Man United scrap $17.3m Amazon documentary deal

Avatar
Image credit: mooinblack / Shutterstock.com

Manchester United have abandoned secret negotiations with Amazon over a record-breaking $17.3 million (AUD) documentary series, after head coach Ruben Amorim raised concerns about the potential impact on the team’s performance.

The proposed deal, which was described as Amazon’s largest-ever partnership with a football club, would have seen United feature in an ‘All or Nothing’-style series, granting unprecedented behind-the-scenes access throughout the 2025–26 season.

The streaming giant was reportedly prepared to pay more than £10 million (AUD $17.3m) for exclusive rights, a figure that could have provided a significant financial boost to the debt-laden Premier League club.

United’s business and commercial leadership, including INEOS and new CEO Omar Berrada, were initially supportive of the deal.

With the club facing mounting financial pressures, including sponsor exits and no European football next season, the Amazon partnership was seen as a lucrative opportunity to ease the strain and tap into global streaming audiences.

However, Amorim strongly opposed the project, warning that constant filming and off-field distractions could derail the squad’s focus during a critical rebuild phase at Old Trafford.

His concerns ultimately convinced United’s executive committee to scrap the proposal, despite the potential revenue.

The decision underscores the balancing act United face between commercial expansion and football priorities under Amorim, who is spearheading a long-term restructuring of the squad.

It also highlights the growing influence of the Portuguese manager in strategic decisions, with the board prioritising sporting integrity over short-term financial gain.

United will now look for alternative revenue streams to fill the gap, as the club navigates a delicate financial position marked by heavy debt and rising costs.

Innovative sponsorship deals and global brand activations are expected to feature heavily in the club’s revised commercial strategy.

By walking away from the Amazon deal, Manchester United have signalled that their on-field rebuild under Amorim remains the priority, even as financial challenges loom large in the background.

The club don’t need the added drama that comes with the popular series that has featured other Premier League giants like Arsenal, Manchester City and Tottenham.

Previous ArticleNext Article

Arsenal x Meta: The Tech-Driven Fan Revolution You Didn’t See Coming

Avatar
Image Credit: Olubukola Ozone Olanrewaju / Facebook.com

The current Premier League leaders announced last week the start of a new partnership with Meta, which will see WhatsApp and Facebook unite fans across the world.

A global partnership

The partnership between Arsenal and Meta will aim to bring fans together from across the world in digital spaces.

While WhatsApp and Facebook are already popular platforms for football fans to talk, review and connect over the course of a season, the new initiative will build on this existing engagement.

Head of Marketing for Meta Consumer Apps, Vivian Odior, outlined why a partnership with Meta contributes to the overall fan experience.

“We know that being an Arsenal supporter doesn’t start at kick-off and end at the final whistle,” Odior said via Arsenal’s Official Website.

“WhatsApp and Facebook are where that year-round passion lives – the transfer speculation, the tactical debates, the shared memories and hopes for next season.”

Indeed, as Arsenal looks to clinch a first league title since 2004, there will be plenty of discourse and conversation between fans in the coming weeks.

 

What can fans expect?

The digital space presents endless opportunities for football supporters to connect across continents.

Arsenal fans will be able to access an extensive range of new digital experiences, as well as activations at the Emirates Stadium throughout April.

But beyond the unique offers and experiences the partnership provides, there is a fundamental sense of community and family driving the project. Chief Commercial Officer at Arsenal, Juliet Slot, explained the importance of having digital spaces to allow fans to feel a part of the Arsenal family.

“Our partnership with Meta builds on how our supporters already come together, wherever they are in the world, and will create more ways to feel closer and more connected to our club,” Slot said via Arsenal’s Official Website.

“As we continue to compete to win major trophies, partnerships like this play an important role in supporting that ambition and strengthening our connection with supporters.”

 

The modern game

Furthermore, the expansion of digital spaces for Arsenal fans highlights a new era for the game as a whole.

As social media grows, the game must keep pace. And with so many fans across the world engaging with digital spaces, establishing a partnership with Meta is a step into the future where football and social media intersect more than ever.

Stop Complaining, Start Building: Why Proactive Clubs Always Win

Avatar
Image Credit: Connelly Project Resources

It’s a tale as old as time in grassroots sport: your club is stuck in a “time warp” facility, sharing a severely overused pitch with another code, while a club a few suburbs over just scored millions of dollars in council funding.

It is incredibly frustrating. The disparity in local government funding, the draconian facility-sharing arrangements, and the feeling that your sport is constantly fighting an uphill battle in certain heartlands can make committee members want to throw their hands in the air.

But when faced with this reality, your club has a choice. You can go on a rampage of advocacy – bitching, moaning, and focusing on everything the council or state sporting body isn’t doing – or, you can focus on what you can control.

The Post-COVID Divide

Think back to the clubs that emerged from the COVID-19 lockdowns. During that time, every club faced the exact same external restriction: nobody could play.

However, two distinct types of clubs emerged.

The first type went dark. They complained about the government, complained about the lack of support from their Peak Bodies, and disconnected from their members. They took years to recover.

The second type of club stayed connected. They acknowledged the reality but focused entirely on what they could do. They posted backyard drills on TikTok, sent training plans to parents, and kept their community engaged. As soon as restrictions lifted, they were on the front foot, miles ahead of the competition. Same environment, entirely different mindset.

The Circle of Control

In business and in sport, there is a circle of concern (things you care about but can’t change) and a much smaller circle of control (your own thoughts, behaviours, and operations).

If you have signed a 10-year lease on a substandard facility, that is your playing field. You aren’t going to change it tomorrow. So, how can you win given the rules you have?

·  Run a tight ship financially.

·  Pay your rent on time.

·  Communicate brilliantly with your members.

·  Streamline your governance.

Government likes to back a winner. If you spend your time spinning up the flywheels of good marketing, membership growth, and volunteer connection, you build a small business that clearly has its act together. When it comes time to advocate for better facilities, you aren’t just a complaining club—you are a highly successful, proactive community asset that councils will want to support.

Is your club stuck in a cycle of complaining? It’s time to take control of what you can. Contact CPR Group today to find out how our clubMENTOR program and strategic planning services can put your club on the front foot.

Most Popular Topics

Editor Picks

Send this to a friend