Saturday, May 25, 2013

Where does hype go to die?

This week --

The Manchester City-Yankees partnership, which will no doubt antagonize the Mets, will deepen existing ties because the Yankees’ stadium concessions business, Legends Hospitality, already provides services at Manchester City’s home ground, Etihad Stadium. Manchester City, the recently deposed champion of England’s Premier League, will play an exhibition match against another British powerhouse, Chelsea, on Saturday at Yankee Stadium, and city and M.L.S. officials were eager to announce a deal before that game. “In the Yankees, we have found the absolute best partner for developing a world-class sports organization and a winning team that will carry the New York City Football Club name with pride,” said Ferran Soriano, the chief executive of Manchester City.

February 2001 --

Manchester United have consolidated their position as the richest football club in the world by joining forces with American baseball giants New York Yankees. The biggest joint-marketing deal in the history of sport, potentially worth billions of pounds, was unveiled at a press conference in Manhattan on Wednesday ... Under the deal, David Beckham and Fabien Barthez will be paraded at the Yankee Stadium, with El Duque and outfielder Bernie Williams visiting Old Trafford.