You guys that live in England are the envy of the rest of the football supporting World. EPL on your doostep.
& this viewpoint is what is so sad.
I don't envy the "EPL". What people should be envious about is that we have such a widespread and well supported football pyramid with 92 professional clubs with average crowds in the 2nd tier that beat many other 1st tier leagues across Europe.
A set of clubs, including non-league, steeped in history and tradition, with passionate fans that support them no matter what.
It's the obsession with the glitz, glamour & money that is killing football, rather than the simple pleasures of travelling all the way to Carlisle, watching your team win and waking up Sunday morning not remembering a thing.
You guys that live in England are the envy of the rest of the football supporting World. EPL on your doostep.
& this viewpoint is what is so sad.
I don't envy the "EPL". What people should be envious about is that we have such a widespread and well supported football pyramid with 92 professional clubs with average crowds in the 2nd tier that beat many other 1st tier leagues across Europe.
A set of clubs, including non-league, steeped in history and tradition, with passionate fans that support them no matter what.
It's the obsession with the glitz, glamour & money that is killing football, rather than the simple pleasures of travelling all the way to Carlisle, watching your team win and waking up Sunday morning not remembering a thing.
You guys that live in England are the envy of the rest of the football supporting World. EPL on your doostep.
& this viewpoint is what is so sad.
I don't envy the "EPL". What people should be envious about is that we have such a widespread and well supported football pyramid with 92 professional clubs with average crowds in the 2nd tier that beat many other 1st tier leagues across Europe.
A set of clubs, including non-league, steeped in history and tradition, with passionate fans that support them no matter what.
It's the obsession with the glitz, glamour & money that is killing football, rather than the simple pleasures of travelling all the way to Carlisle, watching your team win and waking up Sunday morning not remembering a thing.
Maybe that's a Millwall thing, but it's not what I go to football for.
You guys that live in England are the envy of the rest of the football supporting World. EPL on your doostep.
& this viewpoint is what is so sad.
I don't envy the "EPL". What people should be envious about is that we have such a widespread and well supported football pyramid with 92 professional clubs with average crowds in the 2nd tier that beat many other 1st tier leagues across Europe.
A set of clubs, including non-league, steeped in history and tradition, with passionate fans that support them no matter what.
It's the obsession with the glitz, glamour & money that is killing football, rather than the simple pleasures of travelling all the way to Carlisle, watching your team win and waking up Sunday morning not remembering a thing.
Maybe that's a Millwall thing, but it's not what I go to football for.
Not just Millwall - most my away trips follow in that fashion.
You guys that live in England are the envy of the rest of the football supporting World. EPL on your doostep.
& this viewpoint is what is so sad.
I don't envy the "EPL". What people should be envious about is that we have such a widespread and well supported football pyramid with 92 professional clubs with average crowds in the 2nd tier that beat many other 1st tier leagues across Europe.
A set of clubs, including non-league, steeped in history and tradition, with passionate fans that support them no matter what.
It's the obsession with the glitz, glamour & money that is killing football, rather than the simple pleasures of travelling all the way to Carlisle, watching your team win and waking up Sunday morning not remembering a thing.
Maybe that's a Millwall thing, but it's not what I go to football for.
Not just Millwall - most my away trips follow in that fashion.
You guys that live in England are the envy of the rest of the football supporting World. EPL on your doostep.
& this viewpoint is what is so sad.
I don't envy the "EPL". What people should be envious about is that we have such a widespread and well supported football pyramid with 92 professional clubs with average crowds in the 2nd tier that beat many other 1st tier leagues across Europe.
A set of clubs, including non-league, steeped in history and tradition, with passionate fans that support them no matter what.
It's the obsession with the glitz, glamour & money that is killing football, rather than the simple pleasures of travelling all the way to Carlisle, watching your team win and waking up Sunday morning not remembering a thing.
Maybe that's a Millwall thing, but it's not what I go to football for.
Who goes to football to wake up with a hangover? Just that following a long journey home from Carlisle or a night in Newcastle/Blackpool, a hangover and blank parts of the day before are unavoidable.
Well written and thought provoking piece. I missed it so thanks for posting it.
I was in Hong Kong when the Barclays Asia Trophy was played here and it was big news as were the pre-season Asian tours of Man Utd, Spurs, Arsenal, Man City and Sunderland where crowds line the streets to cheer their heroes. It amazes me when I come home that my mates who support EPL teams still think that it still has anything to do with England. As the piece points out, EPL clubs are largely foreign owned, foreign sponsored and mostly supported by foreign fans.
Sadly, many are naive enough to pay big ticket prices to watch a game at noon on a Sunday just to be extras in an Asian TV entertainment product that I am watching for free in a bar at 8pm with a cold beer.
The South China Morning Post (in Hong Kong) ran a good series of articles about how HUGE the EPL is in Asia which I will try and find a link to but some interesting facts:
There are 2.2 million Man Utd fans in Hong Kong alone and 108 million in mainland China. There are an estimated 820 million EPL fans in Asia TV audiences for EPL in Asia are 32.5% of the global total (that's double the UK and rising) Swansea's new sponsor Goldenway is a Hong Kong based financial services company ( I doubt they are seeking clients in Europe) Barcelona have just opened offices in Hong Kong
Asian economies are "emerging" and have huge growth so this is where sponsors need to connect. As I think Bangkok Addick posted in another thread sometime ago there is zero interest in English lower leagues in Asia. The heritage /history of Charlton/Leeds/Derby County/Notts Forest etc etc counts for zilch.
Two implications for Charlton fans:
1. If the owners want to solve the alleged financial problems we should sponsor a cheap a ticket to Hong Kong (or Bangkok/Singapore/Beijing/Shanghai) or at least spend a few quid putting a FOR SALE notice in the small ads section of the English newspapers here. 2. If/when we do sell out to Asian owners this will be to a. get into the EPL and 2. build an Asian audience an Asian fan base.
The core home support are just background noise (literally).
I don't doubt the interest in Asia for the EPL. This interest is currently worth large amounts of money and potentially more still could be generated.
Dismissing the English based supporters is wrong. Match day revenue accounts for a significant percentage of clubs revenue streams. Domestic broadcasting rights are also significant, as is domestic commercial revenue. There may come a day when domestic support is just background noise, but it has not arrived yet.
You might be in denial here I'm afraid and sorry if you are one of the deluded who pay over the top to be one of the walk on extras at EPL matches. I agree that domestic TV revenue is still significant (about 16% of total I think but declining fast) but gate money is almost chicken feed for the big four compared with sponsorship and global TV revenue.
Recent media reports indicate that Man Utd have just reported a 30% boost in income and their 2013 results are likely to show turnover of £360 million; due largely to a dramatic 52% increase in sponsorship revenue (not via paying supporters or selling scarves to loyal fans in in greater Manchester).
Reporting on the recent Man Utd sponsorship deal with Pepsi, news agency Reuters reported
Manchester United said PepsiCo would be its soft drinks partner in Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos and Brunei, holding exclusive rights to use the club's branding on PepsiCo products within these markets.
Top English clubs are now foreign owned vehicles featuring foreign players used for selling global products and services in Asia. The only English connection is the exploited and abused domestic fan base who subsidise the already successful financial model. And how many paying at the turnstiles are hard core supporters and how many are corporate jollies or birthday treats for the children of the very wealthy.
I can see at least some EPL games being played in Asia within the next ten seasons and the entire league becoming even more detached from the rest of English football and its grass roots. Then there wont even be an opportunity for English fans to be background noise.
Remain in denial of you wish but the "E" in EPL is getting smaller every day.
Just noticed that only 5 of the 10 opening fixtures for the EPL kick-off at 3pm on the Saturday (Traditional). I assume this is because of the world-wide "appeal" of The Premier League.
Well written and thought provoking piece. I missed it so thanks for posting it.
I was in Hong Kong when the Barclays Asia Trophy was played here and it was big news as were the pre-season Asian tours of Man Utd, Spurs, Arsenal, Man City and Sunderland where crowds line the streets to cheer their heroes. It amazes me when I come home that my mates who support EPL teams still think that it still has anything to do with England. As the piece points out, EPL clubs are largely foreign owned, foreign sponsored and mostly supported by foreign fans.
Sadly, many are naive enough to pay big ticket prices to watch a game at noon on a Sunday just to be extras in an Asian TV entertainment product that I am watching for free in a bar at 8pm with a cold beer.
The South China Morning Post (in Hong Kong) ran a good series of articles about how HUGE the EPL is in Asia which I will try and find a link to but some interesting facts:
There are 2.2 million Man Utd fans in Hong Kong alone and 108 million in mainland China. There are an estimated 820 million EPL fans in Asia TV audiences for EPL in Asia are 32.5% of the global total (that's double the UK and rising) Swansea's new sponsor Goldenway is a Hong Kong based financial services company ( I doubt they are seeking clients in Europe) Barcelona have just opened offices in Hong Kong
Asian economies are "emerging" and have huge growth so this is where sponsors need to connect. As I think Bangkok Addick posted in another thread sometime ago there is zero interest in English lower leagues in Asia. The heritage /history of Charlton/Leeds/Derby County/Notts Forest etc etc counts for zilch.
Two implications for Charlton fans:
1. If the owners want to solve the alleged financial problems we should sponsor a cheap a ticket to Hong Kong (or Bangkok/Singapore/Beijing/Shanghai) or at least spend a few quid putting a FOR SALE notice in the small ads section of the English newspapers here. 2. If/when we do sell out to Asian owners this will be to a. get into the EPL and 2. build an Asian audience an Asian fan base.
The core home support are just background noise (literally).
I don't doubt the interest in Asia for the EPL. This interest is currently worth large amounts of money and potentially more still could be generated.
Dismissing the English based supporters is wrong. Match day revenue accounts for a significant percentage of clubs revenue streams. Domestic broadcasting rights are also significant, as is domestic commercial revenue. There may come a day when domestic support is just background noise, but it has not arrived yet.
You might be in denial here I'm afraid and sorry if you are one of the deluded who pay over the top to be one of the walk on extras at EPL matches. I agree that domestic TV revenue is still significant (about 16% of total I think but declining fast) but gate money is almost chicken feed for the big four compared with sponsorship and global TV revenue.
I stand by my original comments, based as they were in fact and with a reasonable conclusion as to what might happen in the future. You appear to have taken some facts, then made some others up and created your own version of reality.
Domestic broadcasting rights for the EPL are £3 billion over the next 3 years, overseas broadcasting rights are £2.5 billion (source Deloitte). Therefore domestic broadcasting rights account for about 55% of total broadcasting rights. Nowhere near your figure of 16%. Further the overseas figure includes not just Asia but North America, the rest of Europe, and the rest of the world.
Matchday revenues at Man United were £98.7 million (or 31% of total revenue) in 2012, at Chelsea the figure was £77.7 million (30%) and at Arsenal £95.2 million (41%) (source Deloitte). These figures make a mockery of your assertion that gate money is almost chicken feed.
The facts, as far as the present is concerned, indicate that if anyone is in denial it is you. As for the future, I think we can agree the value of Asia to the EPL is likely increase.
Well written and thought provoking piece. I missed it so thanks for posting it.
I was in Hong Kong when the Barclays Asia Trophy was played here and it was big news as were the pre-season Asian tours of Man Utd, Spurs, Arsenal, Man City and Sunderland where crowds line the streets to cheer their heroes. It amazes me when I come home that my mates who support EPL teams still think that it still has anything to do with England. As the piece points out, EPL clubs are largely foreign owned, foreign sponsored and mostly supported by foreign fans.
Sadly, many are naive enough to pay big ticket prices to watch a game at noon on a Sunday just to be extras in an Asian TV entertainment product that I am watching for free in a bar at 8pm with a cold beer.
The South China Morning Post (in Hong Kong) ran a good series of articles about how HUGE the EPL is in Asia which I will try and find a link to but some interesting facts:
There are 2.2 million Man Utd fans in Hong Kong alone and 108 million in mainland China. There are an estimated 820 million EPL fans in Asia TV audiences for EPL in Asia are 32.5% of the global total (that's double the UK and rising) Swansea's new sponsor Goldenway is a Hong Kong based financial services company ( I doubt they are seeking clients in Europe) Barcelona have just opened offices in Hong Kong
Asian economies are "emerging" and have huge growth so this is where sponsors need to connect. As I think Bangkok Addick posted in another thread sometime ago there is zero interest in English lower leagues in Asia. The heritage /history of Charlton/Leeds/Derby County/Notts Forest etc etc counts for zilch.
Two implications for Charlton fans:
1. If the owners want to solve the alleged financial problems we should sponsor a cheap a ticket to Hong Kong (or Bangkok/Singapore/Beijing/Shanghai) or at least spend a few quid putting a FOR SALE notice in the small ads section of the English newspapers here. 2. If/when we do sell out to Asian owners this will be to a. get into the EPL and 2. build an Asian audience an Asian fan base.
The core home support are just background noise (literally).
I don't doubt the interest in Asia for the EPL. This interest is currently worth large amounts of money and potentially more still could be generated.
Dismissing the English based supporters is wrong. Match day revenue accounts for a significant percentage of clubs revenue streams. Domestic broadcasting rights are also significant, as is domestic commercial revenue. There may come a day when domestic support is just background noise, but it has not arrived yet.
You might be in denial here I'm afraid and sorry if you are one of the deluded who pay over the top to be one of the walk on extras at EPL matches. I agree that domestic TV revenue is still significant (about 16% of total I think but declining fast) but gate money is almost chicken feed for the big four compared with sponsorship and global TV revenue.
I stand by my original comments, based as they were in fact and with a reasonable conclusion as to what might happen in the future. You appear to have taken some facts, then made some others up and created your own version of reality.
Domestic broadcasting rights for the EPL are £3 billion over the next 3 years, overseas broadcasting rights are £2.5 billion (source Deloitte). Therefore domestic broadcasting rights account for about 55% of total broadcasting rights. Nowhere near your figure of 16%. Further the overseas figure includes not just Asia but North America, the rest of Europe, and the rest of the world.
Matchday revenues at Man United were £98.7 million (or 31% of total revenue) in 2012, at Chelsea the figure was £77.7 million (30%) and at Arsenal £95.2 million (41%) (source Deloitte). These figures make a mockery of your assertion that gate money is almost chicken feed.
The facts, as far as the present is concerned, indicate that if anyone is in denial it is you. As for the future, I think we can agree the value of Asia to the EPL is likely increase.
Strong counter -argument and sorry if you were offended by the "in denial" accusation. Its just that so many "big four" fans refuse to acknowledge that they are destined to become a bit player in the commercial set up of the EPL which has indeed sold its soul and everything else it owns.
I do concede the domestic broadcasting revenue is still very important and my 16% figure is the global audience (not revenue) so guess where the EPL will be focusing its future marketing efforts?
And how much match day revenue is the gate receipts of hard core supporters and how much is corporate hospitality, VIP boxes, and prawn sandwich catering?
I still think those EPL team supporters are mugs for their enthusiastic subsidy of a rich foreign owned marketing machine. Paying £60 plus for a noon kick off on a Sunday? Please.
And what exactly do they think they are supporting? An Arab business consortium, an American sports corporation, a Russian oligarch? Or maybe its the millionaire foreign players they support who kiss the badge and will leave the moment their agent secures a better pay deal elsewhere. Often, they can't even support the geographic location of the stadium anymore or even the name of it.
It sounds more like commercial exploitation than support..
You guys that live in England are the envy of the rest of the football supporting World. EPL on your doostep.
& this viewpoint is what is so sad.
I don't envy the "EPL". What people should be envious about is that we have such a widespread and well supported football pyramid with 92 professional clubs with average crowds in the 2nd tier that beat many other 1st tier leagues across Europe.
A set of clubs, including non-league, steeped in history and tradition, with passionate fans that support them no matter what.
It's the obsession with the glitz, glamour & money that is killing football, rather than the simple pleasures of travelling all the way to Carlisle, watching your team win and waking up Sunday morning not remembering a thing.
I agree 100%, but the market in Asia is huge, and they don't want to watch Chesterfield or Carlisle. They don't sell Millwall or Macclesfield shirts. The EPL is all they know. When I go back to London I watch Charlton games and also hungrily look for the Welling, VCD, Thamesmead, Erith etc fixture list . However, outisde of the UK none of this is known. You could put a case that the rest of the World believe English football has found it's soul.
I think its inevitable that in the next 20-30 years the big clubs from each country will break away from their domestic leagues to form a european "Super League", generating even more cash for all of them. It might be a closed shop, or all of the champions of the domestic leagues play off each other to get "promoted" to it at the end of each season...
The champions league might stay on as a companion to the ESL, maybe to give the smaller teams from the domestic leagues a chance to face the ESL teams.
I think its inevitable that in the next 20-30 years the big clubs from each country will break away from their domestic leagues to form a european "Super League", generating even more cash for all of them. It might be a closed shop, or all of the champions of the domestic leagues play off each other to get "promoted" to it at the end of each season...
The champions league might stay on as a companion to the ESL, maybe to give the smaller teams from the domestic leagues a chance to face the ESL teams.
I don't believe this will happen. There will be too few trophies to go around if all the top clubs join one league.
The CL is bad enough. If they set up a Super League teams like Man Utd could go 20 years without winning a Championship. No way they will sign up for that!
I think its inevitable that in the next 20-30 years the big clubs from each country will break away from their domestic leagues to form a european "Super League", generating even more cash for all of them. It might be a closed shop, or all of the champions of the domestic leagues play off each other to get "promoted" to it at the end of each season...
The champions league might stay on as a companion to the ESL, maybe to give the smaller teams from the domestic leagues a chance to face the ESL teams.
I don't believe this will happen. There will be too few trophies to go around if all the top clubs join one league.
The CL is bad enough. If they set up a Super League teams like Man Utd could go 20 years without winning a Championship. No way they will sign up for that!
They will is the money is right. Liverpool signed up for the premership and haven't won it in the 20 years it's been around.
I personally want a European super league with relegation back to domestic leagues. It will be a great competition and make the domestic leagues more competitive and enjoyable for the fans of the smaller clubs. It won't be much fun for the fans of big clubs but that's not my problem.
You guys that live in England are the envy of the rest of the football supporting World. EPL on your doostep.
& this viewpoint is what is so sad.
I don't envy the "EPL". What people should be envious about is that we have such a widespread and well supported football pyramid with 92 professional clubs with average crowds in the 2nd tier that beat many other 1st tier leagues across Europe.
A set of clubs, including non-league, steeped in history and tradition, with passionate fans that support them no matter what.
It's the obsession with the glitz, glamour & money that is killing football, rather than the simple pleasures of travelling all the way to Carlisle, watching your team win and waking up Sunday morning not remembering a thing.
I think its inevitable that in the next 20-30 years the big clubs from each country will break away from their domestic leagues to form a european "Super League", generating even more cash for all of them. It might be a closed shop, or all of the champions of the domestic leagues play off each other to get "promoted" to it at the end of each season...
The champions league might stay on as a companion to the ESL, maybe to give the smaller teams from the domestic leagues a chance to face the ESL teams.
I don't believe this will happen. There will be too few trophies to go around if all the top clubs join one league.
The CL is bad enough. If they set up a Super League teams like Man Utd could go 20 years without winning a Championship. No way they will sign up for that!
They will is the money is right. Liverpool signed up for the premership and haven't won it in the 20 years it's been around.
I personally want a European super league with relegation back to domestic leagues. It will be a great competition and make the domestic leagues more competitive and enjoyable for the fans of the smaller clubs. It won't be much fun for the fans of big clubs but that's not my problem.
That's a bit different though, there were no new teams introduced. The Premier League was just like the First Division only with a shed load more money. The Premier League teams (the big ones mainly) don't even want to let in Rangers and Celtic just in case they win the title.
Due to the costs of travel it would also destroy atmospheres and I can't see how the top sides in Europe can make more money as they currently have their own domestic leagues and the CL. Merge it and the CL will become as popular as the FA Cup (and, not doubt as financially rewarding) and who is going to want to watch Man Utd vs Inter Milan in a mid table clash?
Sky only get excited about the top of the table clashes and there would, by definition, be fewer of them. In fact if none of the English clubs are close to the top of the league there is the possibility that Sky will have no games to put on in England that include domestic sides.
I can see further changes in the CL, but even that has, now, got to the point where no one really cares about it until the group stage is finished as it's all about knock out and 'winner takes all'. I think what we, dedicated attending fans, forget is that the TV audience want immediate excitement. They want every game to matter and be a big clash. Only a European cup competition can offer that, anything else and the TV audience will get bored and switch off.
I do agree with you about how it would be a good thing for the rest of us though.
I personally want a European super league with relegation back to domestic leagues. It will be a great competition and make the domestic leagues more competitive and enjoyable for the fans of the smaller clubs. It won't be much fun for the fans of big clubs but that's not my problem.
It's a shame that so few fans think much of the fellow supporters nowadays. By all means, day to day, sod 'em all, but on big issues, like being able to have your own ground, or your club being moved to another part of the country, or in what you suggest, fans of the top 4 having their clubs ripped away from them to trot across Europe every other weekend for money is gutting for them & their community. Wouldn't wish that on them.
I think its inevitable that in the next 20-30 years the big clubs from each country will break away from their domestic leagues to form a european "Super League", generating even more cash for all of them. It might be a closed shop, or all of the champions of the domestic leagues play off each other to get "promoted" to it at the end of each season...
The champions league might stay on as a companion to the ESL, maybe to give the smaller teams from the domestic leagues a chance to face the ESL teams.
I don't believe this will happen. There will be too few trophies to go around if all the top clubs join one league.
The CL is bad enough. If they set up a Super League teams like Man Utd could go 20 years without winning a Championship. No way they will sign up for that!
They will is the money is right. Liverpool signed up for the premership and haven't won it in the 20 years it's been around.
I personally want a European super league with relegation back to domestic leagues. It will be a great competition and make the domestic leagues more competitive and enjoyable for the fans of the smaller clubs. It won't be much fun for the fans of big clubs but that's not my problem.
I agree in the main with KHA although I see a super league running alongside domestic leagues with big fours creating squads that have 45 or so players in them enabling them to compete on two fronts.
The ESL would be a closed shop governed by a clubs revenue snd marketing plan. Much like the English Womens Super League where Doncaster Belles have been relegated based on their turnover and marketing plan.
ESL will comprise clubs used to finishing between 1 and 4 across the big leagues. When they compete in a 14 to 16 team league only a few will retain their positions with a result that their value as a tv draw, merchandising proposition and financial investment will diminish.
My wish would be for The big six to go and the remainder formed a fair and equitable league. I have other wishes that will never be fulfilled.
I personally want a European super league with relegation back to domestic leagues. It will be a great competition and make the domestic leagues more competitive and enjoyable for the fans of the smaller clubs. It won't be much fun for the fans of big clubs but that's not my problem.
It's a shame that so few fans think much of the fellow supporters nowadays. By all means, day to day, sod 'em all, but on big issues, like being able to have your own ground, or your club being moved to another part of the country, or in what you suggest, fans of the top 4 having their clubs ripped away from them to trot across Europe every other weekend for money is gutting for them & their community. Wouldn't wish that on them.
That's a bit rich coming from a Millwall supporter :-)
I think its inevitable that in the next 20-30 years the big clubs from each country will break away from their domestic leagues to form a european "Super League", generating even more cash for all of them. It might be a closed shop, or all of the champions of the domestic leagues play off each other to get "promoted" to it at the end of each season...
The champions league might stay on as a companion to the ESL, maybe to give the smaller teams from the domestic leagues a chance to face the ESL teams.
I don't believe this will happen. There will be too few trophies to go around if all the top clubs join one league.
The CL is bad enough. If they set up a Super League teams like Man Utd could go 20 years without winning a Championship. No way they will sign up for that!
They will is the money is right. Liverpool signed up for the premership and haven't won it in the 20 years it's been around.
I personally want a European super league with relegation back to domestic leagues. It will be a great competition and make the domestic leagues more competitive and enjoyable for the fans of the smaller clubs. It won't be much fun for the fans of big clubs but that's not my problem.
That's a bit different though, there were no new teams introduced. The Premier League was just like the First Division only with a shed load more money. The Premier League teams (the big ones mainly) don't even want to let in Rangers and Celtic just in case they win the title.
Due to the costs of travel it would also destroy atmospheres and I can't see how the top sides in Europe can make more money as they currently have their own domestic leagues and the CL. Merge it and the CL will become as popular as the FA Cup (and, not doubt as financially rewarding) and who is going to want to watch Man Utd vs Inter Milan in a mid table clash?
Sky only get excited about the top of the table clashes and there would, by definition, be fewer of them. In fact if none of the English clubs are close to the top of the league there is the possibility that Sky will have no games to put on in England that include domestic sides.
I can see further changes in the CL, but even that has, now, got to the point where no one really cares about it until the group stage is finished as it's all about knock out and 'winner takes all'. I think what we, dedicated attending fans, forget is that the TV audience want immediate excitement. They want every game to matter and be a big clash. Only a European cup competition can offer that, anything else and the TV audience will get bored and switch off.
I do agree with you about how it would be a good thing for the rest of us though.
I agree with a lot of what you'll say but I disagree about the midtable fixtures not being a draw. Look how many third division Rangers games got broadcast last season. The team playing probably have more influence over the rating than the competition.
Comments
I don't envy the "EPL". What people should be envious about is that we have such a widespread and well supported football pyramid with 92 professional clubs with average crowds in the 2nd tier that beat many other 1st tier leagues across Europe.
A set of clubs, including non-league, steeped in history and tradition, with passionate fans that support them no matter what.
It's the obsession with the glitz, glamour & money that is killing football, rather than the simple pleasures of travelling all the way to Carlisle, watching your team win and waking up Sunday morning not remembering a thing.
Bournemouth is a blur......thank god.
this
Recent media reports indicate that Man Utd have just reported a 30% boost in income and their 2013 results are likely to show turnover of £360 million; due largely to a dramatic 52% increase in sponsorship revenue (not via paying supporters or selling scarves to loyal fans in in greater Manchester).
Reporting on the recent Man Utd sponsorship deal with Pepsi, news agency Reuters reported
Manchester United said PepsiCo would be its soft drinks partner in Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos and Brunei, holding exclusive rights to use the club's branding on PepsiCo products within these markets.
Top English clubs are now foreign owned vehicles featuring foreign players used for selling global products and services in Asia. The only English connection is the exploited and abused domestic fan base who subsidise the already successful financial model. And how many paying at the turnstiles are hard core supporters and how many are corporate jollies or birthday treats for the children of the very wealthy.
I can see at least some EPL games being played in Asia within the next ten seasons and the entire league becoming even more detached from the rest of English football and its grass roots. Then there wont even be an opportunity for English fans to be background noise.
Remain in denial of you wish but the "E" in EPL is getting smaller every day.
I assume this is because of the world-wide "appeal" of The Premier League.
Domestic broadcasting rights for the EPL are £3 billion over the next 3 years, overseas broadcasting rights are £2.5 billion (source Deloitte). Therefore domestic broadcasting rights account for about 55% of total broadcasting rights. Nowhere near your figure of 16%. Further the overseas figure includes not just Asia but North America, the rest of Europe, and the rest of the world.
Matchday revenues at Man United were £98.7 million (or 31% of total revenue) in 2012, at Chelsea the figure was £77.7 million (30%) and at Arsenal £95.2 million (41%) (source Deloitte). These figures make a mockery of your assertion that gate money is almost chicken feed.
The facts, as far as the present is concerned, indicate that if anyone is in denial it is you. As for the future, I think we can agree the value of Asia to the EPL is likely increase.
I do concede the domestic broadcasting revenue is still very important and my 16% figure is the global audience (not revenue) so guess where the EPL will be focusing its future marketing efforts?
And how much match day revenue is the gate receipts of hard core supporters and how much is corporate hospitality, VIP boxes, and prawn sandwich catering?
I still think those EPL team supporters are mugs for their enthusiastic subsidy of a rich foreign owned marketing machine. Paying £60 plus for a noon kick off on a Sunday? Please.
And what exactly do they think they are supporting? An Arab business consortium, an American sports corporation, a Russian oligarch? Or maybe its the millionaire foreign players they support who kiss the badge and will leave the moment their agent secures a better pay deal elsewhere. Often, they can't even support the geographic location of the stadium anymore or even the name of it.
It sounds more like commercial exploitation than support..
Maybe
. However, outisde of the UK none of this is known. You could put a case that the rest of the World believe English football has found it's soul.
The champions league might stay on as a companion to the ESL, maybe to give the smaller teams from the domestic leagues a chance to face the ESL teams.
The CL is bad enough. If they set up a Super League teams like Man Utd could go 20 years without winning a Championship. No way they will sign up for that!
I personally want a European super league with relegation back to domestic leagues. It will be a great competition and make the domestic leagues more competitive and enjoyable for the fans of the smaller clubs. It won't be much fun for the fans of big clubs but that's not my problem.
Due to the costs of travel it would also destroy atmospheres and I can't see how the top sides in Europe can make more money as they currently have their own domestic leagues and the CL. Merge it and the CL will become as popular as the FA Cup (and, not doubt as financially rewarding) and who is going to want to watch Man Utd vs Inter Milan in a mid table clash?
Sky only get excited about the top of the table clashes and there would, by definition, be fewer of them. In fact if none of the English clubs are close to the top of the league there is the possibility that Sky will have no games to put on in England that include domestic sides.
I can see further changes in the CL, but even that has, now, got to the point where no one really cares about it until the group stage is finished as it's all about knock out and 'winner takes all'. I think what we, dedicated attending fans, forget is that the TV audience want immediate excitement. They want every game to matter and be a big clash. Only a European cup competition can offer that, anything else and the TV audience will get bored and switch off.
I do agree with you about how it would be a good thing for the rest of us though.
The ESL would be a closed shop governed by a clubs revenue snd marketing plan. Much like the English Womens Super League where Doncaster Belles have been relegated based on their turnover and marketing plan.
ESL will comprise clubs used to finishing between 1 and 4 across the big leagues. When they compete in a 14 to 16 team league only a few will retain their positions with a result that their value as a tv draw, merchandising proposition and financial investment will diminish.
My wish would be for The big six to go and the remainder formed a fair and equitable league. I have other wishes that will never be fulfilled.