What return does the Skeikh expect?

[fbloke]

They are big on education and technology..It´s the crown prince himself that have made sure that it´s on the agenda.

UAE might end up as a high-tech country in the middle-east eventually.

It seems like an ideal partnership to take advantage of in my mind.

A massive university in the worlds first modern City with technology, computing and media at its heart but short on revenues (in world terms) and a young, hungry and forward thinking country with vast wealth looking to the future.

Or am I oversimplifying things a tad ;-)

 

[Bonol]

What? Frank threw in a Audi TT for the Sheikh as part of the deal? Should have held out for better in my opinion

What you talking about you clown.

 

[Neil McNab]

Hate to say it but from where our club was it's going to take a decade of investment before our turnover enables us to be self sufficent and be at the top. At the moment the traditional Elite are the clubs where young players want to go because when they were kids they were winning things, this can turn around and become us eventually, the scum etc. will think otherwise but kids latch on to what's current. Weather our owners are in for such a long term plan is the big question. If they aren't we may end up in less ambitious hands and in a bit of a mess. The owners are renowned for ambitious and extravagant ventures, football is an arena where they can make waves whilst piling cash into an asset.
MCFC present a chance for them to build something rather than take over something somebody else built, for ego and impact that has to be better. I know some on here will say we don't need building, we're already here, the reality is City need rebuilding.
We just need to find players with the same mentality as our owners!

 

[BlueSam]

What? Frank threw in a Audi TT for the Sheikh as part of the deal? Should have held out for better in my opinion

What you talking about you clown.

The big coupe I think

I thought it was funny.

 

[ffs]

What? Frank threw in a Audi TT for the Sheikh as part of the deal? Should have held out for better in my opinion

What you talking about you clown.

LOL

 

[hbruz80]

That really makes the idea of a financial return somewhat academic as we are suddenly talking about a family with assets in the region of 2 trillion pounds (IMF estimate).

You have to bear in mind that figure includes assets (read oil wells) which have not yet been and may never be developed and therefore is not really a fair reflection of the Al-Nahyan's wealth. Also, I would not trust IMF estimates (they are all politically motivated). Although it is notoriously difficult to estimate the wealth of any of the Gulf royal families (hardly as if the have to fill in tax returns) I believe that figure is a gross overestimation. In addition, a lot of money is needed to develop Abu Dhabi in accordance with their 2030 plan (no short term thinking for these people) which will result in a massive development drive for the Emirate. Remember although it is a modern Emirate, Abu Dhabi infrastructure pales in comparison to that of Dubai's plus they have much more land (93% of UAE land mass is Abu Dhabi) and sea to work with, which leads to medium term investment of around 1 trillion dollars (of course this will have to be financed, it is not someones pocket change)

Yes, the oil will run out one day but Abu Dhabi holds about 20% of the worlds known reserves,

About 8.9% (and shrinking albeit very slowly), curious to know where you got the 20% figure from?

and have not really begun exploring their huge gas-fields yet.

True, Abu Dhabi is actually a net-importer of gas, more cost-effective then using the gas they have on their doorstep!

Nevertheless Abu Dhabi is investing abroad, but it´s a two way investment policy..thru ADIA they are targetting reliable income, thru the other SWF's they are making strategic investments in particular in sectors that they see as vital to Abu Dhabis future,

Yup, ADIA vs Mubadala/IPIC strategy. Also consider that fact that you have Invest AD for developments closer to home, so they are not all about buying up foreign trophy assets.

Finally we get to what I call glamour investments..the fun stuff like F1 and yes City. Will it yield a return?
Yes, they are certain of that..but not in a financial sense really.

As I have said before (and I believe Khaldoon Al-Mubarak has mentioned), money will have to be made from the 'City Project'. While this is by no means an immediate priority it is not politically acceptable to spend hundreds of millions on a foreign football team without any return (especially one that finishes 5th). A few Champions League trophies will of course lessen the antipathy and will make it easier to sell to the Emirati population (during the UAE vs City match, they tried Our Country vs Our City, but a 1-0 loss hardly went down well there).

 

[Didsbury Dave]

As I have said before (and I believe Khaldoon Al-Mubarak has mentioned), money will have to be made from the 'City Project'. While this is by no means an immediate priority it is not politically acceptable to spend hundreds of millions on a foreign football team without any return (especially one that finishes 5th). A few Champions League trophies will of course lessen the antipathy and will make it easier to sell to the Emirati population (during the UAE vs City match, they tried Our Country vs Our City, but a 1-0 loss hardly went down well there).

How are ADUG expecting to make moey, then? Just simple direct profit from the club? Or in indirect ways?

 

[Big G]

But my real question is that are they expecting a financial return from Manchester City FC?

Maybe the short term aim is the exposure, the long term is a return.

Not directly from MCFC,
In a way they are the clubs pimp, using the might of the club to set up developments and projects, If things go right we could have 60k + people at COMS every other week, that alot of money in first hand terms, add that to whatever else they spend whilst at the ground and there is an instant return.
The Eastlands area has been up for development for years, and the council have been looking for a partner but non have really had the money to fullfill a proposal, Our owners have now upped the ante significantly, and now have the council looking for funding as they still want a piece of the pie.

This is just a small part, Abu Dhabi is getting worldwide coverage through motorsport, and Manchester City are carrying that torch for football, the better we do, the bigger TV crowd we get, the greater exposure for the owners.


Will the owners recieve a profit directly from MCFC - Not for a long time, some of these projects are more a pension for them, but bare in mind these guys operate in Billions and not Millions (Barclays shares profit etc) but on the greater scale then yes, through MCFC there will be a return.

 

[bluetonium]

I really think it's bigger than that, it does involve East Manchester and is a long term plan to increase our owners wealth and reputation worldwide. In the short term it's all about City, making us a success and building something that will last for decades, but I have no doubt that this opportunity is seen as a massive opportunity to raise no only Sheikh Mansour's profile worldwide, but that of Abu Dhabi as a rising power to be respected and valued.

Through links such as MCFC, land development and others, Abu Dhabi can be further recognised as a world player on many levels, from corporate to personal. All of this only comforts me - what our owners want suggests strongly to me that a long term investment is a given. The local govt. should be strongly supportive of this - imagine Manchester rivalling Barcelona or Madrid in terms of attractiveness for a short break - watch a match, go shopping, stay at a landmark hotel - and it's City and our designer recreational village that would be the major pull, not Old Trafford.

Further to that, our owners have made it clear that local areas, local people and long suffering fans must not lose out. It's an ambitious project but fully achievable I feel with these guys in charge. I guess those in Abu Dhabi and maybe the Middle East in general will get in return acknowledgement and acceptance of their achievements and abilities from a slightly historically pompous Europe, as well as benefiting from the wealth, improved football ( long term, it's possible we'd see the rise of a Middle Eastern Premier League rival, able to attract the biggest stars not just with cash but also on merit) development and respect.

 

[somapop]

I really think it's bigger than that, it does involve East Manchester and is a long term plan to increase our owners wealth and reputation worldwide. In the short term it's all about City, making us a success and building something that will last for decades, but I have no doubt that this opportunity is seen as a massive opportunity to raise no only Sheikh Mansour's profile worldwide, but that of Abu Dhabi as a rising power to be respected and valued.

Through links such as MCFC, land development and others, Abu Dhabi can be further recognised as a world player on many levels, from corporate to personal. All of this only comforts me - what our owners want suggests strongly to me that a long term investment is a given. The local govt. should be strongly supportive of this - imagine Manchester rivalling Barcelona or Madrid in terms of attractiveness for a short break - watch a match, go shopping, stay at a landmark hotel - and it's City and our designer recreational village that would be the major pull, not Old Trafford.

Further to that, our owners have made it clear that local areas, local people and long suffering fans must not lose out. It's an ambitious project but fully achievable I feel with these guys in charge. I guess those in Abu Dhabi and maybe the Middle East in general will get in return acknowledgement and acceptance of their achievements and abilities from a slightly historically pompous Europe, as well as benefiting from the wealth, improved football ( long term, it's possible we'd see the rise of a Middle Eastern Premier League rival, able to attract the biggest stars not just with cash but also on merit) development and respect.

Could not agree any more. Bear in mind Manchester is already pretty high up on the city break destination. I know of friends and colleagues from places such as the aforementioned Barcelona who are simply amazed at the amount of activities the city offers, having brought their families over here through their jobs. There's clearly a lot more that can be done to make the 'experience' even greater and these developments will only serve to make that happen. Christ, if they can draw millions to that Plastic Centre in Dumplington, then some real thought and effort (anchored by a great football club) would work wonders.
At the moment, however, I think the city is still a much better place to live than to visit.

Not entirely sure if the 'new' government will look on this as beneficial to a staunch labour city mind...