Report: Spurs could be involved in a radical change to Premier League fixtures
04/05/2024 10:00
There is a desire from NBC to push for two opening day fixtures in the Premier League to take place in America instead of England, in a move which could land the league £1.6 billion in revenue.
NBC has held the broadcasting rights for the Premier League to be shown in the US since 2013, and recently signed a new contract in 2022 which brings in £360m for the league each year. That makes up a vast proportion of the league’s revenue.
Interestingly, that sum is almost five times what they paid back in 2011 when the deal first started. Now NBC is looking to use that influence to its own advantage, by reviving the idea of getting Premier League matches to be played abroad.
That concept, which involved a 39th game being played overseas, first occurred in 2008 but was rejected amid huge backlash from supporters.
Will Premier League games move to America?
This time, NBC Sports president, Jon Miller, has called for two fixtures to take place in America on the opening day of the Premier League season.
He told The Athletic: “At some point in the future, I would love to see a couple of Premier League games open the season here in big stadiums on our opening weekend. And I know that’s something that we’ll continue to push for.
“I think that there’s an American audience here that would like to see regular season games but in the meantime, we’ll continue to work with the Premier League to do everything we can to make the games available to as many people as possible.
“We’ve had conversations with the Premier League and they’ve been very open and receptive to listening to me. We did the Premier League Summer Series last year. All the teams that came over did really well, had a great experience, and really were able to interact with the fan base. And the Premier League saw that it was very successful.”
However, Premier League chief executive, Richard Masters, said: “The door looks ajar for matches abroad. It is not part of our current plans. The feedback we have from players is that there is too much football being played and there is constant expansion.”
The Football Supporters’ Association had a very clear message on the proposal, though, tweeting: “We defeated Game 39 in 2008 and we’d attack any attempted revival with a full-blown, two feet off the ground, studs to the knee tackle.”
Spurs Web Opinion
No one wants this apart from those who are more concerned with lining their pockets than the sanctity of the game. Premier League games have to be played at the home stadiums of the teams involved, and that should be the end of it.
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