Premier league exploring overseas games

[Monkeywool]

Interesting.

BBC SPORT | Football | Premier League | Top clubs consider overseas games

Top clubs consider overseas games

The English Premier League is considering playing some matches overseas, BBC Sport has learned.
At a meeting in London on Thursday, all 20 clubs agreed to explore a proposal to extend the season to 39 games.

Those 10 extra games would be played at venues around the world, with cities bidding for the right to stage them.

It is understood the additional fixtures could be determined by a draw but that the top-five teams could be seeded to avoid playing each other.

It is unlikely that any decision will be taken before the Premier League's annual summer meeting in June.

Should the proposal get the go-ahead, cities in Asia, Middle East and North America are likely to show a strong interest in hosting the extra games.

BBC Sport believes there would be five venues, with two games - on a Saturday and Sunday - taking place at each one.

BBC sports editor Mihir Bose says the Premier League's decision to explore such a move is a "logical" one.

"The growth of the Premier League has been impressive in the last 15 years thanks to the sale of television rights in this country," he said.

"But now the market in the United Kingdom is becoming saturated and it is the overseas market which is now the big target area."

A number of top-flight clubs already play matches around the world as they seek to capitalise on the huge global interest in the English game.

Manchester United are regular visitors to Asia, Middle East and America while other clubs are beginning to follow their lead.

"This is a chance for the Premier league to showcase their product around the world," added Bose.

"Some fans may feel aggrieved, but their concerns will be outweighed by the advantages.

"Clubs will see this as a chance to make more money so they can invest in new facilities and better players."

Just which cities "It will be like cities bidding for the Olympic Games or the World Cup."



More to follow.

[Newman]

Will Happy Al's run a coach to them?

[WeAreTheBest]

What a joke

[Newman]

It's absolutly pathetic, is there anything they won't do to make money from this one time sport?

[Monkeywool]

Imagine the title, going down to the 39th game. Liverpool are level on points with the Mancs, they have a random draw for the final game. Liverpool v Everton in kuala Lumpur. Man U v Derby in New York.

That would work

[Section_31]

The common man's game dies another death. The short-sightedness shown by the people at the top of our game is quite staggering to behold, alienating the bread and butter fanbase as they continue to track a fast buck.

Half the reason the England fans are so quick to boo the side these days is not just because they're fickle, it's because they all despise footballers. The fans and the game have never been so far apart, and it's only gonna end one way.

[robbief]

abolute shite. the american football teams do it to prove that they can attract a world wide audience. we don't need a world wide audience, hence the name 'ENGLISH premier league'. same should gor for AMERICAN football but we all know they will do anything for a few quid.

[DJLJ]

They've seen how it works in the UK with American Football. It will make them millions...

[Brownie]

Why do the powers that be feel the need to fuck about with the game? There's absolutely nothing wrong with our league structure as it is, and what purpose would it serve to play games abroad?

They have done it in the NFL but that's easily more understandable, because outside of the USA, American Football is a bit of an unknown quantity and they want to spread the word.

Football on the other hand, is a universal game and everyone knows about it. You don't need to take the game to them, they need to develop their own leagues etc.

It does my head in, shite like this.

[Anny Road]

How would it work? Say we were due to play the scum at home and they switched it to Boston or somewhere we would have lost 1 home game and a crucial one.

Pure horeshit. Everyone should fuck sky off at once and see what happens.

[Larry David]

Money is the master and the premier league chiefs are it's slaves, and if they are it's slaves then what does that make the fans? Thats right, the master. Only this master let's it's slaves do whatever the fuck they like. It's raw isn't it.

[Brownie]

Originally Posted by Anny Road How would it work? Say we were due to play the scum at home and they switched it to Boston or somewhere we would have lost 1 home game and a crucial one. Pure horeshit. Everyone should fuck sky off at once and see what happens.

Read the article?

[Lapskaus]

Money talks, bullshit walks. Face it people, it's all about the money. This is a brilliant way to expand the fanbase. Ultimately it will make English teams more competitive in Europe because of extra revenue going to transfers og player wages. I think it's a good idea, but I for one, don't think it's a sin to make money. It's what drives the world, including sports, forward

[DT]

Can the Premier League charge itself for bringing the game into disrepute?

If it goes ahead with this, then it should.

[Anny Road]

Originally Posted by Brownie Read the article?

Good tip.

How the fuck can clubs ever complain again about players being tired and the season being too long when they are willing to do this for a few quid.

The inevitable point at which I fuck this game off just got closer.

[Unrighteous]

WORST IDEA EVER!!! The players are fucking tired enough... That is unless you make the Carling Cup for non-premiership sides.

[G Richards]

I'll go against the grain and say this could be a useful idea. Suppose the 39th game is actually placed in the middle of the season, so that the traditional climax to the season is still on home soil. Then also suppose the game was played, say, January 15th, at the end of a 2 week training break mid season in warmer climes.

Get the midweek break in. Widen the appeal of the league around the world. Increase revenue.

It all could happen, and I'm reluctant to say it is a bad idea until I know more.

[Scouse Missionary]

I should be surprised. But I'm not. Obsession with £££££££££££ is rife in football. And who in Prague/paris/Rome, exactly, do they think is going to pay to watch Derby vs. Wigan?