Leaders Meet: India: Top Four Football Minds To Discuss Global Fanbase
In recent times, the Indian sports industry has been on an exciting trajectory. In 2022, the industry experienced remarkable revenue growth, surpassing the INR 140 billion benchmark, marking an impressive 49 percent rise from the previous year. This increase is a clear indication of the escalating interest and enthusiasm for sports in India.
While cricket still holds the nation’s heart, the thrill of various other sports is also gaining momentum. Indian spectators are increasingly becoming captivated by innovation, superior experiences, and greater engagement beyond just cricket.
Leaders Meet: India: Top Four Football Minds To Discuss Global Fanbase and India’s Growth Narrative to Propel
Leaders Meet by RCB Innovation Labs: India, scheduled to take place in Bengaluru on November 29 and 30, serves as a catalyst for this transformation by fostering dialogue and exchange of ideas. The event will host the most influential figures from the global sports industry, providing a comprehensive view of the current and future landscape of the sports business and discussing how India can emerge as a dominant player in this sector.
As the summit approaches, let’s introduce four global sports leaders who have revolutionized and broadened the global football market. Each of them, a pioneer in their respective fields, will be sharing their insights and driving discussions at Leaders Meet: India.
FIFA primarily aims to broaden and develop football and make the sport more accessible worldwide. FIFA+ recorded 211 million unique users for FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and 190 million views on match summaries. Recently, FIFA+ has also extended its reach to five new connected TV apps. To enhance the experience for football fans, FIFA Digital Skills was launched in 2022 as an educational program to improve the digital skills and knowledge of professionals in the global football community.
This initiative was spearheaded by Ms. Charlotte Burr. The platform also features a dedicated e-learning platform, case studies of best practices, an analysis of the latest tech trends, and a series of live masterclasses for the growing football community. At Leaders Meet: India, FIFA’s Director of Strategy for Corporate Development and Digital, Ms. Charlotte Burr will discuss the potential of India as a football market and the opportunities for India to become one of the largest growth markets in football.
The Premier League attracts an annual TV audience of 4.7 billion and is viewed in 643 million homes worldwide. The Fantasy Premier League also drew 11.4 million participants globally last season, becoming a key platform for viewers to engage with the league and build a strong connection with their favorite club. As the Chief Commercial Officer of Premier League, Mr. Will Brass will share insider information on the business strategies of the world’s top football league and its plans for India as a prominent growth market for football.
According to the latest data, Manchester United boasted the highest average attendance in the Premier League in the 2023/24 season, drawing crowds of approximately 73,488 to Old Trafford. In contrast, city rivals and Premier League champions Manchester City had an average attendance of 53,427. Manchester United ranks third in terms of revenue (2021-22) and aims to grow its fanbase further.
Ellie Norman, who previously worked with Formula 1 to expand its fan base, define its vision, value & purpose, and deliver sustainable growth globally, is now the Chief Communications Officer at Manchester United. She has been instrumental in keeping fans at the heart of the club. At Leaders Meet: India, she will share insights on strategic marketing, partnerships, content, and fan engagement through her experiences.
Tottenham Hotspur enjoy a massive fanbase in Korea as 12 million out of the country’s total population of 51 million supports the club which is almost one in four. Tottenham Hotspur has significantly hastened its digital development. The club revamped its website, recast its app and expanded its social media capabilities in line with this shift.
While television growth has been significant, digital campaigns overtook traditional formats at Spurs. The club also fast-tracked its marketing tech stack build out and now has a strong following in the APAC region. To roll out the back story, Mr Scott Munn, Chief Football Officer of Hotspur will speak about the power of legacy fan base that will harness the Indian sub-continent football brand story at the Leaders Meet: India.
