Comments on: EPL Overseas Plan - For the Good of the Game? http://www.sportsnob.net/2008/02/22/epl-overseas-plan-for-the-good-of-the-game/ News, Opinions, Rants and more. Sat, 22 Nov 2008 16:59:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: English Premier League Redux | DesiPundit http://www.sportsnob.net/2008/02/22/epl-overseas-plan-for-the-good-of-the-game/#comment-10372 English Premier League Redux | DesiPundit Wed, 27 Feb 2008 04:02:09 +0000 http://www.sportsnob.net/2008/02/22/epl-overseas-plan-for-the-good-of-the-game/#comment-10372 [...] round of league games to be played in five cities around the world. Lucas at Critics Corner lays down the pros, cons, and few questions of this international [...] […] round of league games to be played in five cities around the world. Lucas at Critics Corner lays down the pros, cons, and few questions of this international […]

]]> By: Sreeram http://www.sportsnob.net/2008/02/22/epl-overseas-plan-for-the-good-of-the-game/#comment-10328 Sreeram Mon, 25 Feb 2008 18:19:50 +0000 http://www.sportsnob.net/2008/02/22/epl-overseas-plan-for-the-good-of-the-game/#comment-10328 That is the whole paradox. Promoting the game/offering chances to abroad viewers to see their heroes live Vs. filling in their treasury. Though the idea sounds noble, it would start hitting roadblocks soon.Though there are many sporting reasons mentioned behind this move, the bottomline for premoer league is more cash. The Premier League wants to fill its coffers at a faster rate by capitalizing on huge football watching population base in say East and South east Asian countries. By trying to popularize Derby vs Sunderland kind of matches, they may only be able to fill their wallets at a rate at par or slower than they do in England (highest gate entrance fees in England, four Arsenal match tickets equals a season ticket I guess for Real Madrid). Economically, it becomes non-viable in the longer run. Also, the viewers in countries like Japan, Korea and Malaysia with their own leagues will want to see the likes of Steven Gerrard, Rooney, Ronaldo, Torres, Cech in action more than Steve Bywaters, Michael Chopra, Kenwyn Jones, et al. The marriage of wider audience interest with the premier league's implicit desire of more money from abroad could culminate in a tournament like the one I had mentioned. Also, some teams like Newcastle and Tottenham which has a good fan base in Asia may be given some wild card entries to increase the number of teams in the tournament from 4.The initial move should be aimed towards winning the trust of abroad viewers by showing that premier league can bring full strength top teams here to participate in meaningful tournaments(press role and marketing the tournament becomes crucial here). Then, the viewers would themselves get hooked on and would start supporting matches such as Derby vs Sunderland. That is the whole paradox. Promoting the game/offering chances to abroad viewers to see their heroes live Vs. filling in their treasury. Though the idea sounds noble, it would start hitting roadblocks soon.Though there are many sporting reasons mentioned behind this move, the bottomline for premoer league is more cash. The Premier League wants to fill its coffers at a faster rate by capitalizing on huge football watching population base in say East and South east Asian countries. By trying to popularize Derby vs Sunderland kind of matches, they may only be able to fill their wallets at a rate at par or slower than they do in England (highest gate entrance fees in England, four Arsenal match tickets equals a season ticket I guess for Real Madrid). Economically, it becomes non-viable in the longer run.

Also, the viewers in countries like Japan, Korea and Malaysia with their own leagues will want to see the likes of Steven Gerrard, Rooney, Ronaldo, Torres, Cech in action more than Steve Bywaters, Michael Chopra, Kenwyn Jones, et al. The marriage of wider audience interest with the premier league’s implicit desire of more money from abroad could culminate in a tournament like the one I had mentioned.

Also, some teams like Newcastle and Tottenham which has a good fan base in Asia may be given some wild card entries to increase the number of teams in the tournament from 4.The initial move should be aimed towards winning the trust of abroad viewers by showing that premier league can bring full strength top teams here to participate in meaningful tournaments(press role and marketing the tournament becomes crucial here). Then, the viewers would themselves get hooked on and would start supporting matches such as Derby vs Sunderland.

]]> By: Lucas http://www.sportsnob.net/2008/02/22/epl-overseas-plan-for-the-good-of-the-game/#comment-10319 Lucas Mon, 25 Feb 2008 10:21:02 +0000 http://www.sportsnob.net/2008/02/22/epl-overseas-plan-for-the-good-of-the-game/#comment-10319 @Sreeram Why would the Premier League conduct tournaments involving just the top teams? The idea here is to involve all teams from the league and not just a few ones. Any tournament involving just a few clubs will not come under the purview of the Premier League. @Kesavan Did you see the support given to Tottenham and Chelsea in the Carling Cup finals? Do you feel fans will accept if the semis or finals is held abroad? I don't think so. Also, the players would prefer to win a trophy with the local fans watching. We could all see the passion of the Tottenham supporters in the Carling Cup final against Chelsea and the players were equally thrilled to win the trophy for their fans. @Sreeram
Why would the Premier League conduct tournaments involving just the top teams? The idea here is to involve all teams from the league and not just a few ones. Any tournament involving just a few clubs will not come under the purview of the Premier League.

@Kesavan
Did you see the support given to Tottenham and Chelsea in the Carling Cup finals? Do you feel fans will accept if the semis or finals is held abroad? I don’t think so. Also, the players would prefer to win a trophy with the local fans watching. We could all see the passion of the Tottenham supporters in the Carling Cup final against Chelsea and the players were equally thrilled to win the trophy for their fans.

]]> By: hkarthi http://www.sportsnob.net/2008/02/22/epl-overseas-plan-for-the-good-of-the-game/#comment-10236 hkarthi Sat, 23 Feb 2008 15:47:22 +0000 http://www.sportsnob.net/2008/02/22/epl-overseas-plan-for-the-good-of-the-game/#comment-10236 Awesome theme.. finally the switch has been made. I luv the new look. I hope this attracts more visitors and fame to Sportsnob! Kudos to the team.... Awesome theme.. finally the switch has been made. I luv the new look. I hope this attracts more visitors and fame to Sportsnob! Kudos to the team….

]]> By: Kesavan http://www.sportsnob.net/2008/02/22/epl-overseas-plan-for-the-good-of-the-game/#comment-10177 Kesavan Fri, 22 Feb 2008 13:45:16 +0000 http://www.sportsnob.net/2008/02/22/epl-overseas-plan-for-the-good-of-the-game/#comment-10177 The main problem with this proposal is the 39th game. It unbalances the home and away concept of the league. Why would some team in the lower half of the table want to play a 3rd match against an Arsenal or a Man U while others have played only twice? A better solution would be to play the quarters, semis and finals of the league cup somewhere abroad. Anyways other than Spurs this season and Boro a couple of years back, not too many people care about the League Cup. The main problem with this proposal is the 39th game. It unbalances the home and away concept of the league.

Why would some team in the lower half of the table want to play a 3rd match against an Arsenal or a Man U while others have played only twice?

A better solution would be to play the quarters, semis and finals of the league cup somewhere abroad. Anyways other than Spurs this season and Boro a couple of years back, not too many people care about the League Cup.

]]> By: Sreeram http://www.sportsnob.net/2008/02/22/epl-overseas-plan-for-the-good-of-the-game/#comment-10176 Sreeram Fri, 22 Feb 2008 13:35:32 +0000 http://www.sportsnob.net/2008/02/22/epl-overseas-plan-for-the-good-of-the-game/#comment-10176 I'm in for game 39. It will not work for all clubs though. Only the English clubs in the top 20 richest clubs would have a market.Significant match, but should not make local fans feel betrayed. Tough combination. Rather, can have some kind of community shield kind of tournament involving top 4 or 5 clubs outside Europe. To accommodate these, pre-season friendlies should be scrapped and number of international friendlies should be halved. Then it would do fine. January is not an option at all. Facilities is a problem. But in soccer starved countries like India where it would help popularize sport while not having a telling impact on the dying local game. The impact in Malaysia, Korea and China would be huge as the game is reasonably developed there and would be threatened by this move. I’m in for game 39. It will not work for all clubs though. Only the English clubs in the top 20 richest clubs would have a market.Significant match, but should not make local fans feel betrayed. Tough combination. Rather, can have some kind of community shield kind of tournament involving top 4 or 5 clubs outside Europe. To accommodate these, pre-season friendlies should be scrapped and number of international friendlies should be halved. Then it would do fine. January is not an option at all.

Facilities is a problem. But in soccer starved countries like India where it would help popularize sport while not having a telling impact on the dying local game. The impact in Malaysia, Korea and China would be huge as the game is reasonably developed there and would be threatened by this move.

]]>