RC Strasbourg to give Meinau Stadium a freshen up

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RC Strasbourg
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Major stakeholders of RC Strasbourg attended a meeting which was held in one of the stadium’s hospitality sections, when it was announced that construction on the Meinau Stadium’s redevelopment and extension had begun.

As Ligue 1 is dominated by Paris Saint Germain, it is a wise decision by the city and club to invest into their stadium to keep fans interested and excited in supported their club. RC Strasbourg have not seen domestic success in recent times with their only league title being back in 1979, while the club finished only three spots above relegation in last seasons Ligue 1 competition.

Many parts of the city supported the club in their pursue of stadium upgrades. The Grand-Est Region, the City of Strasbourg, the European Community of Alsace and the Eurometropolis of Strasbourg (up to $123 million), the European Community of Alsace (up to $30 million), and RC Strasbourg (up to $14 million) all contributed to the project’s total cost of $260 million. RC Strasbourg will also provide an additional $23 million towards the development of commercial areas.

Beginning in June 2023, work will be carried out on extending the South stand. It will then proceed with the redesigning of the South and West stands and the construction of the Fan Zone will begin (from summer 2024 to summer 2025), the redesigning of the North and East stands and the completion of the Fan Zone (from summer 2025 to summer 2025).

“We are very happy to announce the launch of the work together, we know the importance of this project for our territory and for the influence of our city. This stadium is a unifying marker of our territory,” Pia Imbs, President of the Eurometropolis of Strasbourg, stated via press release.

Finally, the redesigning of the East stand and the installation of the lawn (from the start of 2026 to the summer of 2026), for completion in the summer of 2026. The final capacity will hold 32,000, with the stadium’s seating capacity to never drop below 19,000 while construction is active.

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Adidas apparel deal under threat for Manchester United

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Manchester United’s season goes from bad to outright embarrassing as each week passes, and a new report suggests that their massive apparel deal with Adidas is under threat due to their on-field failures.

According to The Telegraph, Adidas holds the right to terminate the deal with a one-year notice period should the Red Devils face relegation to the Championship.

United’s Form Sparks Concerns Over Lucrative Partnership

Manchester United’s long-standing relationship with German sportswear giant Adidas is under serious threat as their poor form continues to raise relegation fears.

Adidas first supplied Manchester United’s apparel in 1980 to 1992 before reuniting with the clu in 2015 following a 23-year gap.

The two parties recently inked a lucrative 10-year extension in June 2023, worth $1.8 billion AUD (£900 million). However, United’s current Premier League struggles could jeopardise this deal.

Premier League Woes Could Prove Costly

Sitting in 13th place, Manchester United are only seven points above the relegation zone, with Ipswich Town breathing down their neck.

It comes after the club had the least amount of points after the halfway mark to a Premier League season in the club’s history (22 pts), a record they seemingly find themselves breaking every year.

In the unlikely event that relegation does happen, the financial blows would be critical for the club.

Adidas’ Relegation Clause Explained

Adidas reportedly has a clause in the contract that allows them to reduce payments by 50% if Manchester United are not in the Premier League. Moreover, the club stands to lose an additional $20 million AUD (£10 million) annually if they fail to qualify for the Champions League.

If United were relegated, their payout could shrink to a mere $70 million (£35 million)  next season—a massive drop from the initial agreement.

Relegation Battle Heats Up

United manager Ruben Amorim has acknowledged the reality of the relegation battle his side faces.

Even if the concept of a Red Devils relegation seems impossible, the mere discussion of it is an indictment on the club.

Conclusion

If Manchester United’s downward spiral continues, the club not only risks relegation but could face severe financial consequences.

Their lack of Champions League football and a potential season without European football as a whole would mark a historic low point for the club and bring significant commercial repercussions.

Football NSW to Build on 2024 Participation Record in 2025

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Football NSW are aiming to develop on the extraordinary numbers of the 2024 season that saw more than 260,000 players take to the pitch. The announcement comes as part of the national Play Football campaign.

With NSW being one of Australia’s largest participation states for football, the federation’s push for more numbers is a welcome target for football in the country.

Football NSW CEO John Tsatsimas spoke with enthusiasm about the sport’s trajectory, highlighting its inclusive nature.

“Football continues to be the sport of choice for the NSW and Australian community, providing a positive environment for participants of all ages and abilities,” Tsatsimas mentioned via Football NSW official press release.

“We have had unprecedented growth in players, coaches, referees and volunteers, with exponential growth in the female game.”

The statistics paint a promising picture of the sport’s expansion, with 2024 registering a 9% increase in player numbers from the earlier season. This translates to over 20,000 new participants.

Perhaps most significantly with the effect of the Women’s FIFA World Cup of 2023, female participation surged by 17%, with more than 9,000 women and girls joining the sport, accounting for nearly half of the total growth.

Maintaining and increasing Women and girls’ levels in the sport are crucial points for development of the Australian game and will be key for the continued rise in participation numbers.

The organisation is now actively encouraging early registration for the 2025 season to ensure players can secure spots with their preferred local clubs, with help from the updated Play Football website.

Beyond player participation, Football NSW is expanding its focus on supporting roles within the sport. The 2024 season witnessed record numbers in coaching, refereeing, and volunteering positions, all crucial components of the game’s ecosystem.

The need for more people joining non-player roles through all levels of the game in NSW is evident with John Tsatsimas pointing out himself the necessity for the 2025 Season.

“There’s a place for everyone in our sport, and we look forward to welcoming new and returning participants for the 2025 season,” Tsatsimas explained via Football NSW official press release.

For those interested in contributing to the sport beyond playing, Football NSW has established comprehensive pathways.

The Football NSW Coach Hub provides resources and guidance for aspiring coaches looking to shape the next generation of footballers.

Additionally, the Referee Hub offers opportunities for individuals to engage with the sport from a different perspective while maintaining an active lifestyle.

With football’s exciting growth continuing in Australia with the expansion and promising viewership numbers of the 2024-25 professional A-leagues, it is always important for the sport that the participation numbers of state leagues and amateur local clubs follow the trend.

Register now for 2025 by clicking here.

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