Latest news with #VinceLombardi
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Elon Musk Cries 'Corruption' as Tesla Superchargers Disappear from Key US Route
Elon Musk Cries 'Corruption' as Tesla Superchargers Disappear from Key US Route originally appeared on Autoblog. A common dealbreaker that new car buyers say steers them out of electric vehicles is the sheer state of the charging infrastructure compared to gas-powered cars. Although manufacturers like Ford, Hyundai, Genesis, and Honda offer new owners the opportunity to install a free home charging unit, this is not an entirely "one-size-fits-all" solution for all owners for various reasons. However, as public EV charging appears in more public places and heavily trafficked corridors for the general public's use, one of America's busiest highways has taken a massive chunk of its EV charging offline. According to a new report by NJ Advance Media and the New Jersey Turnpike Authority has ordered Tesla to decommission and remove 64 Superchargers at rest stops along the New Jersey Turnpike, the stretch of I-95 spanning northern and southern New Jersey. Per a May 30 statement from the New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTA), the state agency responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the New Jersey Turnpike and the Garden State Parkway, the move comes as the agency decided to transition to what it calls "Universal Open Access EV chargers" starting on June 6. These chargers, which are provided by Applegreen Electric (an arm of Irish company Applegreen, who operates NJTA's service areas), are said to be compatible "with all makes and models of EVs" and will be available on June 6 at various service areas across the Turnpike including the Vince Lombardi, Woodrow Wilson, Richard Stockton, James Fenimore Cooper, Joyce Kilmer, and Walt Whitman Service Areas, with additional chargers at the Molly Pitcher Service Area in July and the Clara Barton and John Fenwick Service Areas in Fall 2025. According to early user-reported data from Plugshare, these chargers are capable of up to 400 kW charging and are usually located next to Tesla Superchargers at select service areas. However, this move is not without conflict. In a lengthy post on X (formerly known as Twitter) on May 30, the official account for Tesla Charging wrote that the Turnpike Authority's order came after it rejected any requests to coexist with the Applegreen chargers on the Turnpike, adding that it had been "preparing for 3 years for this potential outcome by building 116 stalls off the New Jersey Turnpike" in certain high-traffic areas. Tesla says that it offered the NJTA "above-market commercial terms" to sweeten the deal, including offering its NJ Turnpike Superchargers with "screens and NACS with CCS1 'magic docks.'" Ultimately, Tesla called the NJTA's decision to decommission its Superchargers a step back for all EV users who use the Turnpike. 'Tesla always advocates for more infrastructure and co-location with additional third-party charging providers. This drives down costs through optionality and accelerates EV adoption by having sufficient capacity to shoulder peaks,' the automaker said on X. Despite reaching out to invest in the state, Tesla claims that the NJTA's decision to remove Tesla superchargers is a setback for EV drivers. "We expect that ~30 times more fast-charging capacity is needed to get to full EV adoption," it said on X. "NJTA's decision to remove, rather than add, critical charging infrastructure is a setback for New Jersey's EV adoption goals of 100% Zero-Emission New Car Sales by 2035. It removes Turnpike access to the most reliable (99.9% uptime), least congested (<1% waiters), and cost-effective (~30% lower $/kWh) charging." In a May 30 post responding to a quote tweet from Tesla fan and Model Y owner Sawyer Merritt, Tesla CEO Elon Musk said that the NJTA's decision "sounds like corruption." I do not own an EV, but I live in New Jersey, and while I observe that EV charging is very prevalent in many convenient places adjacent to major highways, including shopping malls like the infamous American Dream mall, large retail centers where Walmarts and Targets are located, and non-service-area roadside stops like Wawas, I view the loss of Superchargers on the Turnpike as a bit of a disservice to EV owners. The New Jersey Turnpike is a major thoroughfare connecting two major Northeastern cities, New York and Philadelphia. Many drivers who travel on it pass through with a further destination in mind, and the faster out of Jersey, the better. It's not just Teslas that charge at Superchargers. So far, Ford, GM, Rivian, Volvo, Polestar, Hyundai, and Genesis are just some of the manufacturers that support it, with others like Honda and Acura soon to have that capability. Though one may view Tesla Supercharging as anything but universal, as someone who has had to wait upwards of hours in line to charge non-Tesla EVs at "universal stations," keeping the Superchargers where they were would help ease any potential congestion these Applegreen chargers will have. Trust me, there will be congestion. The service areas on the Turnpike have Shake Shacks, Dunkins, and Popeyes now. Elon Musk Cries 'Corruption' as Tesla Superchargers Disappear from Key US Route first appeared on Autoblog on Jun 3, 2025 This story was originally reported by Autoblog on Jun 3, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Jim Irsay's impact can be felt all around Indianapolis as city celebrates big sports weekend
Atlanta Dream guard Te-Hina Paopao (2) drives to the basket against Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) in the second half of an WNBA basketball game, Thursday, May, 22, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard) Colton Herta drives into the first turn during practice for the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Friday, May 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) FILE - Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay holds the Vince Lombardi Trophy after the Colts defeated the Chicago Bears 29-17 in the Super Bowl XLI football game at Dolphin Stadium in Miami, Sunday, Feb. 4, 2007. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File) FILE - Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay raises the Vince Lombardi trophy during a rally in Indianapolis, Monday, Feb. 5, 2007. The Colts defeated the Chicago Bears to win Super Bowl XLI. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File) FILE - Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay raises the Vince Lombardi trophy during a rally in Indianapolis, Monday, Feb. 5, 2007. The Colts defeated the Chicago Bears to win Super Bowl XLI. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File) Atlanta Dream guard Te-Hina Paopao (2) drives to the basket against Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) in the second half of an WNBA basketball game, Thursday, May, 22, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard) Colton Herta drives into the first turn during practice for the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Friday, May 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) FILE - Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay holds the Vince Lombardi Trophy after the Colts defeated the Chicago Bears 29-17 in the Super Bowl XLI football game at Dolphin Stadium in Miami, Sunday, Feb. 4, 2007. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File) FILE - Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay raises the Vince Lombardi trophy during a rally in Indianapolis, Monday, Feb. 5, 2007. The Colts defeated the Chicago Bears to win Super Bowl XLI. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File) INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — When Mark Miles strolls around downtown Indianapolis, he sees Jim Irsay's influence everywhere. From the trademark sports facilities to the towering J.W. Marriott hotel to the Pan Am Plaza currently under construction, he's not sure any of it could have happened without the assistance of the longtime Colts owner who helped this small Midwestern town shed its image as Indiana No Place and emerge as Indiana Some Place. Advertisement So as Indy steps into a new role, the mega center of a jam-packed Memorial Day sports weekend, the longtime local sports executive is saddened Irsay won't be here to enjoy the results of his efforts. Irsay died Wednesday in his sleep at age 65. 'It's incredibly sad, it's a big ache in my heart," Miles said Thursday. ' He had such a huge heart. He cared so, so much about the people in this community. I don't care what day it was, it was going to be a horrible loss but this weekend is sort of emblematic of what he helped build and I'm sorry he missed it." Miles, the CEO and president of IndyCar and Penske Entertainment, has had a front-row seat to Indy's evolution — and Irsay's influence — for decades. The Indy native has seen the city thrive under the glare of two NBA All-Star Games, the CFP national championship game, and dozens of other national and international championships. Advertisement But this is the kind of weekend only Irsay may have envisioned when he first came to town in March 1984. Caitlin Clark, the WNBA's top draw, and the Indiana Fever will host defending league champ New York in front of a sold out crowd Saturday afternoon. On Sunday morning, an estimated 350,000 fans — including a sold-out grandstand for the first time since 2016 — will fill Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the world's largest single-day sporting event, the Indianapolis 500. Then on Sunday night, the NBA's Indiana Pacers will face the New York Knicks in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals. And it wasn't just Miles who saw it. 'He was more than the owner of the Indianapolis Colts, he was a transformative figure in our city and state, a passionate advocate for the community, and someone whose generosity, vision and spirit touched countless lives,' Indiana Pacers owner Herb Simon said in a statement. 'Jim helped shape our city into the sports capital it is today, and his legacy, both on and off the field, will continue to inspire us and generations to come.' Advertisement Miles saw the passion almost from the moment he and his wife welcomed the Irsay family to Indianapolis following the Colts' infamous midnight move from Baltimore. From that moment, Miles sensed a commitment from Irsay to his new hometown — acknowledging Irsay never even threatened to move the Colts as they pressed for a new stadium during the early 2000s. As president of the 1987 Pan American Games organizing committee, Miles had Irsay on his side for an event that helped Indianapolis expand its international reach beyond racing. And after spending more than a decade as CEO of the Association of Tennis Professionals, he returned to lead the city's Super Bowl 46 organizing committee. 'We would never have had a Super Bowl without Jim Irsay, without the Colts or Jim Irsay's passion or commitment to getting it here and that never really wavered," Miles said. Advertisement But perhaps the greatest tribute to Irsay will be found on the city's streets this weekend. Prior to the Colts' arrival, the downtown was a virtual blank slate — devoid of hotels or restaurants and only one sporting venue, Market Square Arena. Today, celebrities and sports fans will fill thousands of hotel rooms, visit dozens of restaurants and bars and make the short downtown strolls to see Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Lucas Oil Stadium, Victory Field, home of the city's minor league team, and maybe even the Irsay Family YMCA. Yes, Indy has come a long way — and the locals know why. 'To have his death heading into this epic sports weekend has us pausing to reflect on just how categorically he changed and enhanced the city's skyline for the better based on his generosity, his actions and his advocacy,' said Chris Gahl, Visit Indy executive vice president and chief marketing officer. "So, it's fitting and also very hard to celebrate a weekend like this, knowing he recently passed and his last tweet was about cheering on another major sporting team in the Indy way. That's the culture he helped put in place in our city.' ___ AP NFL:
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Factors that could make the Eagles vs. Packers clash a more emotional affair than normal
And, just like that, four dates on the Philadelphia Eagles' 18-week, 17-game grind have been revealed. The Dallas Cowboys get all of the Week 1 smoke. They have a new coach. They visit Lincoln Financial Field on a night when the Super Bowl banner drops. That's a bad draw for the so-called 'America's Team'. We've also learned that one of two annual clashes with the Washington Commanders will occur in Week 16. This one will be on the road. Advertisement The Chicago Bears are the opponent on Black Friday. Another game worth circling is a Monday Night Football affair. How about an Eagles vs. Green Bay Packers grudge match? The Eagles' Week 10 showdown with the Green Bay Packers could be one of the most heated in the all-time series. Some strange parallels can be identified between the Eagles and Packers. There are so many dots that can be connected. Some are more significant. Reggie White's signing by 'The Pack' comes to mind. So does Philly's 1960 NFL Championship win over the Cheeseheads. That one doubles as the lone blemish on Vince Lombardi's postseason resume. Advertisement Does '4th and 26' even need to be mentioned? No? Fair enough. Let's talk about Week 10's primetime affair. That will be the 49th all-time meeting between the two franchises. It has all of the makings of a classic, but this could also be one of the more venomous meetings. Here are a few reasons why. Remember when the Eagles bullied the Packers in the Wild Card Round? Much has happened since Philly and Green Bay met in Week 1 last season to play the first-ever game in Brazil. They met again during the NFL Playoffs. One of the highlights was Dallas Goedert's catch and run to the end zone as he delivered three stiff arms. That was the lasting memory of a one-sided affair. Philly didn't just beat the Packers; they physically dominated them. No football team wants to hear that or believe that. Expect 'The Pack' to do their best to avoid being punked at Lambeau Field. Advertisement Sure, they'll deny that's how they feel, but even if they never admitted to it, their actions after the Wild Card Round reinforced theories that the Green and Gold may have gotten soft. Green Bay's anonymous proposal to ban the Tush Push 22-10 was the final score of that Wild Card affair, but things could have gotten much worse. The Birds weren't just the better team. They were the tougher team. To make matters worse, it took Green Bay a while to take the loss and move on. Rather than retool, they filed an anonymous proposal to ban the Tush Push. Unfortunately for them, we live in a social media and information age. They wouldn't be able to throw rocks and hide their hands. Advertisement Call it what you will. Green Bay's proposal has nothing to do with safety or injuries. This is all about sour grapes and being overly emotional. At the time of this story's release, the decision about whether to ban or not to ban hangs in limbo, but we agree with Saquon Barkley. Hey Green Bay, if you hate the Brotherly Shove so much, why not improve your ability to stop it? The A.J. Dillon 'revenge game' Professional football may not have a more petty head coach in professional football than the guy leading the Philadelphia Eagles. Don't take the word 'petty' as if it's meant to be derogatory. One can argue it's one of Nick Sirianni's more endearing traits. Advertisement No one pays more attention to his players' landmark moments or is more aware of when a potential 'revenge game' is near. Philly signed running back A.J. Dillon on March 13, after the Green Bay Packers seemingly gave up on him, partially because of recent injuries. You see where this is headed, right? Don't be shocked if Philly's offensive attack consists of Tush Push TDs (if the play isn't banned) and a heavy dose of A.J. Dillon running downhill violently. Playoff implications Throw all of the personal stuff out the window, and this one is still a great game—a football lover's paradise. Two proud franchises meet in Week 10 on Monday Night Football. This one will, more than likely, help determine postseason seeding. Advertisement Green Bay figures to be in the NFC North's conversation, and Philly is expected to be a Super Bowl contender. These are the types of games that should be featured nationally, and they make one wonder why the NFL doesn't flex games more often. This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: 3 reasons why Eagles-Packers in Week 10 could be the game of the year
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Player trading, Europe & stability - how Celtic have built domination
As preparations were being finalised in the UK capital for the London Olympics, 430 miles north, Celtic were celebrating their first league title in four years. It was a sunny but cold day in Ayrshire and the year was 2012. Neil Lennon's side had just thumped Kilmarnock 6-0 at Rugby Park. As the Parkhead side celebrated, city rivals Rangers were fighting just to stay afloat after falling into administration two months earlier. In turbulent waters, the tide was turning in Scottish football, but few could have predicted it would lead to a period of single-club dominance unprecedented in the Scottish game. Some argue Celtic's dominance started long before that. The evidence is strong, especially off the field, but on the pitch, the run that led them to 13 league titles in 14 seasons as well as eight Scottish Cups and eight League Cups, started that afternoon in Ayrshire. It would be obvious and easy to find the evidence of Celtic's run in the demise of their rivals. After all, it has been a full 40 years since Aberdeen became the last club outside the Glasgow giants to take Scottish football's biggest prize. In Scotland, the spoils are usually shared between Glasgow's big two, but there is more to Celtic's success than the opportunity granted to them by the collapse of Rangers. As the famous American football coach, Vince Lombardi, once said: "The man on top of the mountain didn't fall there." 'Off days don't exist' for Celtic 'mentality monsters' Celtic's success shouldn't feel 'normalised' Celtic's Scottish league dominance in numbers There are very basic ingredients to success in football. Get the right manager to lead the right mix of players and achievements should follow. Of course, a good business model underpins all of that - more on that later. Consistency matters, on the pitch and in the dugout. In the 13 seasons that have come and gone since that win at Rugby Park, Celtic have been managed by just four men. Neil Lennon and incumbent Brendan Rodgers have had two separate stints, but management stability cannot go unnoticed, or unmentioned, in the Celtic success story. In Rodgers and Ange Postecoglou, the club has also employed managers whose success in Glasgow has led to Premier League callings. Of the four, only Ronny Deila had a win percentage of below 70%. Perhaps not surprising at a club like Celtic, but remember, during the current period of domination, Celtic have won the domestic treble on five occasions. Winning, yes, but also winning convincingly and consistently. As seasoned football pundit and former Scotland winger Pat Nevin suggested: "They've chosen good managers. "They've stuck with it well and they've not panicked at any time. There's been a few occasions when you've thought, 'it's not gone that well', maybe in European football, and they might have panicked, but they generally didn't do that, so there's been a real continuity." Celtic's recent dominance on the pitch has been mirrored by their financial results from the boardroom. In football, one doesn't simply follow the other - but it helps. They have avoided racking up huge debts to secure their silverware. It has come through financial prudence and a business plan based on two key areas: player trading and participation in European competition. Both have contributed hugely to Celtic's success. Player trading success looks simple on paper – make more money from selling than you spend on buying and continue to have success at the same time. It's an equation with so many variables, that few clubs crack the code. Celtic shifted their approach to player trading around 2004. Their basic principle was to prioritise the signing of young players under the age of 24. According to the football statistics site Transfermarkt, since season 2011-2012, Celtic have spent around £213m on players and have brought in around £260m. In only four of those seasons has the club spent more on players than it made selling. Success stories include the sale on Matt O'Riley to Brighton & Hove Albion for around £25m, Jota to Al-Ittihad for £25m and Kieran Tierney to Arsenal for £23m. Selling big players and re-investing sensibly until the next one comes along has been the key. Compare the Glasgow club's record to that of Manchester City, who made profit in player trading in just one of those seasons and made an overall loss on player sales of more than £1bn. Celtic are by no means the most successful club in Europe when it comes to player trading. Portuguese club Benfica, for example, have made a profit nearing £640m in player trading over the past 10 years, but successful player trading has become more than just a financial fall back for Celtic when they cannot rely on the riches of the Champions League. And it's the Champions League where they have generated the most cash. In the 14 seasons in question, Celtic have qualified for the competition's group stage or league phase seven times. This year, excluding ticket sales and hospitality, Celtic made more than £30m from participation alone. Compare that to the £4.5m the club picked up for winning the league and you can understand why they see Champions League qualification as crucial to long-term growth. The man who pulls the balls from pots on Champions League draw day is Uefa's deputy general secretary, Giorgio Marchetti. He knows how crucial participation is for clubs like Celtic these days - but not just for the bottom line. "Participating in the Champions League and the other Uefa competitions is very important for every club," he said. "The European stage offers clubs, their coaches, their players, development opportunities, exposure, status and it boosts the excitement and enthusiasm of the fan base." It also offers greater sponsorship opportunities and influence in high places. Celtic's former chief executive and now club chairman, Peter Lawwell, has been a key figure on the European Club Association board for many years. Of course, participation is one thing, but there's no denying Celtic have mostly struggled at the top table. What the club has been clever to market is the atmosphere at Celtic Park on European nights. "Celtic is a historic European club with a big and passionate fan base," Marchetti said. "Having been there personally recently, I can confirm the atmosphere at Celtic Park is one of the most exciting football atmospheres that you can experience." In truth, successful player trading and increased participation in the Champions League have fundamentally contributed to Celtic becoming financially untouchable in Scottish football in recent years. The club has become a well-oiled machine, churning out trophies for their fans and profits for their shareholders. In only two of the past 14 seasons have Celtic posted a loss - and one of those was during a global pandemic. Compare that to Rangers, who last achieved post-tax profit in season 2012-13. The Parkhead club's latest figures showed a turnover of £124.5m, more than £40m above their closest rivals and a whopping £108m more than third-placed Hibernian. During Celtic's years of football domination, they have made a combined profit of £112m. In stark contrast, Rangers posted a combined loss of £132m. Football finance expert Kieran McGuire, from thinks their figures and business model will be envied by many. "If you contrast it to clubs in England, in season 2023-24, 19 of the 20 clubs lost money," Maguire said. "The only club to have made a profit is West Ham, who have a stadium that is being subsidised by the local taxpayer. "They have had relatively modest wage bills, certainly in comparison to south of the border, but the wages compared to the rest of Scottish football are normally in the region of 10 times the likes of St Mirren, Ross County and St Johnstone - and probably four times that of Hibs, Hearts and Aberdeen." Despite this, Celtic fans have for many years called for more investment from the profits made - something Maguire can understand, to a point. "They could perhaps have been more ambitious, but I think that, given Celtic themselves have had historic financial issues going back a long time, under the current ownership, they have been a little more cautious," he said. That caution has led to stability. In recent weeks and months, we have witnessed what uncertainty can do to global business. Business craves stability, not only in the marketplace but in the boardroom. Football is no different. Since 1999, Celtic have been essentially controlled by just one man, Irish businessman Dermot Desmond. Since Desmond took control in the east end of Glasgow, the only other current Scottish Premiership club not to have changed ownership is Ross County. The majority of the league's other clubs have changed hands twice in the same period. Boardroom stability cannot be underestimated in the world of Scottish football, not just for the bottom line but for influence and muscle it can afford clubs on the boards of the various governing bodies. Geoff Brown was chairman of St Johnstone from 1986-2011. "Football boardrooms have changed dramatically," he said. "I'm not sure how many clubs actually have a working boardroom today. When you hear people talking about boardroom decisions, that can actually be quite unusual. For me, the Celtic board has worked constructively and I would hold it in very high esteem." With Celtic disappearing over the horizon, what is left in the rear view mirror? Other than providing a successful model for others to follow and European solidarity payments made to other clubs, there's little evidence to suggest their continued dominance has had any positive impact on the Scottish game in general. In fact, Maguire believes it may even be harmful to the Scottish football brand. "It makes it that much more difficult to sell the product globally," he said. "What fans like is uncertainty and jeopardy and Celtic have been so successful, that if you know the Scottish Premiership is going to be effectively sewn up by January or February, then why bother to turn on the television? "TV audiences like not knowing what the outcome is going to be and Celtic's dominance has taken that out of Scottish football." Who knows what the landscape of Scottish football would look like now had Rangers not imploded in 2012, but the manner in which Celtic have dominated through a business model based on stability and prudence, suggests they had a strong case for supremacy in any case. The one thing footballing history has taught us, though, is that dominance usually comes to an end at some point. For this to happen in Scotland, clearly Rangers need to properly find their feet, on and off the pitch. With takeover talks ongoing at Ibrox, fans are optimistic that Celtic's dominance could soon be properly challenged by fresh investment from the United States. However, if the club is to be taken over, the new owners should be under no illusion about the challenges they face to restore Rangers to the top of Scottish football. For the pendulum to swing properly, Rangers must start being successful in areas where their rivals have been untouchable. Short-term fixes must give way to the laying of proper foundations. With the proper funding, they must find managers who can deliver domestic success that leads to Champions League participation, use the cash from Europe wisely and develop an enviable player trading model, all underpinned by long-term boardroom stability. If all of that seems easy enough on paper, they should be reminded that a blueprint can be found just a few miles across the city. Celtic's Scottish league dominance in numbers Visit our Celtic page for all the latest news, analysis and fan views Get Celtic news notifications in the BBC Sport app
BBC News
28-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Player trading, Europe & stability - how Celtic have built lasting domination
As preparations were being finalised in the UK capital for the London Olympics, 430 miles north, Celtic were celebrating their first league title in four was a sunny but cold day in Ayrshire and the year was 2012. Neil Lennon's side had just thumped Kilmarnock 6-0 at Rugby Park. As the Parkhead side celebrated, city rivals Rangers were fighting just to stay afloat after falling into administration two months turbulent waters, the tide was turning in Scottish football, but few could have predicted it would lead to a period of single-club dominance unprecedented in the Scottish argue Celtic's dominance started long before. The evidence for that is strong, especially off the field, but on the pitch, the run that led the Parkhead club to 13 league titles in 14 seasons as well as eight Scottish Cups and eight League Cups, started that afternoon in would be obvious and easy to find the evidence of Celtic's run in the demise of their rivals. After all, it has been a full 40 years since Aberdeen became the last club outside the Glasgow giants to take Scottish football's biggest Scotland, the spoils are usually shared between Glasgow's big two, but there is more to Celtic's success than the opportunity granted to them by the collapse of Rangers. As the famous American football coach, Vince Lombardi, once said: "The man on top of the mountain didn't fall there." On the pitch There are very basic ingredients to footballing success. Get the right manager to lead the right mix of players and success should follow. Of course, a good business model underpins all of that - more on that matters, on the pitch and in the dugout. In the 13 seasons that have come and gone since that win at Rugby Park, Celtic have been managed by just four Lennon and incumbent Brendan Rodgers have had two separate stints, but management stability cannot go unnoticed, or unmentioned, in the Celtic success Rodgers and Ange Postecoglou, the club has also employed managers whose success in Glasgow has led to Premier League the four, only Ronny Deila had a win percentage of below 70%. Perhaps not surprising at a club like Celtic, but remember, during the current period of domination, Celtic have won the domestic treble on five occasions. Winning, yes, but also winning convincingly and seasoned football pundit and former Scotland winger Pat Nevin suggested: "They've chosen good managers."They've stuck with it well and they've not panicked at any time. There's been a few occasions when you've thought, 'it's not gone that well', maybe in European football, and they might have panicked, but they generally didn't do that, so there's been a real continuity." Player trading model Celtic's recent dominance on the pitch has been mirrored by their financial results from the boardroom. In football, one doesn't simply follow the other - but it Parkhead club have avoided racking up huge debts to secure their silverware. It has come through financial prudence and a business plan based on two key areas: player trading and participation in European competition. Both have contributed hugely to Celtic's trading success looks simple on paper – make more money from selling than you spend on buying and continue to have success at the same time. It's an equation with so many variables, that few clubs crack the shifted their approach to player trading around 2004. Their basic principle was to prioritise the signing of young players under the age of 24. According to the football statistics site Transfermarkt, since season 2011-2012, Celtic have spent around £213m on players and have brought in around £ only four of those seasons has the club spent more on players than it made selling. Success stories include the sale on Matt O'Riley to Brighton & Hove Albion for around £25m, Jota to Al-Ittihad for £25m and Kieran Tierney to Arsenal for £ big players and re-investing sensibly until the next one comes along has been the key. Compare the Glasgow club's record to that of Manchester City, who made profit in player trading in just one of those seasons and made an overall loss on player sales of more than £ are by no means the most successful club in Europe when it comes to player trading. Portuguese club Benfica, for example, have made a profit nearing £640m in player trading over the past 10 years, but successful player trading has become more than just a financial fall back for Celtic when they cannot rely on the riches of the Champions League. Europe And it's the Champions League where they have generated the most cash. In the 14 seasons in question, Celtic have qualified for the competition's group stage or league phase seven year, excluding ticket sales and hospitality, Celtic made more than £30m from participation alone. Compare that to the £4.5m the club picked up for winning the league and you can understand why they see Champions League qualification as crucial to long-term man who pulls the balls from pots on Champions League draw day is Uefa's deputy general secretary, Giorgio Marchetti. He knows how crucial participation is for clubs like Celtic these days - but not just for the bottom line."Participating in the Champions League and the other Uefa competitions is very important for every club," he said."The European stage offers clubs, their coaches, their players, development opportunities, exposure, status and it boosts the excitement and enthusiasm of the fan base."It also offers greater sponsorship opportunities and influence in high places. Celtic's former chief executive and now club chairman, Peter Lawwell, has been a key figure on the European Club Association board for many course, participation is one thing, but there's no denying Celtic have mostly struggled at the top table. What the club has been clever to market is the atmosphere at Celtic Park on European nights."Celtic is a historic European club with a big and passionate fan base," Marchetti said."Having been there personally recently, I can confirm the atmosphere at Celtic Park is one of the most exciting football atmospheres that you can experience." Financials In truth, successful player trading and increased participation in the Champions League have fundamentally contributed to Celtic becoming financially untouchable in Scottish football in recent club has become a well-oiled machine, churning out trophies for their fans and profits for their shareholders. In only two of the past 14 seasons have Celtic posted a loss - and one of those was during a global that to Rangers, who last achieved post-tax profit in season 2012-2013. The Parkhead club's latest figures showed a turnover of £124.5m, more than £40m more than their closest rivals and a whopping £108m more than third-placed Celtic's years of footballing domination, they have made a combined profit of £112m. In stark contrast, Rangers posted a combined loss of £ finance expert Kieran McGuire, from thinks their figures and business model will be envied by many."If you contrast it to clubs in England, in season 23-24, 19 of the 20 clubs lost money," Maguire said."The only club to have made a profit is West Ham, who have a stadium that is being subsidised by the local taxpayer."They have had relatively modest wage bills, certainly in comparison to south of the border, but the wages compared to the rest of Scottish football are normally in the region of 10 times the likes of St Mirren, Ross County and St Johnstone - and probably four times that of Hibs, Hearts and Aberdeen."Despite this, Celtic fans have for many years called for more investment from the profits made - something Maguire can understand, to a point."They could perhaps have been more ambitious, but I think that, given Celtic themselves have had historic financial issues going back a long time, under the current ownership, they have been a little more cautious," he said. Boardroom stability That caution has led to stability. In recent weeks and months, we have witnessed what uncertainty can do to global business. Business craves stability, not only in the marketplace but in the boardroom. Football is no 1999, Celtic have been essentially controlled by just one man, Irish businessman Dermot Desmond. Since Desmond took control in the east end of Glasgow, the only other current Scottish Premiership club not to have changed ownership is Ross majority of the league's other clubs have changed hands twice in the same period. Boardroom stability cannot be underestimated in the world of Scottish football, not just for the bottom line but for influence and muscle it can afford clubs on the boards of the various governing Brown was chairman of St Johnstone from 1986-2011. "Football boardrooms have changed dramatically," he said."I'm not sure how many clubs actually have a working boardroom today. When you hear people talking about boardroom decisions, that can actually be quite unusual. For me, the Celtic board has worked constructively and I would hold it in very high esteem." Impact on the Scottish game With Celtic disappearing over the horizon, what is left in the rear view mirror?Other than providing a successful model for others to follow and European solidarity payments made to other clubs, there's little evidence to suggest their continued dominance has had any positive impact on the Scottish game in general. In fact, Maguire believes it may even be harmful to the Scottish football brand."It makes it that much more difficult to sell the product globally," he said."What fans like is uncertainty and jeopardy and Celtic have been so successful, that if you know the Scottish Premiership is going to be effectively sewn up by January or February, then why bother to turn on the television?"TV audiences like not knowing what the outcome is going to be and Celtic's dominance has taken that out of Scottish football." Future Who knows what the landscape of Scottish football would look like now had Rangers not imploded in 2012, but the manner in which Celtic have dominated through a business model based on stability and prudence, suggests they had a strong case for supremacy in any one thing footballing history has taught us, though, is that dominance usually comes to an end at some point. For this to happen in Scotland, clearly Rangers need to properly find their feet, on and off the takeover talks ongoing at Ibrox, fans are optimistic that Celtic's dominance could soon be properly challenged by fresh investment from the United if the club is to be taken over, the new owners should be under no illusion about the challenges they face to restore Rangers to the top of Scottish football. For the pendulum to swing properly, Rangers must start being successful in areas where their rivals have been fixes must give way to the laying of proper foundations. With the proper funding, they must find managers who can deliver domestic success that leads to Champions League participation, use the cash from Europe wisely and develop an enviable player trading model, all underpinned by long-term boardroom all of that seems easy enough on paper, they should be reminded that a blueprint can be found just a few miles across the city.
