Right now, the board of Toppfotball Kvinner is sitting and considering the biggest agreement of all time for Norwegian women’s football. – It’s absolutely insane and incredibly fun and exciting. That’s what news’s football expert Ingrid Kvernvolden says when she hears about the foreign investors who are tempting the Toppserien with a giant deal. According to what news has learned, the investors are willing to put in a three-digit million sum, i.e. at least NOK 100 million, to gain access to women’s football in Norway. – Financially speaking, it will be an agreement that is significantly larger than any agreement that has ever been entered into for women’s football in Norway, says Jan Erik Fåne, chairman of Toppfotball Kvinner, to news. CHAIRMAN: Jan Erik Fåne in Topfootball Women. Photo: Annika Byrde / NTB He tells news that they cannot yet say how many millions are in question and when the agreement could possibly be finalized. It may also be appropriate for the investors to buy the name of the Toppserien as part of the agreement. – How will the money come in from these investors? – It will be a collaboration where they pay for some rights. Then it is distributed to our clubs after dialogue and decision among the clubs, replies Fåne. – What do investors want? – They see the value of being associated with women’s football. I have seen an international development that is absolutely enormous. And we know that our product is also valuable in Norway, he says. – What rights do they want to have? – There will be market rights linked to our product. So the matches, the teams, the league and so on, explains Fåne. A number of clarifications remain Kvernvolden tells news that top football for women has not been spoiled financially in recent years. A possible agreement could make a big difference, she believes. – I think I can contribute to developing football in Norway to become more attractive and increase the quality considerably, says Kvernvolden. EXCITED: news expert Ingrid Kvernvolden. Photo: JØRUND WESSEL CARLSEN / news Secretary General Karl-Petter Løken of the Norwegian Football Association (NFF) also confirms to news that there have been non-committal talks with a global company with partners from both Europe and the USA. They are looking at the possibility of a commercial collaboration around the Toppserien and the 1st division for women. – But we are not there now that there are any draft agreements on what a centralized collaboration might look like, says Løken and continues: – What a possible collaboration will look like, it is therefore too early to say anything about. There are a number of clarifications of a legal, commercial and business nature that need to be done before we are possibly there. CONFIRM CONVERSATIONS: General Secretary Karl-Petter Løken of the Norwegian Football Association. Photo: Fredrik Varfjell / NTB – Regarding the agreement as it is today, the Toppserien’s general partner is as of today Obos. They were contacted by Toppfotball Kvinner on Monday. Dagbladet wrote in 2017 that Obos entered with eleven million kroner a year, distributed over a five-year agreement that expired in 2023. This agreement was extended by one more year in December 2023. Obos thus has a general partner agreement with the Toppserien until the end of the year. – We relate to the agreement as it is today. We are in negotiations now which are confidential between the parties. If another interested party enters the field, it can help to influence both parties, says Rasmus Aarflot, sponsorship manager at Obos, to news. Main partners include Norsk Tipping, Coop and Thon Hotels. The collaboration partners are Fagforbundet, Select and Mercimate. Struggling financially The top league clubs ended up with a deficit of NOK 2.4 million for 2023. The NFF presented the figures shown in May. – Toppserien delivers a negative annual result for the second year in a row. It is not sustainable over time. Women’s football in Europe is changing rapidly. It is important that we keep up with this development, and it is good that there is investment, but it is important that you also have control over the economy, Løken told NTB then. In the top two divisions on the men’s side, the clubs had a positive annual result of well over half a billion kroner last year. Top football Women acknowledge that there are difficult financial times for the clubs. After last year’s season, Avaldsnes lost its license and place in the Toppserien due to the club’s financial situation, while LSK Kvinner is currently threatened with bankruptcy. Kolbotn is also among the clubs that have struggled financially. This is also possible to see at the club’s facilities at Sofiemyr Stadium. THE SHOWER FACILITIES: This is how you look in one of the showers at Sofiemyr Stadium. Photo: Frode Fjerdingstad / news MUGG: The stands also reflect the economy of the club. Photo: Frode Fjerdingstad / news PREVIOUS HOME FIELD: Kolbotn has had Grorud as its home field during this year’s season due to the facilities. Photo: Frode Fjerdingstad / news SHOWER FACILITIES: This is what you look like in one of the showers at Sofiemyr Stadium. Photo: Frode Fjerdingstad / news CLEAR NOTICE: “Stay in the changing room only for those changing clothes”. Photo: Frode Fjerdingstad / news The general manager of the club, Jan Thomas Birkeland, is positive about getting foreign investors into top football for women. – Immediately I think that it is very exciting that there are some players who are interested in football on the women’s side. I also think there are great opportunities, says Birkeland. DAILY MANAGER: Jan Thomas Birkeland at Sofiemyr Stadium. Photo: Frode Fjerdingstad / news They are also positive at league leader Vålerenga, the day before the first match in the Mesterliga qualification against Anderlecht, the foreign interest is received with optimism. – It would have been fantastic if someone wanted to invest in Norwegian women’s football in that way. We need finances, all the clubs do it to take further steps in a competition that is getting tougher and tougher, says sports director Steinar Pedersen. – Significantly more funds need to be added Fåne believes that top football on the women’s side has a large need for capital, and that significant investment must be made in the Toppserien and 1st division in order to be competitive with clubs outside the national border. – Significantly more funds need to be added if we are to be able to keep up with the enormous development internationally, claims Fåne. – Can foreign investors buy the league? That they are the owners of the clubs and the series? – It will be difficult according to the rules for Norwegian football, replies Fåne and adds that this is not something the investors want either. Published 17.09.2024, at 19.16 Updated 17.09.2024, at 19.21
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The top series can land the biggest deal of all time – negotiator for a three-digit million sum – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule
