Chapter 936 Boss, I don’t mind being a little fatter
“Rick, you are fat again.”
Xu Liang smiled after shaking hands.
“With a broad heart and a fat body, the team’s record is excellent, and I can’t help but gain a few extra pounds.” Rick Gordon said with a smile.
In the 2004~2005 season, the Warriors relied on the outstanding performance of Yao, Ben Wallace, Wade, "General" Arenas and Billups.
First, they defeated the Spurs with Duncan in the Western Conference Finals, and then swept the Miami Heat with the Sharks 4:2 in the finals, successfully defending the championship.
Winning the championship for two consecutive years has made the Warriors the most watched team in the entire league.
If they can still win the championship in the 2005-06 season, they will become the second dynasty in the new century after the Lakers dynasty: the Warriors dynasty.
Patted his shoulder, Xu Liang smiled and said: "So, it's a good thing for you to be fat."
"As long as you need it, as long as the team needs it, I don't mind getting fatter." A little.”
"Haha, forget it. I don't want the manager of the Warriors to become a fat man." After a few simple jokes, Xu Liang smiled and said, "Take me in and have a look."
"Please .”
Led by Rick Gordon, the group walked towards the unfinished venue.
“Boss, the exterior construction of the entire gymnasium has been completed, and the interior facilities will be renovated next.
If everything goes well, it will be officially put into use in March or April next year.”
Xu Liang nodded.
Open the door to the isolation zone and everyone stepped in.
Due to the frequent transportation of decoration materials, the roads are covered with dust and construction waste, but fortunately it does not affect walking.
Going along the road to the stadium, you will see a white building that is circular in shape and covered with glass curtain walls on all sides.
“BOSS, this is the concert hall we are planning. Various equipment is currently being installed. When completed, it will be able to accommodate 2,500 people and host various concerts and recitals.”
Xu Liang nodded, and the motorcade turned to the right, leaving the unfinished concert hall behind.
Directly opposite the concert hall is the Warriors’ home stadium, which is more than ten times larger. It can accommodate 21,604 people to watch the game. It also has 136 VIP suites, as well as the Warriors’ honor room and conference room. And other ancillary facilities.
On both sides of the stadium, there are annexes that look like two arms extending out, tall and stylish.
“According to your request, we have re-planned the business areas on both sides, from the originally planned 54,000 square meters to 86,000 square meters. Currently, we have cooperated with Chanel, Hermès, Armani, Starbucks, etc. More than a hundred of the world's top luxury goods, catering, and jewelry brands have signed agreements to settle here," Rick Gordon introduced with excitement.
Today's Warriors Stadium is no longer a simple gymnasium, but a super giant comprehensive center with the arena as the core and integrating sports, art, catering, entertainment and leisure.
A sports business complex.
In fact, Manchester United’s new stadium is also built according to this idea, and is larger.
The investment is four times that of Warriors Stadium, reaching 1.5 billion pounds.
Of course, the size of the investment is also based on the potential of the two.
Basketball is basically only played in a few countries including the United States. When it finally gained some influence, it was criticized by a few idiots.
And football is a world-class sport.
The market is much bigger than basketball.
However, with this stadium, the Warriors will never be far behind in the future.
Only in terms of revenue, it is higher than other teams.
Only with money can we have excellent players. Only with excellent players can we be competitive and attractive enough to attract enough fans.
The more fans there are, the higher the team's income will be.
Just a positive causal relationship.
It can be said that with this stadium, even if there is no memory of Xu Liang's previous life, the future of the Warriors will be the same.
Accompanied by Rick Gordon, Xu Liang finished shopping quickly.
In fact, there is nothing to see.
The stadium looks bright on the outside, but it is just an empty shell. Inside it is a mess. Apart from cement mortar, there are various equipment and pipelines waiting to be installed. There is really nothing interesting to see.
Looking at the office in front of me that has been renovated, standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the entire stadium and the San Francisco Bay.
"You will enjoy it."
Rick Gordon's face turned a little pale and he looked panicked. He didn't want to bring the big boss here.
After all, this is a private item that I secretly acquired for my own enjoyment.
But the big boss obviously knew of its existence from other channels.
"Boss, you must believe me. I am absolutely not corrupt. I just decorated this office in advance to supervise the entire project."
Looking at Rick Gordon swearing , Xu Liang smiled and said: "If you really took the money, do you think there is still a chance to stand here?"
Rick Gordon breathed a sigh of relief.
"The Warriors have developed well under your leadership in the past two years. If you get an office in advance and enjoy it, I don't want to pursue it. But it won't be the same next time."
"Don't worry, there will never be a next time. ...BOSS, I have left you a bigger and better office next door. Would you like to take a look?" Rick Gordon said flatteringly.
"Forget it. Let's wait until the stadium is completed next year." He sat down on the sofa next to him and said, "Give me the financial report of last season."
Rick Gordon agreed. With a sound, he quickly took a thick stack of documents and handed them to him with both hands.
In the past two years, the Warriors have won consecutive championships, coupled with the relationship between Yao Ming and Wang Zhizhi, both the United States and China have attracted increasing attention.
The advertising sponsorships received include 57 brands in nine categories, with a total revenue of nearly 127 million US dollars.
Plus game day tickets, playoff share, broadcast fee share and peripheral sales. In the 2004-2005 season, the Warriors' total revenue has reached 247 million US dollars, second only to the New York Knicks' 253 million US dollars, the second highest in the league.
In terms of expenditure, player salary expenditure is 87.5 million US dollars, plus the expenditure of management and middle and low-level employees, maintenance fees of training halls, transportation fees for games, etc., the total expenditure is 112 million US dollars. Dollar.
So the Warriors’ gross profit is as high as US$135 million, with gross profit accounting for 54.6%.
It is the highest among the 30 teams in the entire NBA.
Although the income is high, the Warriors have a lot of debt.
One of the biggest liabilities is the new stadium under construction.
The construction budget of the entire 'Warrior Center' is as high as US$690 million.
During the actual construction process, due to various reasons such as the depreciation of the US dollar and the increase in financing costs caused by the Federal Reserve's increase in the federal funds rate.
The actual construction expenditure has exceeded US$530 million.
The budget for the completion of the entire project has exceeded US$750 million.
This huge liability has been repaid in the amount of $134 million thanks to the Warriors' revenue over the past few years.
According to the Warriors' financial plan, out of this year's US$135 million, only US$10 million will be left as the company's working capital, and the rest will be used to repay debts.
After deducting these, the Warriors are left with $491 million in debt.
According to this financial plan, the Warriors' tax base this year is only US$10 million. After paying taxes, they will have about US$6 million left.
Counting this money, the entire Warriors' cash flow is about $18 million.
Enough to cope with various situations.
However, the Warriors’ high gross profit will only last until next year.
Yao Ming only has one year left on his rookie contract, and by then he will definitely be given a big contract with an annual salary of over 10 million.
Wade, who is about to enter his third year, will sign a big contract worth over 10 million next year.
By then, the Warriors' salary expenses will have skyrocketed by US$20 million, which is still the most basic.
There are also rookies among the substitutes who have performed well and should be given a mid-level job.
Lin Lin finally figured it out, and the increase was almost 30 million US dollars.
The salary expenses of the entire Warriors team skyrocketed to 120 million US dollars.
This is because he took advantage of his prior knowledge and owed Ben and Billups a seven-year contract in advance. Otherwise, based on their performance, the Warriors' salary expenses would be even higher.
The lineup of the championship team is really not easy to build.
"Performed well last season, keep up the good work."
Xu Liang returned the file to Rick Gordon.
“It’s all the boss who is strategizing behind the scenes, otherwise the Warriors would not have developed so fast and so well.”
This sentence is both a compliment and a sincere statement.
Apart from anything else, the Warriors' current batch of champion players are almost all led by Xu Liang.
And they have shown strength that far exceeds their worth.
It became the guarantee for the Warriors to win consecutive championships.
Xu Liang smiled, "Is there any change in the team lineup this season?"
Gordon nodded, "Wang planned to return to China, and Boozer submitted a transfer application. ”
Xu Liang frowned slightly.
It’s not surprising that Carlos Boozer wants to transfer him.
After three seasons of training with the Warriors, the player he pushed to sign in 2002 has completely exploded in talent.
Last season, in an average of 24 minutes of playing time, he posted 12.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.4 blocks.
And in several back-to-back games when Ben was resting, he played the entire game and scored 20.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 1.6 steals, and 0.7 blocks.
In the highest game, he even scored 30 points and 20 rebounds.
Of course such a person is not willing to continue to be a substitute for the Warriors.
"Why did Wang Zhizhi leave?" Xu Liang asked in surprise.
The salary he gave was not low.
“Maybe it’s because the competition for the center position is too fierce.”
The contract of Eric Dampier, who was Yao Ming's main substitute last year, expired. He wanted an annual salary of tens of millions and was transferred after being rejected by the team.
Soon, the Warriors used Richardson's transfer and the second pick from the Charlotte Bobcats to select Emeka Okafor.
Originally, Xu Liang was more inclined to No. 1 pick Dwight Howard, even if it only lasted four years.
But the Magic, who hold the No. 1 pick, don't want to do it, so they can only settle for the next best thing.
Second place Okafor's performance is really good.
Without any injuries, he averaged 15.1 points, 10.9 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 0.8 steals, and 1.7 blocks in an average of 27 minutes of playing time.
Looking at another top center prospect.
Lao Wang, who originally expected to be able to play as a substitute after Eric Dampier left, has no chance at all.
Having been increasingly reduced to the role of a watchman at the water fountain, he has probably had enough of sitting on the sidelines and wants to return to China.
(End of this chapter)