| Blackpool, Pound-For-Pound, Premier League's Best In these times of tight purse strings, a lesson in how to make a little money go a long way comes from the unlikeliest of sources — soccer. feeds.nytimes.com |
Tottenham bid for Olympic Stadium 'makes sense long term', say AEG • AEG confirm bid for the 2012 stadium with Spurs• Controversial plan involves removing the athletics trackTottenham Hotspur's bid to move to the Olympic Stadium "makes sense long term" but will not include an athletics track, according to AEG president Timothy Leiweke.The sport and entertainment company, which runs the 02 arena in London, has confirmed it has joined forces with Tottenham in a surprise last-minute bid to be an anchor tenant after the 2012 Games.Leiweke said: "I think it is a crime if you sacrifice having a perfect football stadium for convincing yourself you are going to do a track and field event every 10 years."London 2012 promised the International Olympic Committee when it won the right to host the Games that an athletics track, capable of staging major events, would be part of the legacy. But the AEG Europe chief executive, David Campbell, believes the athletics track is not a deal breaker.The wording of the invitation for expressions of interest in the stadium by the Olympic Park Legacy Company, which will decide the venue's future, does not oblige bidders to retain a running track, he claims.Campbell said: "It is about fan experience which is absolutely a part of what we do. It is great for the fans and for the artists – be it in football or basketball or concerts. If you get a premier football team you cannot have a running track around the stadium."Tottenham's move for the stadium pitches the club against West Ham United, whose bid is backed by Newham Council. Like West Ham, AEG sees a capacity of up to 60,000 for the venue in Stratford after the Games.Leiweke said the AEG/Tottenham bid "makes sense long term"."The Government and everyone needs to make a decision to ensure that it is usable. You make that stadium the best football stadium in the country for Tottenham because if you do that then you are going to make it the best stadium for the next 30 years."Campbell believes it will take "hundreds of millions" to prepare the venue after the Games, suggesting: "We are probably up against one or two other credible bids but there could be 30 bids overall."West Ham's plan is to convert the stadium to a 60,000-capacity arena for football, athletics, concerts and community use. Current plans state the stadium will be an 80,000-seat venue for the London 2012 Games and later shrunk to a 25,000-seater.AEG insists that its claim for the Olympic Stadium is not a "plan B" if Tottenham's hopes of a new home in north London do not work out.Campbell said: "Spurs is economically and commercially viable – I think it is more commercially viable than other bids. We are not crazy. We do not do things that do not work in the end. We do not back losers and I do not think we are backing a losing bid."Mr Campbell also predicted the possible move would not upset fans, adding: "Let us not forget Arsenal used to be in Woolwich (south-east London) and that is why it is called the Gunners before it moved north."We are not talking about moving Spurs to Newcastle but moving Spurs a couple of miles to east London which will be one of the most accessible areas in the city."Mr Leiweke also suggested AEG has a track record of helping Olympic sports.He said: "There are very few stand-alone track and field events that pay for themselves to last a whole stadium – that is not the same with football."With football, you're going to get 30-plus matches a year and you'll be able to talk about naming rights and founding partners and suites and the revenue streams to make these kind of venues work."I think our company in particular has proven we are very committed to the Olympic movement. If you look at the risk we have taken on the figure skating, gymnastics, basketball and tennis [at the 02] – all these events are now coming back to London."We've gone out as a company and taken a risk without the taxpayers having to put up the money. We are committed to the ideals of the IOC and taking sports to the masses and making that part of the legacy of the Olympic Games in 2012 – but that said, it has to be done in a way that makes business sense."So if we want to go big on tennis we have to make sure tennis has ability to stand on its own two feet financially."Leiweke said: "The reality is for a stadium like that you need an anchor tenant and you don't have to be a genius to figure out that in London you need a Premier League club – and you've got one of the Premier League teams in this market place trying to find a permanent home."So it seems like a logical solution, but again we know logic doesn't always prevail."Tottenham HotspurWest Ham UnitedAthleticsguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Nani's Early Goal Gives Man United Victory MANCHESTER (Reuters) - Winger Nani's early strike gave Manchester United a 1-0 win over Bursaspor in Champions League Group C on Wednesday as a subdued Old Trafford digested striker Wayne Rooney's confirmation that he wanted to leave. Portugal international Nani broke the deadlock in the seventh minute when he turned and ran towards goal before unleashing a fine curling shot from 20 metres out. feeds.nytimes.com |
Lionel Messi scores twice as Barcelona sweep past Copenhagen • Raúl stretches his European record with two goals for Schalke• Lyon beat Benfica to maintain perfect startLionel Messi struck two hugely contrasting goals as Barcelona climbed to the top of Group D with a 2-0 victory over FC Copenhagen at the Camp Nou. Messi opened the scoring with a thunderous effort in the 19th minute. But Barça had to wait until stoppage time before the Argentinian tapped home his second from close range.Raúl extended his Champions League scoring record to 68 with two goals in Schalke's 3-1 win as they dominated Hapoel Tel-Aviv. A further strike from José Manuel Jurado ensured Schalke go second in Group B. Itay Shechter grabbed a goal for the visitors.Twente and Werder Bremen remain winless in Group A after a 1-1 draw. Theo Janssen's 75th-minute opener for the Dutch side being answered by Marko Arnautovic's equaliser.Lyon maintained their 100% record in Group B with a 2-0 win at home to Benfica. Goals from Jimmy Briand and Lisandro López saw off the Portuguese, who had Nicolás Gaitán sent off.Champions LeagueBarcelonaguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Liverpool takeover: Ian Ayre's resignation rejected by NESV as club return to High Court Exclusive: Liverpool's commercial director, Ian Ayre, dissuaded from leaving the club by their new American owners NESV. telegraph.co.uk |