‘North vs South match could be huge positive for English game’ as Premier League considers holding matches in the US
A NORTH vs South match could be a huge positive for English football, says a football investment expert.
It was an idea mooted by Todd Boehly two years ago, not long after he took control of Chelsea.
Boehly stated at the time that he wanted the Premier League to “take a little bit of a lesson from American sports” and questioned why there was not an All-Star game.
A YouGov poll found most fans opposed the idea of such a match, though younger fans supported it, but investment specialist Adam Sommerfeld believes it could benefit the Premier League.
He suggests US investment, which already has a stronghold in the Prem, could enhance the English game and improve its entertainment product.
Sommerfeld told SunSport: “Some of the things they would bring to the game could be necessary changes or enhancements to the game.
“A North vs South game, an All-Star game, why is it so bad? It’s just more entertainment, it’s something different.
“We are in this attention economy, it’s a better and improved entertainment product so I don’t see it as a bad thing at all.
“Those discussions are taking place (to have a Prem match in the US). We’ve seen from the NFL, NBA, MLB coming to London, these are big showcases, they are great events and they help promote that game.
“I don’t think it’s the worst thing. I think it’s quite exciting, I think the fans would travel. We’ve seen from games in Europe that fans like the away day.
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“I don’t think that’s the worst thing at all.”
LaLiga president Javier Tebas said there are plans to hold a league match in the US as early as the 2025-26 season, to build LaLiga’s brand in the American market.
Crossing the pond for pre-season friendlies has already become a regular fixture for several English clubs, even League One side Wrexham thanks to the popularity of documentary ‘Welcome to Wrexham’.
TV executives are keen for a Prem game to be played in the US and the idea has received support from Liverpool chairman Tom Werner and London mayor Sadiq Khan.
Werner told the Financial Times: “I’m determined one day to have a Premier League game be played in New York City.
“I even have the sort of crazy idea that there would be a day where we play one game in Tokyo, one game a few hours later in Los Angeles, one game a few hours later in Rio, one game a few hours later in Riyadh and make it sort of a day where football, where the Premier League, is celebrated.”