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Premiership plans overseas matches
The Associated Press
February 7, 2008 at 2:17 PM EST
LONDON — England's Premier League could be going global.
The league's 20 clubs agreed unanimously Thursday to examine proposals to expand the regular season and play 10 games overseas starting in 2010-11.
The matches would be played at five venues around the world over a single weekend in January 2011. Each city would host one game on Saturday and one on Sunday.
The "international round" would be in addition to the traditional 38 home and away matches each of the clubs currently play.
"We can't escape the fact that globalization of sport is with us," Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore said. "This is a response to that globalization. ... By design we have become a global phenomenon. We cannot go on manifesting that phenomenon as a broadcast proposition only."
Despite protests from coaches that their players already suffer from too many matches, the switch to a 39-game season would start in 2010-11 when a new television broadcast agreement is scheduled to take effect.
The Premier League initiative follows the success of the top American leagues in staging football, basketball, hockey and baseball games outside of the United States.
The NHL opened in London in September when the Stanley Cup champion Anaheim Ducks and the Los Angeles Kings contested the first regular-season games to be played in Europe, and is set to open next season with four games in Stockholm and Prague.
The NFL held its first regular season game outside North America in London last October when the New York Giants beat the Miami Dolphins 13-10, the same month the Boston Celtics and the Minnesota Timberwolves played a pre-season NBA game there.
Still to be worked out would be how the team matchups would be decided.
"All clubs have an equal chance of being treated unfairly," Scudamore said. "It's better than taking somebody's home game."
No league games would be played in the week before or after the round of overseas matches.
FIFA and UEFA would have to sanction the matches for them to go ahead and be recognized as part of the Premier League competition.
CONCACAF has a rule preventing foreign league matches from being played in its region but appeared amenable.
"There is a demand for people to see them, and it's understandable," CONCACAF secretary general Chuck Blazer said. "It will require further discussion. I think we'll find a level of co-operation but it has to be done the right way."
Link to article
Premiership plans overseas matches
The Associated Press
February 7, 2008 at 2:17 PM EST
LONDON — England's Premier League could be going global.
The league's 20 clubs agreed unanimously Thursday to examine proposals to expand the regular season and play 10 games overseas starting in 2010-11.
The matches would be played at five venues around the world over a single weekend in January 2011. Each city would host one game on Saturday and one on Sunday.
The "international round" would be in addition to the traditional 38 home and away matches each of the clubs currently play.
"We can't escape the fact that globalization of sport is with us," Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore said. "This is a response to that globalization. ... By design we have become a global phenomenon. We cannot go on manifesting that phenomenon as a broadcast proposition only."
Despite protests from coaches that their players already suffer from too many matches, the switch to a 39-game season would start in 2010-11 when a new television broadcast agreement is scheduled to take effect.
The Premier League initiative follows the success of the top American leagues in staging football, basketball, hockey and baseball games outside of the United States.
The NHL opened in London in September when the Stanley Cup champion Anaheim Ducks and the Los Angeles Kings contested the first regular-season games to be played in Europe, and is set to open next season with four games in Stockholm and Prague.
The NFL held its first regular season game outside North America in London last October when the New York Giants beat the Miami Dolphins 13-10, the same month the Boston Celtics and the Minnesota Timberwolves played a pre-season NBA game there.
Still to be worked out would be how the team matchups would be decided.
"All clubs have an equal chance of being treated unfairly," Scudamore said. "It's better than taking somebody's home game."
No league games would be played in the week before or after the round of overseas matches.
FIFA and UEFA would have to sanction the matches for them to go ahead and be recognized as part of the Premier League competition.
CONCACAF has a rule preventing foreign league matches from being played in its region but appeared amenable.
"There is a demand for people to see them, and it's understandable," CONCACAF secretary general Chuck Blazer said. "It will require further discussion. I think we'll find a level of co-operation but it has to be done the right way."