IN the day of reality television, it is not hard to believe that a football club is inviting cameras to capture the inner workings of their organization for TV audiences to witness.
The announcement of Fox Soccer’s upcoming, six-part documentary series titled, Our Liverpool: Never Walk Alone is a bit of surprise, given that it most certainly pushes the Manager to the point of discomfort.
Entering into the all-access arena of documentary television is in stark contrast to philosophy of keeping internal issues contained within the boot-room, a legacy of the club that King Kenny holds dear. While a bit surprising, the move is a welcome one.
The American owners are targeting a global brand growth, specifically within football’s growth market, America. With the announcement of the summer tour of the states, a virtual explosion of organization has occurred within the ranks of Liverpool fans in America. Fans are feverishly banding together on Facebook, twitter and blogs to arrange what will most certainly be a summer to remember. FSG is displaying financial savvy, to follow up the fixture announcement of the planned tour of the states with announcement of the documentary series.
Immediate revenue growth will certainly not be derived from increased sales of matchday tickets with plans for a new stadium in a holding pattern. In addition, the club has lost potential revenue from failing to achieve the club’s goal of making it to back to Champions League football. The owners are employing a brand growth strategy that will capitalize on the growth of the sport in America, a sports market which they are intimately familiar with.
There will certainly be supporters who struggle to come to terms with the announcement. Blog posts include criticism of everything from Rupert Murdoch’s relationship with Fox to fears for how supporters of other clubs may view the series.
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What is important to remember when digesting the announcement of the series, is that revenue growth is good. In addition to being the life blood of supporters, this is a business. In the modern day more than ever,it is a business that takes revenue in order to facilitate club initiatives such as signing players and building a new stadium.
This is a pivotal moment in the modern history of Liverpool FC. The prospect of the content that this documentary series will capture is exciting, what every supporter hopes will be a season marked with two pieces of silverware as opposed to being remember for abysmal league form. Storylines for viewer intrigue are plenty.
The aging and beloved Liverpool missionaries, Jaime Carragher and Steven Gerrard along with the controversial but astonishing striker in Luis Suarez mixed with the ‘under fire’ manager and office staff made redundant provides directors and viewers exactly what they are looking for, a reason to watch. Let’s hope that there is plenty of recording space for victory celebrations this weekend.
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