Phil Carling (interviewed by Adam Leventhal) on the Commercial Landscape of Football - A Live Special from Emirates Stadium in London

Don't Forget Your Tickets

The Commercial Evolution of Football – Where Is It Heading Next?

From local sponsors to billion-euro global partnerships, football’s commercial landscape has transformed beyond recognition. But what’s driven this evolution—and where is it heading next?

At Don’t Forget Your Tickets at Emirates Stadium, Phil Carling, Managing Director of Football Consulting at Octagon Worldwide, sat down with Adam Leventhal of The Athletic to reflect on the journey from the turnstiles of Highbury to football’s billion-euro broadcasting era.

With over 40 years of experience, including senior commercial roles at Arsenal and The FA, Phil offers a unique, behind-the-scenes perspective on the rise of the Premier League, global sponsorship deals, the power of brands like Sky and Netflix, and the future of football’s revenue model.

In this episode, they explore:

• The post-Hillsborough transformation of English football
• How Sky and the Premier League changed the game forever
• Why understanding your club’s brand narrative is key to commercial success
• The future of broadcasting – Will streaming platforms dominate football?

Sit back and enjoy the conversation.

This Live Special episode of Don't Forget Your Tickets was recorded at the Don't Forget Your Tickets conference at Emirates Stadium, January 23rd 2025, as the eight out of 12 on-stage interviews that day. Phil Carling was interviewed by Adam Leventhal.

Don't Forget Your Tickets is powered by TicketCo and hosted by TicketCo’s CEO, Carl-Erik Michalsen Moberg. The podcast was originally named TicketingPodcast.com

Chapters

1. Phil Carling (interviewed by Adam Leventhal) on the Commercial Landscape of Football - A Live Special from Emirates Stadium in London (00:00:00)

2. Evolution of Football Commercial Systems (00:00:02)

3. Modern Commercial Strategies in Football (00:11:24)