It has been four years since it was put into use, and Leeds United's AXA Centre has consistently been regarded by major media outlets and fans worldwide as the best training base, without a doubt.
This is not only because it has won many architectural awards and has the most advanced hardware and software facilities, but also because it brings together the world's most cutting-edge training technologies, top training experts, and the most authoritative events.
The Sports Technology Innovation Seminar has been held three times. From being unknown at first, it gradually became familiar within the football world, then broke out of the circle, attracting strong attention from all sectors of global sport.
Gradually, the media began to pay attention to this seemingly inconspicuous event, which is becoming increasingly well known in professional fields and is being cited by more and more specialists.
The third seminar in 2017 attracted more than 4,000 people, making it extraordinarily influential.
According to Su Qing, attendance this year is expected to exceed 10,000.
It is not just people from football and sport who attend. More importantly, suppliers and technical service providers, as well as various professionals, all plan to use this platform to promote their equipment and technologies.
Every year, countless professionals present their research and inventions at the seminar, including new training methods. Experts in sports medicine, physiotherapy, and rehabilitation also participate.
This is no longer just a seminar within football. It has completely crossed over.
Gao Shen had not expected this before. It has only been held three times. Of course, this is inseparable from Leeds United's promotion, but the seminar's own value, especially the need for such a platform across the industry, is striking.
To quote FIFA President Infantino's speech at last year's opening ceremony: In recent years, the training level of world football has greatly improved, and advanced technologies have emerged continuously. The Sports Technology Innovation Seminar founded by Leeds United has played a vital role.
This is not Gao Shen or Leeds United bragging, but a statement from the FIFA President.
This shows the importance of the event today.
It can be considered an unexpected gain for Gao Shen.
Given the scale, Leeds United plans to use two venues this year, one at the AXA Centre and the other at the Amazon Stadium, each with different functions.
After all, the seminar dates are staggered from league and cup schedules.
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Every time Gao Shen arrives at the AXA Centre, he cannot help stopping in front of the magnificent office building to admire it.
The dynamic spatial design provides an excellent visual experience, and it is pleasing just to look at.
So every time he parks, Gao Shen chooses to walk, taking in the details as he goes, and he cannot help wanting to invite Norman Foster to dinner again.
Although the league has paused, Leeds United's offices remain open as usual.
This is normal.
After the league stops, it is actually the office's busiest period.
It is not just about player contract renewals and transfers, nor solely because this year is the World Cup in Russia. More importantly, professional football often divides time by seasons, not calendar years.
Many sponsorships start on July 1 and end on June 30.
The off-season is often the busiest time for clubs.
Of course, after this busy period, the club arranges staggered holidays for staff.
Leeds United is particularly generous with benefits in this regard.
Gao Shen and Su Qing's visit had been scheduled for a long time.
Fernando Lucas, Rodolfo Borrell, and others had been waiting.
As soon as Gao Shen's car arrived, they got the message and came out to greet him.
"Hi."
"Fernando, Rodolfo."
Gao Shen grabbed his two old partners, one with each hand. The three had not seen each other for a long time.
There was no helping it. Gao Shen had been too busy this past season.
Busy with matches, preparations, and training, even during the breaks in the league.
For the past year, he had almost completely left Leeds United in others' hands.
Su Qing asked her secretary to take Gao Ming out to play, and the group went straight to the executive conference room.
Everyone present was a core senior executive at Leeds United.
In addition to Gao Shen, Su Qing, Lucas, and Borrell, there was also a CFO whom Su Qing had headhunted at a high salary. She was a senior partner who had worked at PwC's UK headquarters for many years.
Leeds United offered her an annual salary twice what she earned at PwC, reaching 3 million pounds.
Of course, the other Leeds United executives' salaries are not low either. For example, Fernando Lucas earns 4 million pounds annually, and Rodolfo Borrell earns 3 million pounds.
These three are Leeds United's most core senior executives besides Gao Shen and Su Qing.
Their high salaries were not raised all at once, but gradually increased in recent years as Leeds United's revenue grew, allowing them to share in the club's development.
Do not underestimate these figures. Leaving others aside, among current Premier League executives, Manchester United's CEO, Sandro, earns less than 3 million pounds per year, Manchester City's Soriano earns 3 million, and Fernando Lucas earns 1 million more than him.
He is now the Premier League's highest-paid executive.
Based on Leeds United's development in recent years, no one would question whether Lucas's salary is too high.
Especially when he produced Leeds United's revenue statement for last season, which surprised Gao Shen.
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In last season's Premier League, Leeds United performed very well and finally won the title by one point over Manchester City. It was the first Premier League title in Leeds United's history.
Just now, outside the Amazon Stadium, Gao Shen could still see the traces left by the fans' wild celebrations.
Winning the title brings not only honor but also remarkable income.
Leeds United received an astonishing total of 150 million pounds from the Premier League last season, the highest broadcast share in the club's history.
Interestingly, after the 2013 to 2016 broadcast contract ended and a new cycle began, Leeds United had consistently been among the Premier League's top three in distributions, earning more than 145 million pounds annually.
This season it reached 150 million pounds.
The Premier League is truly a league driven by money. Even relegated teams this season could take home 100 million pounds in broadcast revenue.
A few years ago, this would have topped other European leagues.
That is no longer the case.
This season's figures have not been finalized yet, but last season, among the top 20 European clubs by revenue, 10 were Premier League teams, accounting for half.
Even as Champions League runners-up, the prize money would be around 80 million pounds.
In other words, Leeds United could earn 230 million pounds from the Premier League and the Champions League alone.
Last season, Leeds United officially moved into the Amazon Stadium, with a capacity of 67,000 and essentially full attendance. This pushed matchday revenue above 100 million pounds, a revolutionary change compared to the old Elland Road.
The growth in matchday revenue came mainly from three aspects.
First, ticketing is stratified. The club's minimum ticket price has not changed and remains above 300 pounds as before, but the highest price has reached more than 800 pounds. This preserved the club's reputation with fans while actually increasing ticketing revenue.
In addition, there are 190 executive boxes and 60 premium executive boxes in the stadium.
This is standard in the Premier League. Compared to other strong clubs, Leeds United's prices are very reasonable.
Second, a crucial factor was that Leeds United played in the Champions League and did well. Champions League ticket prices are much higher than for the Premier League, which boosted ticket revenue.
Third, and most importantly, the new stadium has more commercial areas, improving efficiency and increasing fan spending inside the ground, further increasing matchday income.
In short, multiple favorable factors combined to push Leeds United's matchday revenue above 100 million.
However, this is nothing to be complacent about, because the Premier League's highest matchday revenue belongs to Manchester United, close to 120 million pounds, and that is despite poor recent European performances and aging facilities at Old Trafford.
In this regard, Leeds United still has great potential.
What really pleased Gao Shen was that Leeds United's commercial revenue also made a breakthrough, exceeding 200 million pounds.
This is the result of Leeds United's sustained international strategy. The club has enjoyed rapid growth in North American and Asian markets for four consecutive years.
Lucas was pleased with this result. He believed the club still has considerable room to grow.
For example, in shirt sponsorship.
Leeds United's kit deal is about to expire. Adidas is eager to renew, while Nike and Puma are both very interested.
Lucas's view was to take advantage of the team's strong performance and push for a major contract.
Manchester United's shirt sponsorship is as high as 75 million pounds per season. Chelsea signed with Nike for 50 million per year, and Arsenal just agreed a six-year deal with Adidas, also 50 million per year.
With Leeds United's current performances and global online popularity, they should not lag behind Arsenal and Chelsea.
In addition, in recent years Leeds United's kits, training wear, other apparel, scarves, and accessories have all been designed by the high street brand River Island and sold by the American e-commerce giant Fanatics. Sales have been steadily rising, and the situation is very good.
This does not include the domestic market, which is handled by the company founded by Gao Shen and Su Qing, and sales there are also excellent.
All of this makes Lucas and the others full of confidence. They firmly believe Leeds United has the potential to become a new Premier League giant.
"Our preliminary estimate is that this season's revenue should rank among the top European clubs. By our calculations, it should be sixth or even fifth, depending on Manchester City's revenue."
Lucas seemed extremely proud when he said this.
Manchester City is backed by a wealthy consortium, and its income has always been relatively opaque. They can spend as much as they like.
Paris Saint-Germain is the same.
But Leeds United is a true start-up. In just six years, it has transformed from a nearly bankrupt Championship club into the quasi-European giant it is today. That is definitely something to be proud of.
More importantly, this does not include transfers.
(To be continued.)