ABSTRACT
If sport is more than a game then it involves commitment and meaning that goes beyond contract or rules. Something of this spirit is contained in this letter from Barcelona FC to its fans.
Open Letter to Barça Fans
Av. Arístides Maillol s/n 08028 Barcelona Tel 902.1899.00 oab@club.fcbarcelona.com www.fcbarcelona.com
Dear Barça Fan, The Great Challenge FC Barcelona has set itself for the immediate future is to consolidate our place amongst the best and biggest football clubs in the world. All the top clubs base their growth and success on one differentiating feature or another. Some exploit the fact that football was invented in England. Some operate in football markets that are bigger or more highly developed than our own. Some engage in other business areas as well as in football. But what differentiates FC Barcelona is an absolutely extraordinary fact. No other sports club in the world has so many loyal members. We are running the club as efficiently as possible to reduce costs as we apply the best managerial methods in order to increase income. All this is indispensable to achieve the greatest sporting success. But it is not the most important thing. Our Great Challenge is to develop and build on what differentiates us from the rest. Imagine what would happen if every Barça club member brought along one new member and there were suddenly 200,000 of us. Just think what we could do if all Barça fans were club members. Imagine how we could transmit our values (public spirit, sportsmanship, solidarity and integrating Catalan nationalism) all over the world. We need all Barça supporters and fans to join the club as members. Then, together, all those that love our club could decide its future. Now is the time: becoming a member costs less and offers greater benefits than ever. Building the best and biggest sports club in the world is not a dream; it is the Great Challenge that awaits all those who truly love FC Barcelona.
