Top of the big era

That night, Zhou Buqi and his party left Stuttgart and returned to Manchester. Then go to watch a home ball game, pick up Aunt Xue, Baoshan, Yaxian, Yameng and the children, and go to San Francisco together.

This is a Champions League match. Manchester United faces La Liga powerhouse Valencia at home.

The content of the game was not very good. In the first 20 minutes, Manchester United was beaten 0:2 by the visiting team. There are serious problems with the team's mental outlook. If they don't adjust their status as soon as possible, they are likely to suffer their first defeat of the season.

Zhou Buqi was very peaceful. Halfway through the game, he received a message from Chen Wenhao: "It's settled!"

It seems that the Germans are quite efficient.

Manchester United has concluded a season-long sponsorship deal with Mercedes-Benz. Next season, Mercedes-Benz will invest US$50 million to become the chest advertising sponsor of Manchester United's jerseys.

This season, Helo's sponsorship fee is US$50 million; next season, Mercedes-Benz's sponsorship fee is also US$50 million.

They look the same at first glance, but there are actually different details inside.

For example, players receive bonuses from the Ballon d'Or;

For example, bonuses for teams winning the Champions League and Premier League titles;

Another very important clause is that Mercedes-Benz will provide cars, and 25 Mercedes-Benz cars will be provided every year to sponsor Manchester United's adult team.

One car per person, with a total value of approximately $3 million.

Zhou Buqi's original plan was to sponsor Manchester United's men's and women's teams, including the women's football team, and sponsor 50 cars per year. However, the influence of women's football is too poor. Last season, Manchester United's women's football team became the Premier League champion with a devastating attitude, without even making a splash. Mercedes-Benz is unwilling to cooperate with women's football.

Car sponsorship is not reflected in Manchester United's income, it is equivalent to the club's benefits being distributed to the players. The terms that can really be reflected in the revenue...are about 53 million to 55 million US dollars.

Compared to Helo’s sponsorship fee, it has actually increased.

In addition, starting from next season, Manchester United jerseys will add cuff sponsorship positions, and Helo invested US$10 million to become the first cuff sponsor...

Calculating this, Manchester United will be able to increase its sponsorship income by nearly 15 million US dollars next season from shirt advertising alone.

While watching the game, Zhou Buqi was flanked by David Gill, who conveyed the good news to him. In fact, it is also a hint that the cuff advertisement was decided by him as the big boss. If there is any internal opposition, just suppress it quickly!

There is no shame in making money.

Some clubs were in financial crisis and were able to sign twenty or thirty jersey sponsorships in one go. As a result, the front and back of the jerseys, including the shorts, were filled with sponsorship advertisements, which were so densely packed that people suffered from trypophobia. .

A mere cuff advertisement is nothing.

Zhou Buqi's attitude determines the execution intensity of this project.

The game ended up tied at 3:3, and it was a rather exciting showdown. Bell, wearing the No. 7 jersey, passed and shot and won the best player of the game.

After the game, Zhou Buqi declined the management's invitation to have a dinner and planned to go home. In addition to Sun Wanran, he also had Jiang Shuying with him, which was not very convenient.

Unexpectedly, I received an impromptu phone call.

Sun Wanran was a little excited and nervous, and didn't dare to say much. He directly transferred the phone to Zhou Buqi, "Gates! It's Bill Gates!"

This is a well-known name. Even many ordinary people who have no knowledge of technology have heard of this famous richest man in the world.

Jiang Shuying, who was by her side, also showed a bit of surprise and admiration in her eyes.

Mr. Zhou is so awesome!

It's all true!

Bill Gates is also in Mr. Zhou’s social circle.

Zhou Buqi was relatively calm and took the phone, "Bill? What's the matter?"

"Are you free right now?"

"Huh? Now? You're in Manchester?"

Zhou Buqi immediately heard the meaning of the other party's words.

Bill Gates smiled and said: "I just watched the match between Manchester United and Valencia live. It was a wonderful performance."

Zhou Buqi wanted to scold him.

Performance?

That's not a show!

American sports are more of a performance nature. Whether it is basketball or football, they are all disguised entertainment performances to please fans and audiences.

European football is different. Football is a "war" and a real confrontation!

Unless it's match-fixing.

Football is not about performing, it is about winning. That's why Mourinho's tactics of setting up a bus are not good-looking at all. Not only is it not a performance, but it is also ruining the performance of the other team. They must try their best to cut off the game, lie on the grass, fake injuries, waste time, and play no matter how ugly it is.

Just win.

This is why Zhou Buqi prefers European football to American sports.

Bill Gates said: "Yes, I saw you on the big screen. How about it? Is it convenient? Have a drink?"

Zhou Buqi did not refuse and said with a smile: "Okay, let's have a drink."

It is not convenient to go outside in public places.

Zhou Buqi returned to the Old Trafford Stadium and went to the VIP box, which is a private place and can avoid public view.

After passing by, I discovered that Bill Gates was not alone.

In addition to his assistant, his wife and daughter are also there.

Especially his daughter...

Ho!

What a standout!

Delicate, blond, oval face, blue eyes, white skin, long legs, quite pretty. After introduction, I learned that the girl’s name was Jennifer, and she was just 14 years old this year.

Zhou Buqi suddenly realized.

No wonder she is so delicate and her skin is so delicate. It turns out that she is only 14 years old. It is a kind of childish attraction. It is estimated that it will not be enough after a few years. In particular, Bill Gates said that she is an equestrian enthusiast and wants to develop her career.

This is amazing!

Horse riding is a technical job, and the legs must be strong to hold the horse's belly. Especially difficult equestrian performances require the integration of man and horse, all relying on the strength of the legs.

The legs are so strong that most people can't stand it.

Bill Gates looked very happy and explained to Zhou Buqi that the main purpose of this trip to the UK was for his daughter. The level of equestrianism in the United States is average, while the United Kingdom is the country with the most powerful equestrian skills in the world.

As the father of the world's richest man, he wants to buy a racecourse and equestrian club in the UK to raise his daughter.

Anyway, there is money.

The cost of maintaining an equestrian club may not be much less than that of Manchester United.

Zhou Buqi doesn't know much about equestrian. He is often invited to enjoy equestrian shows in the UK, which is the second largest sport in the UK after football.

He basically refused. Even if there was sports socializing, it would be around football.

Same with Bill Gates.

"What's going on in the South Stand?" Bill Gates saw that Boss Zhou was not interested in equestrian, so he turned the topic to football.

Zhou Buqi said with a smile: "We are expanding. There used to be a railway track there, which affected the expansion of the stadium. We reached an agreement with the city, made certain compensation to nearby residents, and then moved the track away. Now, we can expand the South Stand. It’s coming soon, it will be completed in more than a month.”

"I heard that you are going to renovate the entire stadium?"

"Yes, this stadium is too old. Many of the facilities were built decades ago. They are aging and cannot keep up with the new era. I plan to spend 10 years completely renovating Old Trafford into a modern stadium. A top-notch golf course. The annual intermission period will not affect the normal operation of the golf course."

"It's a new stadium!"

"almost!"

"Have you ever thought about naming it?"

"ah?"

Zhou Buqi raised his eyebrows, a little surprised.

Named Old Trafford?

it's out of the question.

Unless you really need money and can't survive, you can change the name of the stadium. Otherwise, you can't do this kind of thing to damage the brand. "Old Trafford" is now a golden brand. In addition to football matches, it can also host large-scale events such as concerts. If the name is changed, the appeal will decrease.

Bill Gates is not a loyal football fan, but due to market considerations, Microsoft has been cooperating with important sports brands. In its previous life, Microsoft made many advances and wanted to cooperate with giants such as Real Madrid, Barcelona, ​​Manchester United, Chelsea, and Bayern to name the team's home stadium.

It even reached an agreement with Real Madrid at one point and would pay US$10 million a year to name the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. Of course, this amount of money is far from enough. The additional condition is that Microsoft can use its own data technology to transform the Bernabeu.

However, Real Madrid later found that the relevant technology was not mature enough and gave up this plan.

At this moment, Bill Gates was at Old Trafford, and he raised this topic and said solemnly: "If Manchester United needs a title sponsor for their home stadium, Microsoft can follow up."

Zhou Buqi was a little funny, "Old Trafford?"

"right."

"I'm afraid this is difficult, but..."

"Um?"

"But there is a direction, it must be possible."

Bill Gates became interested, "What is it?"

Zhou Buqi said: "After I took over Manchester United, I also renovated the training base. If Microsoft is interested, they can sponsor the Carrington training base and the reserve team stadium."

After a pause, he glanced at Gates' daughter and added: "Manchester United's women's football team is also very good. You can pay attention to it if you have time. Last year, they almost won the Premier League women's football championship with a complete victory record. Manchester United's women's football team The home field is the refurbished reserve stadium.”

Bill Gates smiled and said nothing.

This is a bit absurd.

The training base and reserve stadium feel not in line with Microsoft's own positioning.

However, Zhou Buqi also added a new idea after talking.

yes!

Old Trafford's home stadium cannot be named, but Manchester United has other assets! Such as the Carrington training base, such as the reserve team stadium that has just been renovated!

These two assets are acceptable for commercial naming.

Well, you can talk to Lawrence later to find new sponsors for Manchester United!

Running a club is just like doing business. You must not be limited. You must constantly look for new profit points to maintain the momentum and vitality of growth.

Bill Gates waved his hand, "What I want to tell you is another thing."

"OK."

Zhou Buqi could basically guess that an American would not have much interest in football.

Bill Gates said: "The 'Instructions' project is a very beautiful idea and I like it very much."