00:00Recently appointed President of Business Operations, Francesco Calvo faces a major challenge at Aston Villa as he aims to boost the club's commercial growth in a competitive Premier League environment.
00:14Despite reaching the Champions League last eight last season, Villa's revenue lags far behind the Premier League's big six commercial powerhouses, limiting their transfer budget and ability to compete financially.
00:28Calvo took over from Chris Heck earlier this summer with a clear mission to increase the club's income and raise the financial ceiling for football spending.
00:40While some revenue streams were explored under Heck, Calvo is now targeting new commercial opportunities, including stadium naming rights at Villa Park, though he acknowledges this is not an immediate priority given the historic significance of the venue.
00:56Instead, he's focusing more on sponsorship assets such as training ground deals, kick sponsorships and the upcoming jersey renewal, all designed to maximise available inventory and generate a steady income.
01:11This approach is crucial under the Premier League's PSR rules and UEFA's squad cost regulations, which require Villa to grow revenues before expanding their wage and transfer budgets.
01:23With the new season kicking off this Saturday, Villa hosts Newcastle United, a club facing its own challenges.
01:32Ahead of this fixture, Villa announced a 5% price rise on adult tickets, keeping under 21 and concessions steadily restructured for categories, improving accessibility.
01:43Cavo spoke openly about the progression of the club financially and respecting the fans, stressing the club's potential to play a more influential role on English football.
01:57Recently, Villa secured high profile partnership deals with Guinness and Red Bull.
02:01These deals not only bring commercial revenue, but also aim to enhance fan experiences on match days and beyond, aligning with Villa's ambitions to grow both on and off the pitch.
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