Arctos Partners will help Paris Saint-Germain "target fans and sponsors in the U.S.” as part of its decision to invest in the French club, according to a source cited by Samuel Agini of the FINANCIAL TIMES. PSG General Secretary Victoriano Melero said there is a "big, big opportunity in the U.S. market.” Melero: “Having Arctos -- with all the companies where they’ve got stakes but also with the expertise they’ve got -- for us it will be very, very useful to have them next to us.” Arctos has stakes in Liverpool FC, the Red Sox, Lightning and Warriors. Melero indicated that boosting revenues “from merchandising and sponsorship overseas is vital as PSG chases an annual sales target” of $1.1B (all figures U.S.). PSG CRO Marc Armstrong noted the club is on “course to report roughly” $876.5M in sales for 2022-23, which would be “among the highest-ever sums in European football.” However, the club “racked up net losses of more than” $766.9M in the three seasons up to and including 2021-22. Melero said that PSG “should be able to reach profitability in the next two to three years.” Meanwhile, Agini notes PSG “benefits from being the only major football club in Paris.” PSG Chief Brand Officer Fabien Allègre said that the club “wanted to extend its reach beyond football fans in the capital,” in an approach that “pitches ‘Paris’ as a brand that will even appeal to gamers in China who know nothing about football but love the city and the club’s esports team.” The 2024 Paris Games present another opportunity, as PSG is “looking to make use of ‘pop-up stores’ in the city” and has “worked with Nike on some ‘Paris-focused’ product ranges” (FINANCIAL TIMES, 12/15)
