In the UK, owning a football team is more closely associated with Russian oligarchs or middle-Eastern sheikhs.
Not so, Ebbsfleet United – the ‘world’s first web community owned club’. The club, whose history dates back to 1890, was purchased in February 2008 for £600,000 by over 30,000 members of the MyFootballClub.co.uk community.
Members come from over 80 countries and each pay around £50 a year for the right to vote on key decisions affecting the football club – from setting a weekly playing budget to deciding on season ticket prices to choosing the uniform designs.
Fans taking a financial stake in their passions is a growing trend – from racehorse syndicates to fan-funded bands, startups, films and even (if we had our way) wine. Having a financial interest in a project provides a real, tangible sense of ownership – leading in turn to vocal word-of-mouth marketing and a ready-made customer base.
Whose merchandise would you rather own – the team run by a corporate behemoth or the one you own a part of yourself?
Site: www.myfootballclub.co.uk
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