“The competition next year will be simply called ‘Premier League’. This gave us an opportunity to review our visual identity and also to look at our brand positioning,” Masters said. “Our current visual identity is very corporate, very blue and white… Really, it’s a fundamental shift.”
So there we have it. The Premier League is looking to shed its corporate image by ditching the title sponsor and changing the hue of its signage to make it a bit more purple. Now we will walk into stadiums, pubs and clubs blessed at the pure landscape before us, feeling cleansed by the absence of ghastly banks flashing up with that evil colour of blue (a reformation for which Vincent Tan surely should be applauded). If only Masters had told the Kopites all of this before last Saturday.
There was more of this from Masters. And maybe the most depressing part was his revelation that “there’s lots to learn from American sports”. Yes, the NFL is always held up as the role model and in terms of selling its product, with good reason. But how about in terms of treating its fans; of its extortionate ticket prices, of its willingness to move “franchises” from their original communities across the country and soon, it seems, across whole oceans even? Do we really want to emulate that ethos? Or are we already doing so?
In fairness, Masters was only talking about selling its product commercially, yet have you noticed the case is never made to sell its product to the public? And the two are not the same, no matter what these contrarians declare as they equate football with any other business.
Interactive: Premier League ticket prices
Here is a tip: if you are in an argument with someone who sets out on the premise that football is like a supermarket, walk away immediately. You cannot win and they cannot understand that an allegiance to a club is nothing like an allegiance to a brand. No, do not allow them the pleasure of preaching “supply and demand” and “value for money” and referencing waiting lists and so on. That is irrelevant to those who fork out their hard-earned to feel shortchanged, as evidenced by the Liverpool fan who was interviewed by the ever-excellent, and ever-uncensored, Redmen TV, in the wake of the Anfield walkout. “This is like football man, it’s crazy ----,” he said. “Seventy-seven pounds to watch that? Are you ------- mad? James Milner? What the ----? Jordan Henderson as your captain. ---- off. Honestly, would you pay £77 to see Jordan Henderson kick a ball against a wall? No. ---- off. Honestly pal. I swear to God…”
Keep swearing, pal, because at least Liverpool has listened even if God is too busy. Due to the protests, the board performed a U-Turn. That is what happens when a proper lion roars.
The rising cost of football ticket prices
- Telegraph