We’ve seen this year, with the January signing of Japanese international Tadanari Lee, that Saints are making preparatory steps into marketing themselves to the globe – and in particular, the lucrative Asian market, which Arsene Wenger predicts will be the future of football, commercially and physically. Already, the early signs of the purchase paying off are showing, with a small faithful, growing ever larger, of Japanese fans nestling into the stands at St. Mary’s.
The season before, Southampton bought, having initially loaned, Brazilian forward Guly Do Prado from Serie A side Cesena. Much was made of the transfer at the time, with Guly being the first Brazilian to play for Saints in over 100 years. The last, and also the first, was Charles Miller 116 years ago, who was the first to introduce football to Brazil, taking over the first rulebook and first balls to be used professionally in the South American country.
Now, three entities can combine in the name of the Olympics and to the benefit of Southampton Football Club, thanks to the three-team tournament hosted on the day of the passing of the Torch through St. Mary’s Stadium: the past, present and future hosts of the Olympic Games, foremost; but ultimately, the markets of Asia, Europe and South America.
Last year Saints played host to Athletic Club Bilbao and Werder Bremen, playing on the former’s historic links with Southampton Football Club and the latter’s connection with Markus’ Liebherr’s German heritage. This year, to capitalise on the hosting of the Olympics, Southampton Football Club could do well from hosting a Chinese side, thus attracting the Asian market that they’re already tapping into, and a Brazilian side. Promotion to the Premier League can only enhance their ability to attract top clubs. This way, not only are markets being explored and pitched to, but the spirit of the Olympics, the emphasis of a transition from the past hosts to the present and again to the future, is being promoted and kept intact, all the while benefitting Saints.
With a return to the Premier League a distinct possibility and the club being run under the forward thinking tutelage of Nicola Cortese, winning Gold in the Championship could see Saints enjoy a summer of Olympic proportions.
Written by Jordan Florit for www.maycauseoffence.com/ For more articles visit my website or my Twitter @JordanFlorit
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