In K.C., James Dornbrook asks how does Sporting KC plan to "keep the ball rolling forward, without setting expectations so high that goals become unachievable?" Sporting KC CEO Robb Heineman "starts with turning what has been a nice trend into a long-term, sustainable business opportunity." The club is "focused on using those strengths to optimize areas that need work." Heineman said, "As good as things may be perceived, there are still lots of improvements we need to make." Heineman said that one focus will be TV ratings to "help transform Sporting KC from a great local into a great regional brand." The effort will "boost ratings, sponsorships and merchandise sales." Meanwhile, as far as technology goes at Sporting Park, the club "plans to take those offerings to new heights." Heineman: "Starting in May and June, we'll be much more aggressive in pushing out mobile solutions" (K.C. BUSINESS JOURNAL, 5/9 issue).
WASN'T BUILT IN A DAY: The WALL STREET JOURNAL's Strasburg & Robinson write under the leadership of Serie A club AS Roma investor and President James Pallotta "attendance is up, as are season-ticket sales, riding the team's resurgence to the Italian elite." Pallotta estimates that increased ticket sales and merchandising deals will "boost Roma's value" to more than US$688M next year. He said that the value "may more than double if he and his partners succeed in their most ambitious plans: building a huge new stadium and entertainment complex on the southwest edge of Rome." His partners, including Rome-based developer Parsitalia Group, expect this week to "hand city officials their master stadium plan" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 5/13).
SEEING RED: The AP reported a New Jersey appeals court yesterday ruled that the Red Bulls "must pay the town of Harrison" nearly $3M in property taxes. The team has "claimed in a lawsuit that it is exempt from paying taxes under state law because the property and stadium are devoted to 'an essential public purpose.'" The team can "apply to have the state Supreme Court hear the case" (AP, 5/12).
