Tuesday, 22 October 2024

CALCIO RICHES, COMO AND CLOONEY

Lake Como is a rich tourist trap in Northern Italy, with an Alpine background and classic Italian architecture. The local football (Calcio) club is gradually making its way further up the Italian football league, playing in what is regarded as the most beautiful stadium in the World. (see below) 

Five years ago, the club was playing in the nation's fourth division, before crowds of around 200. Today Como 1907 is strutting its stuff following promotion to Italy's Serie A, with attendances of 10,000, a full house. Along side the "Calcio" genuine fans are "A" listers such as Kate Beckinsale, Andrew Garfield and Hugh Grant (to name a few) who were cheering on the team in the stadim this weekend. The Mayor of Como, Alessandro Rapinese, needless to say, is delighted to rub shoulders with the famous guests in the Sinigaglia Stadium.


Once high profile visitors to the city came with the "Grand Tour" in the 18th Century and today the A Listers are attracted by mountains, lakes and football. George Clooney bought a villa here in 2002 and this triggered another wave of celebrities; most recently with Taylor Swift spending time there. You probably have not heard of Robert Budi Hartono and brother Michael Bambang?? Two Indonesian tobacco tycoons, who bought the club in 2019, recalling Ryan Reynold's takeover of Wrexham FC and not to mention the TV Show, Ted Lasso, about an American running an English football club.

The $800.000 purchase was arranged by Mirwan Surwaso, a director of Sent Entertainment, which handles the Hartono Brothers' entertainment activities in Europe. The original idea was to bring in Indonesian footballers and do a documentary with them playing for the club. The business men quickly realised that footballers from outside the EU could not play, by law, in Italian clubs "beneath" Serie A. So the American chief executive, Michael Gandler, prompted the making of a Documentary called "The American". Thierry Henry, a shareholder, and Dennis Wise, chief exceutive, were introduced to the company to give advice!

Como 1907 is part of the "Corporate Ecosystem" which includes brewing a beer filtered through local silk, expanding the stadium, promoting football tourism, holding summer football camps and selling locally merchandised T shirts! (not Chinese made!!).

Forty percent of match day revenue comes from tourists, as celebrities have been invited to appear at games, an added attraction. The regular fans were allowed to have "frozen season tickets" hoping to maintain a close community. The club is like a theme park and the business model is Disneyland!

Remember Angel City?? the women's football team in Los Angeles which has Eva Longoria and Natilie Portman as part owners. The team has many high-profile owners, including Natalie Portman, America ferrera, Mia Hamm, Sophie Bush, Abby Wambach and Eva Longoria. 


Ed Sheeran has been a minority shareholder at Ipswich, Sir Elton John became chairman at Watford in 1977 and of course Tom Cruise persuaded David Beckham to move to LA Galaxy in 2007. Tom Hanks decided to follow Aston Villa because he liked to club's "luxurious-sounding name"!! If you have the money you can do what you like!

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