From Amos Weinfeld :
Hi Myles,
It’s been a while since I wrote to you and that is a reflection of my ever-diminishing interest in AFC, although I do still visit ANR regularly.
A thought has been running through my head recently when trying to determine exactly what Arsenal exist for. Most right thinking fans have long since come to the realisation that sporting ambition has left the building and we are run just as a business.
There are however, many types of business and I would now categorise Arsenal as a lifestyle business, the definition of which according to Wikipedia is ” A business set up and run by its founders primarily with the aim of sustaining a particular level of income and no more; or to provide a foundation from which to enjoy a particular lifestyle.”
This is not normally what you would expect of a company with Arsenal’s turnover but when you have 25-30 people earning £3-6m+, several more on not much less, and a manager on £11m, it makes more sense.
The big problem for loyal fans is that maintaining the lifestyle for those privileged few depends less and less on match going fans and more and more on TV revenue.
This creates a situation where the club can and indeed do treat the fans with contempt and it gives the manager the funds to cover up a multitude of problems while still continuing to increase the share value for Stan.
Another small point that illustrates how the business is used for the benefit of those at the “club” and not for outside stakeholders came to mind when I recently discarded my invitation to the AGM.
It stated that there was no street parking available. However there is a huge amount of parking space within the stadium.
Other than wishing to put shareholders off coming to the AGM, I can think of no reason why the club would not make this parking available on the day.
What transpired at the AGM shows what the “club” think of us. A very sad state of affairs.
Keep up the great work, Myles.
Myles says :
Yes, I’ve done some insightful pieces here since I started in 1998.
Not so many recently, too busy with other projects.
Thanks for telling us something nobody knew.
The Arsenal corporation don’t want you to come to their AGM.
Who made that mean parking decision?
Was it Ken Friar? Might have been Wenger.
George Graham was bang on when he said, “There’s no board at Arsenal.”
If you write a letter to the AGM in advance, and stand up to ask your question, the directors just say, “It’s always the same few people who complain every year.”
Fans of every other club on the world would be horrified by that attitude. They would be disgusted by that. They would all say, “What a way to run a football club!”
But that would be incorrect because Arsene FC is not a football club.
Arsene FC is a corporation run by a dithering tracksuit businessman who has been told by Kroenke, “Just report to me. Never mind about the board.”