Tottenham hire former Miami Dolphins and Washington employee Todd Kline as the club’s new chief commercial officer
According to Daily Mail, Todd Kline is the new chief commercial officer at Tottenham and will begin his work at the club early next month.
He has experience working in sports organizations, having spent four years at NFL sides Miami Dolphins and Washington Football Team (formerly Redskins). His arrival could boost hopes of Spurs finally being able to sell the naming rights to their new stadium.
Kline has the experience of having done just that in Miami. He engineered a deal that saw entertainment venue Hard Rock stamp their name on the Dolphins stadium in a long-term lucrative deal. The agreement is set to last 18 seasons and is worth £180million.
Finding a similar agreement for the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium will figure high in Kline’s priorities. Spurs moved into their new home last season but are still in the market to sell the arena’s naming rights.
He will also be responsible for the club’s commercial operation. This also includes corporate partnerships and media rights, as the club aim to boost their off-field turnover. Kline will also be tasked to seek new partners in order to build existing revenue streams.
NFL to return!
Tottenham chief Daniel Levy is keen to host a UK NFL franchise at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, which also includes specially-built NFL-style locker rooms. The arena is the first and only stadium to be designed specifically for NFL games outside of North America. (h/t CNN)
Whether Kline’s familiarity with the NFL will make that job easier remains to be seen. NFL games at the stadium this season were postponed because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Ahead of the Super Bowl, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell announced that plans are underway to stage four matches in the UK – at Tottenham and Wembley – later this year. (h/t Daily Mail)
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- Mourinho reveals why Gareth Bale was left out of the Tottenham squad against Everton
- Paul Robinson explains Mourinho’s decision to retain Japhet Tanganga
Amazon were among the interested parties keen to take on the naming rights for Spurs’ new home. However, with the pandemic taking the world by storm, there has been a lack of development on that front. Levy is keen to reach an agreement that would net the club around £25m a season. (h/t Daily Mail)
The Lilywhites currently possess a total debt of £1.17billion, much of it comes from the construction of the new stadium. Being able to balance the books will be a key concern for Levy and co. in the coming years.
