Arsenal looking to expand their fan base and commerical potential with summer tour of the Far East - report

The Gunners hoping to reach into untapped markets with planned stops in Seoul, Beijing and Hong Kong in July ahead of a trip to Nigeria

7 Feb 2012 10:38:00

More On :  Arsenal FC
pre-season friendly match between Hangzhou Greentown and Arsenal, Shaokun Wu and Samir Nasri
Getty

Arsenal look set to confirm a three-stage tour of the Far East in the summer as part of their pre-season regime to bolster the branding of the club, according to The Guardian.

The north London club is reportedly in talks to take the squad to Seoul, Beijing and Hong Kong following the conclusion of Euro 2012 with the aim of gaining fitness ahead of the season whilst improving the image of the club through various promotional events.

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Depending on the Gunners’ final position in the Premier League, the team’s summer schedule could be highly demanding, with the new season set to begin on August 18, just six days after the London Olympics.

The possibility of a playoff tie in either the Champions League or the Europa League at the beginning of the month could put a large strain on Arsene Wenger's squad.

However, the Frenchman is thought to have a large say in the club’s business model under majority shareholder Stan Kroenke, with the team’s big efforts to build their fan base in the Far East expected to be increased with the proposed tour, which will come before a visit to the Nigerian capital of Abuja.

There are around 342 million Premier League fans in Africa and, with Arsenal particularly admired in Nigeria, it is an obvious destination to further expand their support base.

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