Not long ago, we made a Freakonomics Radio podcast asking whether the NFL might someday sell ad space on its jersey fronts, as soccer teams around the world already do. In European soccer in particular, the revenue can be substantial:
A new Sport+Markt report shows that, despite the recession, the English Premier League (which itself has a sponsor, Barclays) has just set a record by bringing in $178 million this year for its 20 clubs, overtaking Germany’s Bundesliga. According to Sport+Markt, the 10 European soccer clubs this year average more than $23 million each for jersey sponsorship. (The revered F.C. Barcelona, meanwhile, sports a UNICEF logo on its jerseys, but it actually makes a donation to the group rather than taking any payment.)
But Barca, despite its sterling on-field performance, has run into big budget trouble. So what happens? Out with the Unicef donation, in with a reported $30 million (US$40 million)-per year deal with the Qatar Foundation.
Former Barca manager Johan Cruyff, for one, does not approve:
According to Goal.com, Cruyff, in his weekly column in El Periodico de Catalunya, said the deal was unnecessary and goes against the history of the strip. “We are a unique club in the world, no one has kept their jersey intact throughout their history, yet have remained as competitive as they come,” he is quoted as saying.
“We have sold this uniqueness for about 6pc of our budget. I understand that we are currently losing more than we are earning. However, by selling the shirt it shows me that we are not being creative, and that we have become vulgar.
“If things are so bad, then we should cut out the deal we have with Unicef, and all the values it represents, because we pay them to carry the logo on our shirts.”
Dear NFL: are you paying attention?
Separately: my family and I are soon heading to Barcelona for the holiday, and are boundlessly excited. But I have never been and would appreciate any good tips as to places to see, eat, etc., especially with children (10 and 8 years old). Also, we need someplace to watch an American football game, as the Steelers will be?trying to avoid Jets’ coaches’ knees playing the Jets while we are there. Muchas gracias!
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I’m sure you’ll enjoy all of the attractions already mentioned. But my guess is that your children will be getting a bit fidgety. (La Sagrada Familia is good though because the kids like climbing up and down through all the towers.) Having lived in BCN for several years with youngsters about the same age as yours, let me offer a few opportunities for them to run around for awhile.
Best play structure: On the beach, south of Port Olympic; features a giant spiderweb sort of thing that’s far too tall for the US tort system to allow.
Best walking trail: Take FCG’s Vallvidrera funicular to the midpoint stop. There’s a nice trail that runs north/south along the side of the hill with some great views of the city. Bonus is that kids like the ride up the very steep incline in this little train.
Best seasonal treat: You’ll be there for the Christmas market in the plaza in front of the old Gothic cathedral (Fira de Santa Llucia). Best in the evenings. Plan on explaining the caganeer to your children.
Font magica de Montjuïc is an amazing fountain with lights and music.
Everywhere else people mentioned are great too.
I had an amazing meal at Los Caracoles off Las Ramblas. There’s a wait but it’s good. When I went to Barcelona, my dad recommended this place from when he was stationed there with the navy in the 60s. Good then, good now.
By all means go see the Magic Fountains of Montjuic when they are dancing (7 to 9 p.m. Fri and Sat, plus Thu and Sun starting, I think, Dec 23): that’s where Barcelona looks its most magnificent.
Contrary to a recommendation above, El Raval should be avoided: despite being adjacent to Las Ramblas, it is dirty, shabby and just plain dangerous. Unless your intention is to gather some material for further research into street prostitution (mostly Romanian) and drug gangs (mostly Pakistani), you are better off staying away from that part of the city.
Choose a day when the weather is good for a visit to Las Ramblas to see all the living statues: some of them prefer to stay home when it rains. While you are there, be sure to tour La Boqueri’a market.
Take a walk up Passeig de Gra’cia to see two of Gaudi’s greatest works: Casa Batllo’ (on your left when walking from Plaza de Catalunya) and La Pedrera (on your right).
Other obvious things to see: Sagrada Fami’lia, Parc Guell, the Gothic cathedral (don’t miss the cloister) with the ancient royal palace next to it (where Columbus announced his discovery to King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella upon returning from the trip they had funded) and Camp Nou, preferably when FCB is playing (you said it yourself: Xavi is beautiful to behold; I’ll add: so are the rest of them). Less obvious but also recommended: el Poble Espanyol, a collection of life-size settings from various regions of Spain.
Lovely places to eat are so abundant, you’re really unlikely to make a poor choice. Be sure to try local paella, it’s amazing. If there are hot-chocolate lovers in your family, they’ll find themselves in paradise: in Bcn, it’s hot chocolate indeed, not cocoa with a bloated ego. For good tapas, visit Sinatra (www.sinatrabcn.com). For a piece of magic, stop at El Bosc de les Fades (Fairy Forest) cafe’ at the Wax Museum (www.museocerabcn.com).
Finally, one thing I can’t stress enough: while Barcelona is easily the world’s most fascinating city, it is also plagued with pickpockets. Never — seriously, never — carry anything valuable in your pockets when you’re around tourist attractions, or the bastards will ruin the whole experience for you. Just in case: if you do get in trouble of any kind, the emergency number is 112.
Have a great trip, and do visit the fountains: if you are lucky to see them dance to Freddie Mercury’s “Barcelona,” the splendor of the scene will make you shiver
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I really liked the Roman ruins in downtown Barcelona, along with Park Guell. I also recommend reading Orwell’s Homage to Catalonia before you go. You can walk around several of the locations it describes when you are in Barcelona.
Absolutely La Sagrada Familia, and the other Gaudi’s and a walk on La Rambla. Make sure you try the ham, the best of all the ethnic cured hams.
C’mon,Barca is staring at a monstrous debt.How do they pull themselves out of it??They have to pull in some dollars.Why should people feel offended by it??I was ,am & will be a Barca fan , what ever come may.
Two places to watch the NFL games:
George & Dragon
http://www.georgeanddragon-bcn.com/sports.html
The George Payne
http://www.thegeorgepayne.com/
Barcelona, I live there if you get lost call
A nice place to eat tapas and really affordable is Cerveceria Catalana in Mallorca street, on the corner with Rambla Catalunya (not las ramblas!!). Go early they don’t accept reservations but they are big and you wont’ wait and the food is great.
You should manage to eat the catalan christmas soup some were (check this lik for an explanation of what it is http://www.estrellaesteve.com/en/2009/11/escudella-a-4-manos/)
Go to CosmoCaixa its a great ghuge science museum great for kids. Also the Aquariu is really nice and its in Maremagnu, you can walk down las Ramblas from Plaça Catalunya to the see and cross to the Maremagnum where the Aquarium is. Next to the Maremagnum there is a nice restaurant great if you want to try excellent paella http://www.rte-barceloneta.com/.