La Liga side Athletic Bilbao President Josu Urrutia on Monday announced the club's budget for the upcoming year. Changes to the team's roster have decreased spending from €43.1M a year ago to the current figure of €38.3M ($52M). Urrutia said that "Athletic will try to go forward with a budget" of €64M ($87M), which is €2M "less than it was last year." Finally, "the predicted revenue from members and season-ticket holders has fallen" €1.5M ($2M) (AS, 10/14). ... Before "the year is out," Real Madrid President Florentino Pérez is "eager to announce the winning design for the Santiago Bernabéu redevelopment project and to reveal the sponsor that will give its name to Real Madrid's iconic stadium." Pérez is "planning to reveal the winning design before Christmas, alongside the name of the new stadium sponsor." Real Madrid is looking to push stadium revenue, currently worth €168M ($228M), through the €200M ($272M) barrier "to become the club's main source of income" (MARCA, 10/14). ... Real Madrid members group Plataforma Blanca President Martínez Bravo said that Real Madrid President Florentino Perez "does not enjoy debate and is making the club into something that is anything but democratic." Bravo said, "Now, by magic, all Real Madrid members who were critical in a constructive manner have disappeared" (AS, 10/12).
