The attractive Japanese sports Market

Today, Marketing became necessary in the life of a big club of football.
Japanese Market became a great opportunity for foreign soccer clubs to develop their brand image.
We don’t play soccer a lot in Japan, but since the last decade, The biggest soccer clubs try to establish themselves and to popularize their mark in Japan.
It’s a huge opportunity for them to develop their image in Asia, to sell stemming products increasing revenues and finally to open a New Market.
So, in the last decade many soccer clubs were invited in Asia for a summer tour, allowing asian fans to see their idols. But to see Fc Barcelona, Real Madrid or Manchester united, there is a price and a very high price.
For their tours, clubs pocket a sum between 3 and 5 millions euros.
It’s not the only advantage. In fact, players like Ronaldinho, Eto’o, Henry or Beckham allow these clubs to develop their brand image and to provoke the infatuation of the Japanese fans. That’s how Fc Barcelona openned an official store in Japan.
And they are real fans, this picture above which went all around the world testifies it. Small Japanese who mourns after a game lost by Barcelona.

It became fashion since the infatuation provoked by David Beckham these last years.
David Beckham is the most famous soccer player in Japan.
The shoots of the Beckham cult began to grow back in 1999 when Manchester united visited Japan, first his appeal was most apparent among young females. Girls hang Beckham pendants from their mobile phones, and wear Beckham badges and there are plans to produce a Beckham brand of soft drinks and snacks. The team spirit of Beckham is what makes him popular in this country where collectivism is more important than individualism. So players as George Best or Paul Gascoigne who were blended in narcotic scandals would never have had so much infatuation in Japan.
The Sports Marketing in Japan is growing very fastly and it represents a real opportunity to developp foreign brands.