138: Sky-high Naming Rights Price (Part 1)

Victoria Park Stadium was deserted late at night.

The stadium's floodlights had long been turned off, with only a few safety lights casting a faint glow.

Lin Feng stood alone in the main stand, looking down at the land that was about to be completely redeveloped.

On his phone screen, the content of an email Richard Arnold had just sent him was a bit surprising.

Eighty million pounds, for ten years.

This figure indeed exceeded his initial expectations.

Lin Feng took a deep breath and put his phone back in his pocket.

He understood that Samsung was not interested in Hartlepool United's current performance, but rather the future blueprint he had envisioned.

A business empire with football at its core, integrating technology, sports, and entertainment.

More importantly, they smelled the enormous potential of the Eastern market.

Inside the office, Lin Feng opened the hardcover folder on his desk.

It contained the latest design proposal for the Northern Dragon Arena, with detailed technical parameters and cost analysis annotated on each page.

His finger traced over the architectural rendering of the modern stadium that was about to rise from the ground.

Sixty thousand seats, a retractable pitch, and an intelligent lighting system.

This would be the most advanced football venue in Northern England.

“But naming rights alone are far from enough.”

Lin Feng put down the documents and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window of his office.

Outside, the town of Hartlepool was already asleep, with only a few late-night bars still emitting warm yellow light.

He picked up his phone and dialed Richard Arnold’s number.

“Richard, I’ve seen your report.”

“Boss, this offer is indeed surprising. At the current exchange rate, it already exceeds the naming rights value of Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium.”

“I don’t accept it.”

A brief silence followed on the other end of the line.

“Boss, do you think the price isn’t reasonable enough?”

Lin Feng turned back to his desk and casually opened a business plan.

“The price is very reasonable, but the scope is too small. What I want is not a one-time naming rights deal, but a long-term strategic partnership.”

His voice was calm, but it conveyed an undeniable firmness.

“Tell them I need a Chief Technology Partner, not just a simple naming sponsor.”

Lin Feng began to elaborate on his ideas.

Smart stadium solutions, scientific research equipment for the training center, and joint brand promotion in global markets.

“Samsung provides the money; we provide them with a ticket to the future of tech-sports. In this business, what we want isn't just money; it's to be tied to them on the same ship.”

“Richard, this plan will completely change our club’s business model. We will no longer be a traditional football club, but a tech-sports complex.”

After hanging up the phone, Lin Feng opened his computer.

The system interface for the [World-Class Club Development Platform] was displayed on the screen.

[System Notification: Detecting that the host is engaged in important business negotiations.]

[Suggestion: Enable the “Market Analysis” module to evaluate the feasibility of the cooperation plan.]

Lin Feng clicked confirm.

Detailed data analysis charts immediately appeared on the system interface.

Samsung Electronics’ global market share, technical strength assessment, and forecast of development trends for the next five years.

Every piece of data proved that this South Korean electronics giant indeed had the strength to become a long-term partner.

[Analysis Result: Feasibility of this cooperation plan is 95.7%, with expected returns exceeding a simple naming rights agreement by 300%.]

Lin Feng closed the system interface and began to contemplate a larger business landscape.

Northern Storm Interactive Entertainment, the newly acquired logistics company, and investment projects in the new energy sector.

These seemingly scattered business ventures all needed to be unified and integrated under the Northern Capital holding structure.

He wanted to build a vast closed business loop with Hartlepool United as the core IP.

Various industries would mutually support each other, share resources, and form a powerful synergy.

At two in the morning, Lin Feng’s office was still brightly lit.

He was drafting a detailed business cooperation proposal, with every clause carefully considered.

A soft knock came from outside the door.

“Come in.”

Sophie Green pushed the door open, holding a cup of hot coffee.

“I saw your office light was still on, so I guessed you might need this.”

She placed the coffee in front of Lin Feng, her gaze sweeping over the documents spread out on the desk.

“What mysterious business plan are you working on now?”

Lin Feng looked up from the documents, his speech a beat slower than usual, indicating his fatigue at the moment.

“Not mysterious, just some necessary arrangements.”

Sophie sat down opposite him, ignoring the documents on the table, and went straight to the point: “I’ve heard some rumors about your moves beyond football.”

“I’ve recently heard some rumors that you’re making large-scale acquisitions and investments behind the scenes.”

“Rumors are often exaggerated.”

“But there’s always some factual basis.” Sophie leaned forward slightly, “Lin, I know you’re not just running a football club. You’re building something much bigger.”

Lin Feng picked up the coffee and took a small sip.

The warmth of the liquid slightly soothed his tired nerves.

“Sophie, sometimes a journalist’s professional sensitivity is a double-edged sword.”

“Then consider me concerned as a friend.”

Her voice softened a little.

“You’ve been working late recently, and even during team matches, you’re thinking about other things.”

Lin Feng put down his coffee cup and leaned back in his chair.

The night outside was still dark, and the distant sound of a ship’s horn from the harbor could be faintly heard.

“You know, Sophie, when I first came to Hartlepool, the port here was already in decline.”

His gaze drifted out the window.

“The fishing industry failed, the steelworks closed, and young people left to find better opportunities.”

“But you came.” Sophie listened quietly, “And then everything started to change.”

“Football is just the beginning.” Lin Feng turned his head and met her gaze, “True change requires more than that. Job opportunities, technological innovation, cultural prosperity.”

Sophie listened, then subconsciously tapped the rim of her coffee cup with her fingertip, seemingly digesting this grand vision.

This was not just about making money; it was about revitalizing this northern town.

“So you want to build a business empire?”

“I want to build an ecosystem.” Lin Feng corrected him, “An ecosystem that can self-circulate and self-develop.”

A brief silence fell between them.

Inside the office, there was only the faint hum of the computer fan and the distant sound of waves crashing against the shore.

Sophie suddenly remembered something.

“Oh, by the way, I heard Darlington’s coach boasted before the match that he would make your ‘kindergarten team’ pay the price.”

Lin Feng put down the documents, his finger tapping lightly on the desk, “Kindergarten? That analogy, our opponent will regret it very soon.”

“Kindergarten? An interesting analogy.”

“Are you really planning to send the reserve team to play in the derby?”