Speaking exclusively to Storm TV, Melbourne Storm CEO Mark Evans further explains some more about Storm’s partnership with Manchester City in acquiring A-League club Melbourne Heart.
In a historic day for Australian sport, a consortium led by Manchester City Football Club, including the ownership group of Melbourne Storm has acquired A-League club Melbourne Heart.
Melbourne Storm CEO Mark Evans says the club’s partnership with Manchester City will only prove beneficial to Storm moving forward.
“Its very exciting, I think its only a positive really,” Evans said on Thursday.
“I’m flattered in a way that they think we can help them in the same way that they have partnered with the Yankees.”
Evans likened the venture to the partnership between Manchester City and the New York Yankees around the newly created MLS franchise New York City FC.
“We are very similar really, the Yankees have got a minority stake in New York City FC,” Evans said.
“Manchester City are looking to build a global presence - they feel that they are obviously experts in the football side of the business and they are looking for a local partner to help them out with some back office stuff.
“From our point of view, to be able to plug into that type of network across different sports and different parts of the world…can only be helpful.
The Storm CEO reassured Storm fans the new partnership will not adversely effect the club’s normal functioning.
“On a day-to-day basis nothing will change, our focus is still on the new season,” Evans said.
“I think it is just a way of improving our network and looking to broaden our connections and awareness of new developments.
‘There’s lots of things going on in lots of parts of the world and to have access to that and to hopefully make a contribution at the same time really exciting.”
Raefe Winstanley (Melbourne Storm Strategy Director), Simon Pearce (Board Director Manchester City FC), Ferran Soriano (Manchester City FC CEO), Bart Campbell (Chairman of the holding company Heart Consortium Group and Chairman of Melbourne Storm), Brian Marwood (Managing Director City Football Services), Francisco Lopez (Chief Business Officer City Football Services), Txiki Begiristain (Football Director Manchester City FC)
