nicest one to get back but they’d not pay us much!
Yep unicef is a charity..so barca pay them and contribute funds and advertise the childrens charity cause. I commend them and villa who have the Acorn charity on their shirts.
As for AIG…dont and never liked the look off it on our shirt. but as it stands they are still the biggest insurance firm in the world. Hence great global clout. But as things are with america in serious threat of recession…global economy suffering…fannia mae and freddie mac and lehmann brothers and merryl lynch all going towards bankruptcy and government bail outs. It does look like AIG are next even though they have been given this emergency subsidy. They still need another 50bn to operate. From what i remember the deal with us was 50 mill +. We are in the 3rd year now….so hopefully we ve got this years payment already in.
If AIG look like surviving we should stick for now. IF not then we will seriously have to look for new sponsors with even more money to help this flamin yank debt that these glazers have put us under. NOT and NEVER was happy with them….i just hope the downturn in the american markets and banks doesnt mean it jeopardises our club…cos remember we are relying on bank loans and financial leverage and interest payments to meet the debt targets. Glazers are sweating and worried….and that means we should be worried too. Fucking glazers why did they put us in such a predicament
Another thing…yes if we do get rid of AIG or ofcourse they declare bankruptcy…..it would be good if we could get a BIGGER BETTER RICHER sponsor. As like the article says we have clout as prem and euro champs. It would mean more dosh with new shirts.
But it would mean all that wasted money from fans who bought the red…the away blue and that shite white kit this year. And i bought 2 last month. It would also mean peeling off AIG from players shirts …ala west ham did with XL last weekend. Which doesnt look good.
We wait and see
what about that online betting site that offered more money than aig
If AIG look like going bust and another company does come in lets say with a mega deal…eg apple…coca cola…reliance etc…eg 70 mill over 4 years. then we should take it.
If guys had there choice which company name would you want on our shirts? what name would look best?
I hope the Glazers are worried… as this might persuade them to sell to some billionaire that has the cash to buy them outright… or even better float us on the stock exchange… let the fans buy the club back… just leaves us open to pillocks like them 2 racehorse owners…
Problem is with these Asian/Arab Billionaires and Russian ones…. they see a football club as a toy…. and we all know us boys, get fed up of our newest toys eventually…
With regards to Sponsors… a very large one that hasnt sponsored in the UK yet is Coca Cola…this is a brand in every nation across the world… also another one which Tom mentioned was Apple…massive globaly again… but another one which could be fantastic for united… especially if he wanted to buy part from the Glazers and invest would be Microsoft as the sponsor and Bill Gates part owner…
Just imagine the openings his company could have with United… especially with the computer industries.. and tv eventually gonna be shown over the web… rather than satelite etc… could give us a major leap into tv rights and gettin the best money, deals, etc.
My shirt still says Sharp (it is one of those ones with the black “Cantona” collars) and to be honest I could give a shit if the sponsor changes, I wouldn’t buy a new shirt.
However, my son will be due a new shirt soon – he’s a growing boy and long ago outgrew his Vodaphone shirt and the AIG one is looking a little small.
I’d go for something that would most annoy our Rivals
most likely to annoy :-
city – BP (British Petrolium)
liverpool – The Sun
any more ?
I would love it if Apple were to become our sponsors. I am a huge Apple fan and the logo is well designed, simple and nice.
But to ‘Tom F’, Apple are an American company, something you regret about AIG – yet you suggested Apple. And what’s wrong with Americans? They are our friends.
As for Arab sponsorship, they are no friends of ours and that would make me puke.
Finally to ‘A Man United Fan’: The online betting site that offered more than AIG are Mansion – Spurs sponsors.
Unitedonfire…. i like your choices mate lol
Well since we are an American owned company we could sell shirt space to the Republicans that say “vote McCain” or to the Democrats that say “vote Obama”.
Make some serious dosh there….
but what if we picked the wrong one?
(that’d be Republican)
We’d look like losers – and that’s City’s job.
i am man utd fan and work for AIG …fyi …AIG employs more than 100,000 across te glode and if AIG goes bankrupt imagine the umemployment …if we really wanted to pay of the debt…sell that cRAT7 …
The current home kit expires at the end of this season so there will be a new shirt regardless..
Will be cheesed if they change the sponsor before the end of the season. New blue kit came through the door yesterday.
lets get google on our shirts. i think that would be funny/awesome.