SportBusiness.com

Wembley's top ticket

The new Wembley Stadium has unveiled its new-look logo, on the day sales of hospitality packages began in earnest.

Hospitality packages prices ranging from £60,000 - £270,000 ($96,600/EUR83,930m - $434,750/EUR377,690).

Wembley National Stadium Limited (WNSL) launched sales for the new venue with opportunities for fans to snap up ten-year licences or corporate boxes at the venue. The pre-sales of such seating is crucial to the financing of the project.

The stadium, which is due to open in 2006, will have a capacity of 90,000 and boast a range of entertainment and leisure facilities.

Said WNSL chief executive Michael Cunnah: "It's a simple proposition: we're marrying the world's favourite sport with the world's best venue. In terms of scale and comfort, Wembley is on an entirely new level to any other stadium, which is why it's important to give fans a vision of what's to come."

Meanwhile, the English Football Association, of which WNSL is a subsidiary body, could find itself with a cash shortfall in TV revenues, after Sky - current joint rightsholders with the BBC for FA Cup and England internationals in a £90m ($144.9m/EUR125.9m) deal - said it may not renew its contract.

Sky CEO Tony Ball made the comments after revealing a rise in pre-tax profits for the pay-TV platform of £65.8m ($105.95m/EUR92.04m).

Said Ball: "I've said we'd consider dropping the FA and we certaintly wouldn't do the deal we currently have. We are still undecided as to whether we bid again."

The FA released a tender document for the next rights contract - the current one expires at the end of the next soccer season - and has reported a 'positive' response so far.

A final decision will be made in September.