Saturday, May 31, 2008
FIFA Makes Some Hasty Decisions...
We are packing for the trip to Wellington, New Zealand now. As Chairman of the FIFA Organizing Committee for the Women's U17 World Cup, I will help in conducting the draw tomorrow night.
The issues of the FIFA Congress are important to understand and to see how those decisions can be made better. I plan to share those thoughts with you during the week to come as this trip draws to a close.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Charlie Dempsey Offers Thanks for the Truth...
Frankly, I never realized that Charlie Dempsey had ever read my "Inside the World Cup" blog and particularly the story A Tribute to Charlie Dempsey on Opening Day. Now, two years later, Charlie had the first opportunity to thank me for setting the record straight and no one was going to stop him.
FIFA Congress opens in Sydney...
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Grant Leaves Chelsea...
Sat, 24th May 2008
Chelsea Football Club can confirm that Avram Grant has had his contract as manager terminated today (Saturday, May 24). This follows meetings over the last two days.
Everybody at Chelsea FC would like to thank Avram for his contribution since taking over as manager last September.
We will now be concentrating all our efforts on identifying a new manager for Chelsea and there will be no further comment until that appointment is made.
It is Saturday Morning Again...
This was a pre-scheduled posting. We have just landed in Sydney (it is Saturday night) and will post Moscow stories in the morning. To my friends who read this blog outside the USA, I didn't realize that this movie could only be seen from IP addresses inside the States until I arrived this evening in Moscow for the UEFA Champions League Final. I will work on a solution in the future, possibly not with Hulu, but in the meantime, Saturday mornings at the theater is restricted to those who can receive it.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Miller Beer talks about relationship with CONCACAF
US: CONCACAF soccer campaign for Miller Lite
23 May 2008| Source: just-drinks.com editorial team
Miller Brewing is to launch a soccer-themed marketing campaign for its Miller Lite brand this summer, targeted at Hispanic consumers.
The company said the soccer-themed promotional push is aimed at building on the brand̢۪s status as the official beer sponsor of the new CONCACAF's Champions League. Advertising for the brand is to feature current Mexican soccer champions Omar Bravo and Cuauhtemoc Blanco.
The company said its partnership with CONCACAF enables Miller Lite to connect with legal-drinking-age Hispanics within the world of soccer in the US, as well as in Latin America. In addition to the US, the 40-member CONCACAF association covers Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean.
"Our goal is to make Miller Lite synonymous with soccer for our Hispanic consumers, and the scale of this programme will help do that," said Jesica Duarte, senior manager of Hispanic marketing at Miller. "We're looking forward to a summer full of activities that will help us connect with Hispanics in a way that is fun and relevant to their interests."
Television, radio and out-of-home advertising is scheduled set to launch on 1 June, centered on Blanco and Bravo. In addition, Miller is to offer collectable single-serve cans featuring the two players. A national consumer promotion will give soccer fans a chance to win a soccer viewing party where Miller Lite will provide the television, food and refreshments to share with a champion soccer player and 20 of the winner's friends.
Miller Lite also will have branded content during the summer on TeleFutura's "Contacto Deportivo" and digital elements such as branded sponsorship of exclusive online content. A further digital element will be the update of MillerLiteLatino.com, a website created last year to support the 2007 Gold Cup tournament sponsorship.
Friday is for travel and travel and travel...
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Until the other postings are done...
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Game Day...
The city was on alert and traffic was backed up in the center of town with Moscow's normal overuse of city streets by mechanized surface transport. It took ours almost an hour to get around Red Square from the Marriott Grand to GQ, the restaurant where our friends from ESPN were hosting a lunch and had graciously invited us to join them.
On our arrival day, Mary Lynn, Italo and I snuck away to the Vogue Cafe, another one of Moscow's stylish posh places to be seen with an equally exquisite menu. Despite the distraction of the model types at the adjacent table, we really liked revisiting this discovery from 2006. GQ, was also the chic club at late night and restaurant through the day and evening. A good choice by ESPN which brought us together with their heads of programming acquisition for TV, Radio, Deportes and almost everyone we have been dealing with from Bristol and Manhattan.
After a short nap back at the hotel, knowing that at best we would see the latest finish to a Champions League final in UEFA history, the jet lag notwithstanding, we managed to catch a few zzzzz's until it was time to head to Luzhniki Stadium.
The ride to the stadium went faster than anticipated and when we got to the hospitality center, we were clearly early but that gave us a good opportunity to get settled. It would be hours until the game would start. Until then it would be talk, chatter, speculation and a lot of just waiting for what everyone was there for... the Game.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
The Official Banquet...
Then, our governmental host, Mayor Yuri Lushkov, a man who plays football twice a week before coming into the office and who I had met on my previous trip to Moscow when they hosted the FIFA Women's U20 World Championship in 2006, spoke for his allotted time and more. All speeches were consecutively translated, either from Russian to English or the reverse. So, it took twice as long.
Michel Platini on his way to the stage, proudly told me he would do his entire speech in English. To his credit he did and we only had the translation to Russian to go along with all the necessary words of thanks which he obligatorily offered to our hosts, the teams, the owners, the players, the entertainment, well... everyone. In addition, he exchanged gifts with Mayor Lushkov. The Russian mayor always gives something nice. I know, I have a lovely gift from him, while we football people exchange a plaque or other symbol of ourselves. The cities give nicer things.
In between, there was interspersed entertainment. Some of it was quite good. The dancers were resplendent in great costumes and the girls were beautiful too. There was a juggler who quite frankly was one of the best I have ever seen but, unfortunately didn't hold the attention of the crowd who were suffering with two further speeches by Peter Kenyon of Chelsea and David Gill of Manchester United.
There is a better way. Something I will share with my collegue David Taylor, the General Secretary of UEFA. Presentations need to be made and the hosts need the opportunity to put their social best foot forward, but when the number of hours exceed the match time plus overtime and penalties, it is time to revisit the organization of official banquets.
Game Day minus One...
As we approached the area, the amount of ambush marketing and just normal advertising around the event was very evident. Samsung was very active using Russian National Team coach Gus Hiddink in major billboards all over the city. In fact, Mary Lynn actually found Gus in Red Square, doing a little personal football diplomacy and promotion. Gus is a very personable Dutchman and attracts attention wherever he goes in Moscow. You can see he created a crowd everywhere. Traditional sponsors were also making good use of the time in Moscow. Sony had their colorful rabbits and soccer ball on almost every wall where they could fit. In fact, Sony was an official sponsor of the Champions League, but in the streets it was war for the hearts and minds of the football spectator.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Monday is all about Time...
We arrived in the late afternoon, a couple of hours later than scheduled, but I for once actually managed to sleep about 6 of the 9 hours of travel time. Flights go much faster that way, but rarely do I get to enjoy that type of repose, I am normally awake portal to portal. A staff member of Team, UEFA's partner on their Championships, met us at the gate and escorted us to the VIP lounge where they took our luggage claim checks and had us wait a remarkably short time to collect them and take us through a nearby exit where our car met us and took us into downtown Moscow. This familiar trip went quicker than most since we were running against the rush hour traffic. Street banners and advertisements indicated that the city was ready for the big event only two days away.
Moscow has four Marriott Hotels. During our visits in 2006, we were at the Aurora, a very comfortable smaller hotel. This time, we were at the Marriott Grand Hotel. A really good choice and upon arrival were met by the UEFA staff who presented us with our information package and let us know that as of the morning we would have a dedicated driver and car to help us get around the city. We checked in and were led up to a very comfortable suite. We then settled in and began finding our way into this new time zone, 8 hours ahead. It is all about time and the best way to deal with jet lag is to go to bed at bedtime in the local zone. So, some Russian Borscht and a light dinner and it was off to bed and getting ready for the exciting days ahead.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Sunday is all about Packing...
Today's international travel is more complex when it come to setting up temporary offices. Being in Moscow and Sydney, each for at least five days calls for an array of hardware to support the multiple computers and communications systems. Power strips in the right voltage, transformers and power supplies for the computers, cameras and phones are normally the heavy weights, but now with Mary Lynn's enhanced camera lens collection, photography has now topped the scales.
At JFK Airport, the luggage handlers stacked our bags as we went aboard Aeroflot's flight from New York to Moscow. I don't comment too much about airlines these days. There isn't much good to say about most of them. I learned a couple of years ago while commuting to Moscow in preparation for the FIFA Women's U20 World Championship, that the best food was surprisingly found on the Russian national airline. I am happy to report that I wasn't disappointed and everything from the appetizers, the soup, the salad, the choices of main courses and dessert rivaled any of the better know airlines and surpassed most of them. I have been cautioned in my enthusiasm to say that this is only applicable to the routes of Moscow/NY, Moscow/London and Moscow/Zurich. Beyond that, it seems they are in a similar class to budget conscious airlines that have long since forgotten about their passengers.
More from Moscow...
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Saturday Morning Theater...
To my friends who read this blog outside the USA, I didn't realize that this movie could only be seen from IP addresses inside the States until I arrived this evening in Moscow for the UEFA Champions League Final. I will work on a solution in the future, possibly not with Hulu, but in the meantime, Saturday mornings at the theater is restricted to those who can receive it.
1.2.3.4. Italo is thirty four...
His Father, Dr. Italo Zanzi, is just as excited about going. Chelsea and Manchester United in this dream final is one not be be missed and on we are happy about joining them on this sojourn with Mary Lynn and Myself the guests of UEFA. We begin our own special CONCACAF Champions League this August with Europe providing much of the model and guidance in our new venture. We hope to use the opportunity of this final help promote the inauguration of the CONCACAF Champions League. For sure, it will be a great event with friends on both teams.
College classmate at the University of Chicago with Italo, Ryan Morfin has been Italo's friend and even his finance manager in last year run for the House of Representatives. Here he is pictured with his long time girlfriend Diane with NBC Digital. They are good people and a lot of fun.
Elaine Kaufman, the owner of the estimable Bar and Restaurant on 2nd Avenue and 88th Street joined the celebration and contributed a delicious Nouget Ice Cream and Strawberry Whipped Cream birthday cake. Yummmmmmmy!!!!
Friday, May 16, 2008
Paul Gardner Celebrates with Friends
Paul is full of opinions. Many of the correct, othes not as much so, but he is never shy or retiring when it comes to his expressions on how we or others should be doing things better.
Other critical writers were also at the big table where we were hosted by restaurant owner former Cosmo and Arrow's player Freddy Grgurev.
A publisher's description of one of Paul's books sounds like this...
The Simplest Game: The Intelligent Fan's Guide to the World of Soccer
by Paul Gardner
About this title: The Simplest Game is the definitive reference to soccer, the world's most popular sport. Fully revised to coincide with the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, and the continuing explosion of American interest in the game since the 1994 World Cup, The Simplest Game explores the game, its players, and its history. Paul Gardner provides an authoritative and entertaining view of soccer's colorful history and lore. Originally published in 1976, The Simplest Game was heralded as "a storehouse of valuable information" by the U.S. Soccer Federation. Now completely revised and updated to reflect the changes the game has undergone since then and published for the first time with photos of the most memorable and talented players, the book offers a wealth of facts, figures, and anecdotes that enable one to become part of the knowledgeable fraternity that speaks intelligently about the sport. The Simplest Game traces the evolution of soccer from a crude, rustic pastime into a sophisticated worldwide business. It sketches the history and achievements of soccer, highlights world competitions and important players, examines the growth of divergent national playing styles, and spells out what is needed for the United States to develop an indigenous style of play and players of international caliber. The Simplest Game is for anyone searching for an introduction to, or a better understanding of, the world's most followed sport.
Paul is a great observer and over years of my developing leadership role in the sport, Paul has helped me develop a view of what I feel is best for the game and in sync with the needs of the people who watch and report on it. Paul can be read in New York in the Daily Sun and Soccer America in his Soccer Talk column. Paul also contributes to World Soccer.
Thanks for your help over the years. Your continuing support and assistance continues to be greatly appreciated. Happy Birthday.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
CONCACAF Executive meets in NYC
The CONCACAF Executive Committee was briefed on several issues, including:
• Reports on the recently concluded 2008 CONCACAF championships such as the CONCACAF Champions’ Cup™, the Men’s and Women’s Olympic Qualification, and the CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championship
• Developments related to upcoming CONCACAF championships such as the 2008 CONCACAF Futsal Championship, the 2008 CONCACAF Women’s Under-17 and Under-20 Championships, and the 2009 CONCACAF Under-20 and Under-17 Men’s Championships
•Updates on the inaugural 2008-2009 CONCACAF Champions League™, including information on qualifyingcriteria, commercial guidelines, and stadium standards
• Summaries of recently concluded broadcast and marketing agreements for several tournaments
• Plans for the upcoming XVII Extraordinary Congress of CONCACAF to be held in Sydney, Australia on 28 May 2008 and the 59th FIFA Congress to be held at Atlantis in Paradise Island, Bahamas in May 2009.
The next meeting of the CONCACAF Executive Committee will take place in November 2008 in the Cayman Islands.
CONCACAF Exco Meets Today...
The Exco will also make final preparations for the CONCACAF and FIFA Congresses later this month in Sydney, Australia. More on all of this after the meeting.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Celebrating Agreement on Fox English Language rights for the Champions League
Also at dinner were Raul de Quesada, David Sternberg and Frank Uddo (now in Italo's ex-post at MLB International.)
David was the prime negotiator for Fox while Italo and Stefano Turconi did most of the heavy lifting on our side.
We are happy with this deal since it services an important segment of the market.