Estadio Bernabeu

Just got back from my first fútbol match in Spain! Real Madrid versus Manchester United. Full disclosure it was a game for charity which meant retired players but it was still a really fun atmosphere.

The business acumen that I have developed in CBA made a couple things I saw seem really out of place.

1. You can bring food and drink into the stadium which means there are venders right outside the stadium selling your typical stadium snacks - peanuts, sunflower seeds, chips, and popcorn.

2. There are also venders selling 'official merchandise' all around the stadium. I didn't buy anything [this time] because I was unsure about the authenticity of some of the merchandise but next time I probably will get a scarf or jersey. And the most important thing I noticed,

3. Almost no sponsors on display in the stadium. A gentleman from the Steelers marketing department spoke to my Services Marketing section and told us that the number one money generating line of business was naming rights [Heinz Field] and displaying other advertisements in the stadium. Look at the scoreboard display for Heinz Field:

And at Bernabeu, which is named after a person:

Other than bwin, the primary sponsor of Real Madrid, Coca Cola, Mahou, and the few companies that advertise in the display around the ring, there's nothing. It's so shocking to not be bombarded with ads all the time.

-Rhian