Chapter 231 That's It!

In an Audi car returning to London from Southampton, Marcus Bowman frowned and stared at the side window in a daze.

He had just visited Southampton's Staplewood training ground and left in shock.

There, he saw a product that surprised him immensely.

Virtual reality helmet!

This is not a very new technology, it has been around for many years.

Even many companies and products are already using this technology.

But that's just a very rudimentary use.

Over the past few years, VCs don't know how much money has been invested in this field, but there is still little progress.

It allows people to see the opportunity to make mass-produced products and to see such a skilled use of this technology. So far, there is only one in the world.

But what really surprised Marcus Bowman was the astonishing vision mentioned by Southampton's marketing director, Sun Yue, to build a virtual training center.

This is definitely a genius and great idea.

Once successful, it will completely change the world of football!

Why is Barcelona's dream team great? Why is it great?

Mencius, Xavi, Iniesta and others have only spoken on the surface.

The core of the core is that every player on this team has extremely solid basic skills.

In other words, the technical skills of every player on this team are higher than those of other teams.

The virtual training center proposed by Southampton will transform the training of technical geniuses into a product that can be operated on an assembly line and produced in batches.

If realized, this will undoubtedly make a greater contribution than the Barcelona dream team!

This will revolutionize football, and even the entire sports world!

Because it can be used in football, it can also be used in basketball, rugby, volleyball, F1...

For a sports equipment provider like Adidas,

This system is not what they want.

What Marcus Bowman values ​​is the big data and analysis results behind this system.

In order to collect data and analysis results in this regard, Adidas even assisted in the construction of a brand-new training center in Ajax, which was officially opened in May this year.

But compared to the prospects outlined by Southampton, Ajax is paediatrics.

At the same time, the virtual reality helmet has greatly shortened the Adidas product development and design cycle.

Today's sports equipment is updated too fast, and the life cycle of a product is three months. For giants like Adidas and Nike, more investment in R&D and design is required.

If the R&D design cycle can be greatly shortened, the benefits for Adidas are amazing.

"Jack, what do you think?"

Marcus Bowman sighed heavily and asked Jack who was driving in the front row.

"We shouldn't miss such an opportunity." Jack's tone was very positive.

"Oh?" Marcus Bowman's tone was a little puzzled, but he nodded.

This scene was seen by Jack in the rearview mirror.

"I heard that Bert Hoyette from Nike also came to the Stapleswood training base yesterday to visit, but he rushed back to the United States overnight last night. It seems that he is also very tempted."

Marcus Bowman felt a threat. "How could it not be tempting?"

Southampton can now offer more than just UK market share and influence.

More importantly, the technology and capabilities they now possess are of great help to Nike and Adidas.

For such a giant, a one percent improvement represents hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue.

Not to mention, it's not just a matter of a few percent.

"Actually, Southampton's approach is quite unkind." Jack in the front row suddenly said with a wry smile.

"They went to Nike to visit first, and then came to see us. Maybe tomorrow they will go to other brands such as Puma, Warriors Sports, etc., and it is clear that they want us to fight for the best, and then they will maximize the benefits."

Marcus Bowman also gave a wry smile, "Then what can be done?"

Business competition is so realistic and cruel.

Southampton do have that right now, so they can do it.

Conversely, if there is a chance in the future, wouldn't Adidas do the same?

Don't say that Southampton has such a tempting idea now, even if there is no, now, who is willing to let go of Nike or Adidas easily and miss the big saints in vain?

"Yeah, even if you know clearly, what can you do?" Jack also smiled helplessly.

People are so arrogant and arrogant, you just can't take him!

Sometimes when you think about it, it's really not that simple.

A team in the British Championship is even more arrogant than Barcelona and Real Madrid.

However, even giants like Nike and Adidas have to be convinced.

No wonder the Saints players and fans have followed suit!

…………

…………

Nike Headquarters in Portland, USA.

Bert Hoyette did not expect that a piece of news he brought back from Europe not only surprised Phil McCartney, vice president of Nike's sports division, but even directly alarmed Nike CEO Mark Parker.

"Southampton?" Mark Parker is a slightly chubby middle-aged man with a full beard.

"I know this team, recently, has become famous in the United States."

Suddenly, Mark Parker asked with a smile, "What's the relationship between Uncle Bird and Lin Yuner and Southampton?"

This is also the question of many Americans.

Uncle Bird is too popular in the United States, and the fire is a mess.

Some people even say that he is the most famous Chinese in the world. In the past year or so, almost no one would not know Uncle Piao.

Bert Hoyette smiled wryly and explained the relationship between Uncle Bird and Lin Yuner and Southampton.

In the end it's just a word.

"They are the same boss. Uncle Bird and Lin Yuner are the bosses of Southampton who made them popular."

Mark Parker immediately laughed, "Recently their new single, The Fox Call, beat Justin Bieber in America, and it is very popular among young people."

Perhaps seeing that Bert Hoyette had some doubts, Phil McCartney, who was on the side, explained.

"Adidas has always been interested in cooperating with Uncle Piao and Yoona Lin, and hoped to invite them to endorsements, and we have been observing Uncle Piao and Yoona Lin recently. Their influence in the youth group is unparalleled!"

Now Bert Hoyette understands.

Didn't you see the data of the yotu turtle?

In the age group of ten to thirty years old, it is the home ground of Uncle Bird and Lin Yuner!

"What do you think of the Southampton team?" asked Mark Parker.

Bert Hoyette thought for a moment, "I have mentioned this question to Cash Harris, a well-known investment expert in the City of London, several times. The team's prospects are unquestionable."

Neither Mark Parker nor Phil McCartney interrupted, letting him go on.

"It's a very different team, they're completely different from those traditional teams."

Mark Parker suddenly became interested, "What's the difference?"

"The simplest thing, you see, whether it is football, basketball or rugby, clubs in these fields have to do their best to hold a huge press conference to introduce star players, and I wish I could invite the media from all over the world to participate. "

"What's the problem?" Phil McCartney was a little puzzled.

This is his profession.

"In addition to attending the press conferences required by the FA, almost all of Southampton's press conferences are done on WeChat and the Internet, including the introduction of stars such as Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Neymar. Hold a press conference on WeChat.”

Mark Parker smiled slightly, "It's really interesting, but holding a press conference on the Internet doesn't mean anything."

Can a press conference be held on the Internet to say that this football club is Internet-aware?

The term Internet is indeed very new, but who can say that he fully understands the meaning of this term?

Who can give an accurate definition of the so-called Internet thinking?

"Also, this team believes in the principle of three nos. Players who don't want to play for them will not be introduced, players who want to leave will never be retained, and those who refuse to do their best for Southampton's game will not be killed."

Mark Parker was stunned for a moment, then laughed, "Wonderful, freak!"

"They didn't just talk about it. On the first day Yang Huan took over Southampton, they fired the head coach Alan Pardue, and then said on the spot that anyone who wants to leave can transfer freely, and he left all at once. Losing several players and losing millions of pounds is also unparalleled in football."

Mark Parker and Phil McCartney glanced at each other and felt that this team was truly unique.

"When Barcelona decided to sell Ibrahimovic, there was nothing we could do. The Swedes almost went to Milan in Adidas. Fortunately, Southampton, who was in League One at the time, made a move, which was an indirect help for us. busy."

If you look at Zlatan Ibrahimovic's resume, Ajax belongs to the Adidas camp, which is where he debuted.

Since his rise to fame, all three teams, from Juventus to Inter Milan to Barcelona, ​​have been sponsored by Nike.

Behind these three transfers, Nike has also exerted a certain influence.

"This time, Southampton's marketing director, Sun Yue, personally promised me that Southampton would bring in a superstar again this summer."

"Who?" Mark Parker suddenly became curious.

When I was in League One, Ibrahimovic could be poached. When I was promoted to the Championship, who would I poach?

"Drogba!"

"Drogba?" Mark Parker was a little shocked.

The Nike CEO was the vice president of athletics before becoming the top leader, and he is very familiar with the sports field, especially football.

That habit and interest continued well into his tenure as CEO.

Nike has always attached great importance to the development of the football field, which is Nike's weakness.

"It's impossible!" Phil McCartney thought in disbelief.

Unless Chelsea is stupid, how can it be possible to sell the main centre forward to a Championship team?

"I thought it was impossible at first, but I received news that Chelsea's top management had informed Drogba's agent to let them report to Southampton for the new season, but Drogba's agent refused on the spot."

Mark Parker and Phil McCartney were dumbfounded.

What this means is self-evident.

With Ibrahimovic and Neymar, if there is another Drogba, plus powerful stars such as Neuer and Vidal, Southampton's lineup is not in the British Championship, even if it is In the Premier League, it is also very competitive.

With this in mind, Nike must not ignore it.

What's more, Nike's development in the football field, especially in technology research and development, has always been at a disadvantage, losing to Adidas.

If Southampton's virtual training system and analysis center can really play a role, as long as the data and analysis results are shared, it will greatly make up for Nike's shortcomings in this regard.

This sponsorship is undoubtedly a good thing for Nike to kill two birds with one stone.

Suddenly, Bert Hoyette and Phil ()