"Look, Mr Mara, I don't think this is such a bad proposal for you as well," Xavier said, leaning forward, showing a much more serious demeanour.
"How do you figure that?" He asked in a voice still icy as it had been from the start of the meeting.
"For the Giants brand," Xavier clearly said with a smile, but upon seeing the confusion of both men, he explained. "Right now, no matter how big both our franchises grow, we will continue to get in each other's way. This hurts both our teams' public perception and hurts our revenue in the long run."
"Care to explain further, Mr James?" Trueman asked, his interest piqued by the mention of revenue. "I understand that owning a stadium is beneficial for an owner, but how does it help the organisation beyond the obvious financial advantages?"
Xavier took another sip of water, organising his thoughts. "There are two NFL teams in New York—the financial centre of the country. But when we talk about sports in this city, the Knicks come first, then the Yankees and Mets. Only then do people think about the two of us, if at all." He paused, letting that sink in, watching both men's expressions tighten. "Do you two follow soccer?"
"Not particularly," Trueman admitted. John simply shook his head.
"Doesn't matter. You've both heard of Manchester United, right? The English team?"
"I've heard of them," John said cautiously. "But what does that have to do with us?"
Xavier leaned back, warming to his argument. "Despite United's global success and dominance, you know what their most-watched games are every season? The Manchester Derby—when they play their cross-city rivals, Manchester City. Those matches are treated like war. Fans mark the dates at the start of the season. Tickets disappear within hours. The entire city stops."
He looked between them, making sure they were following. "Here's what's fascinating—it doesn't matter if one team is having a terrible season and the other is championship-bound. When Derby Day comes, everyone watches. The ratings spike, the atmosphere is electric, and it's a must-win game no matter how well or badly the team is doing that season. The revenue is astronomical."
Dollar signs practically fell in Truman's eyes as he seemed to consider the prospect. John also seemed to be considering the idea and looked less resistant to it.
"Now imagine," Striking while the iron was hot, Xavier continued. "Instead of stopping us from building our stadium, you should buy the current Giants stadium, lease the land, and invest money to refurbish the structure."
"If the NFL had a New York Derby between two teams that have shared a complicated, competitive relationship for decades. Two franchises, each with its own stadium, its own identity, its own passionate fanbase. Meeting twice a year in games that matter—not just for playoff positioning, but for city pride."
John was quiet now, actually listening. Trueman leaned forward slightly.
"Think about the marketing opportunities," Xavier continued. "Giants versus Tigers. Old guard versus new blood. The media would eat it alive. ESPN would dedicate entire segments to it. Fox would fight for broadcast rights. And most importantly—every single seat in both stadiums would be sold out months in advance."
"You're talking about manufacturing a rivalry, this isn't Hollywood," John said, though his tone was more thoughtful now than dismissive.
"No, it's better, we are amplifying what already exists," Xavier corrected. "The rivalry is already there, Mr Mara. Your fans look down on us. Our fans resent you. Right now, that animosity just makes both franchises look petty. But if we lean into it? If we make it official? If we give it a name and a narrative? Then we'll breathe life into the single greatest rivalry of the 21st century."
He spread his hands. "Then suddenly we're not competing for the same fanbase—we're creating two distinct tribes that need to watch us play each other. Yankees-Mets. Lakers-Clippers. Rangers-Islanders. Every major sports city has this. New York doesn't have it in football. Not yet."
Trueman was nodding slowly. "The broadcast deals alone..."
"Would be astronomical," Xavier finished. "Prime-time slots guaranteed. National audience. International interest, especially if we're marketing it correctly. And here's the best part—it makes both franchises more valuable. The Giants don't lose anything as the Tigers invest two billion dollars to make this rivalry possible. You gain a legitimate rival that drives viewership, merchandise sales, and media attention."
John was silent for a long moment, his fingers drumming against the armrest. When he finally spoke, his voice was measured. "You've thought this through."
"I've thought about little else for three months," Xavier admitted. "I didn't buy the Tigers to be the Giants' little brother forever. But I also didn't buy them to destroy what you've built. There's room for both of us to win here."
"And if we say no?" John asked. "If we fight this in court, tie you up in legal battles for years?"
Xavier met his gaze evenly. "Then we both lose. You spend millions on lawyers, I spend millions on lawyers, and meanwhile, the city moves on without us. The Mayor's already interested in my project. The IOC is interested. If you fight me, you're not just fighting the Tigers—you're fighting the momentum I've already built."
He paused, then added more gently, "And with all due respect, Mr Mara, your family didn't build a dynasty by being afraid of competition. We both lose if you play scare, but you will lose more than me, as I won't take responsibility if the giants block our development."
John's expression flickered—something between irritation and grudging respect. "Are you threatening me right now?"
"I'm not, but if I'm asked by the media and fans why the stadium construction fell through, I won't lie," Xavier said. "So really it's a choice between building the next chapter of our legacy together or sabotaging each other moving forward."
Trueman cleared his throat. "Gentlemen, I think we've covered a lot of ground here. John, would you be willing to take this proposal back to your ownership group? Consider the possibilities?"
John stood slowly, straightening his jacket. "I'll consider it. But I'm not making any promises, James. You want to build a stadium? Fine, but even if we agree, Manhattan is out of the question."
"Queens it is then," Xavier said, standing as well. He extended his hand. "Thank you for hearing me out."
John shook it—still firm, but without the earlier hostility. "You're either very smart or very naive. Time will tell which."
"Probably a bit of both," Xavier admitted with a slight smile.
Trueman walked them both to the door. "I'll be in touch with both of your offices. We'll need to formalise this in writing if we're moving forward with revenue-sharing structures for any joint marketing initiatives."
"Understood," Xavier said. "My lawyers will be ready. Please give us the green signal as soon as possible, as they say time is money."
As they stepped into the hallway, John paused. "One more thing, James." Xavier turned back.
"If we do this—if we embrace this Derby concept—you'd better make sure your team is competitive because there's nothing worse for a rivalry than one team dominating the other year after year. The Giants won't take it easy on you just because you're young."
Xavier's smile widened. "Same to you, Mr Mara, I'm counting on it for some incredible derby clashes."
John shook his head slightly, an expression that might have been exasperation or might have been amusement, as Xavier walked away. Trueman watched him go, then turned to Mara. "I figured you would huff and puff a while longer before reaching a compromise."
"You were right to let him join the league," John stated with a light smile. "Things will get interesting in the next few years."
Trueman studied him for a moment, then nodded. "he's either going to be the best thing that happened to this league, or the biggest cautionary tale. I genuinely don't know which yet."
"Ask me again in five years," John said, extending his hand.
Trueman shook it. "I intend to."
Xavier left Giants Stadium the same way he'd entered—through a building full of staff that weren't his, walking past offices that represented a franchise that had existed for three-quarters of a century while his own was still figuring out where to call home. But as he stepped out into the late afternoon sunshine and climbed into his car, he felt lighter. Before even starting his car, the car phone rang as a familiar number appeared on the radio screen.
"Mr James, the Contract has been finalised and the wire transfer for the land acquisition has been made." Harvey's calm voice resounded from the phone, bringing another smile to his face. "We will begin the process of decontamination on the stadium site and the drafting of permits for when we can officially begin,"
"Thank you, I'll save you lifetime tickets for the VIP lounge once the project is complete," he said, thankful for all the behind-the-scenes work they were doing.
"Hahah, then you need to win some bowl games, otherwise I'll be embarrassed to take clients there."
---
Please leave a comment, drop some power stones, and a review. It's what motivates me to write chapters and helps me tremendously as the story reaches more readers.
---
.
.
.
.
To Be Continued...