VietNamNet Bridge - After the tour of Arsenal FC, both Hoang Anh Gai Lai (HAGL) Group and Eximbank denied to announce financial details, but according information leaked from the recent conference of the organizing board, the loss is about VND14 billion ($700,000).

HAGL Chairman Doan Nguyen Duc (standing) with Arsenal FC's officials.

The loss was anticipated when the total funding to hold this event was estimated at over VND40 billion ($2 million). Of these, the fee to take Arsenal to Vietnam was VND24-25 billion. The remaining costs were for organizing tasks, insurance, security, accommodations and others for the 100-member delegation of Arsenal.

The main income from this tour is ticket sales which are calculated at about VND26-27 billion. The organizer did not earn anything from television rights and advertising on the stadium.

In the match, the organizers did not sell television rights but gave it for free to the national broadcaster VTV. All the billboards in the stadium were shared by the three organizations included in the organizing board: the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF), HAGL and Eximbank.

One member of the organizing board said though they did not earn income from selling TV rights and advertising, the organizing members had a good chance to advertise their images. Thus, the loss of a dozen of billion is not expensive for such a chance of advertising.

According to an official of VFF, although the friendly match did not generate profits--both HAGL and Eximbank, the sponsors, are satisfied with the success of the tour, which opened up other opportunities.

The VFF and these sponsors are considering inviting bigger FCs of the world to Vietnam the next summer.

S. Tu