This 39th game bullshit.

[Mystic]

It's rearing it's ugly head again, this time taking a regular round of premier league games abroad, basically disadvantaging half the teams in the league, what a load of horseshit, Richard Scudamore being in charge of the premier league is just abhorrent .

Premier League explore taking one regular-round match abroad

By Dan RoanBBC sports editor

The Premier League is once again considering the idea of playing competitive matches abroad.

The concept of a '39th game' was aborted back in 2008 amid fierce criticism. But clubs are now understood to be considering playing an existing, rather than extra, round of matches overseas, keeping the season at 38 games. Talks are at an early stage but such a proposal could come to fruition by the end of the decade.

The value of the Premier League

• Last season 98% of all Premier League matches were available to TV viewers outside England
• Over £2bn of this comes from the sale of overseas rights. Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia paid £650m between them
• The television deal for Premier League rights which runs from 2013-16 is worth almost £5.5bn
• North Korea and Albania are the only countries not to have some form of rights agreement in place

The Premier League is also open to formalising and extending its pre-season Asia Trophy. England's top clubs want to build on the popularity of the league abroad following huge attendances at pre-season friendlies in the US this summer - Manchester United's game against European champions Real Madrid in Michigan attracted a record crowd for America of 109,318.

The Premier League has also been influenced by United States basketball league the NBA and American football competition the NFL playing regular matches in London in recent seasons.

The first of three NFL games to be played at Wembley this season took place in front of a sell-out crowd on 28 September, and two more are scheduled for 26 October and 9 November.
However, any attempt to play a regular season fixture abroad is bound to meet strong resistance from English football fans.

Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore spoke about the concept at a pre-season event in August.

"The clubs wanted it then [in 2008] and they would all probably want it now" he said.
"It will happen at some point. Whether it's on my watch, who knows?"

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/29532996

 

[Brizzle]

This will be interesting as I can see an almost 'Britain First' type of response from Season Ticket holders from those clubs that might lose a home game abroad.

 

[Silver Sean]

Absolute wank. Will happen if the money is right. that's all anyone cares about nowadays. Will also be another reason for me to continue losing interest. The team kids grow up supporting is a fashion statement and the game itself is nothing but an empty marketing tool.

 

[Best Believe It]

It would be fucking lovely if the FA put as much thought into making the sport more accessible for the match-going fan, improving the standards and number of coaches in this country and, you know, actually developing English Football as they do trying to make as much money as possible.

 

[gkmacca]

The American tournaments that seem to be sprouting pre-season seem a bit ominous. I wouldn't be surprised if Scudamore wasn't involved in encouraging those.

 

[FoxForceFive]

So those American footy games in that there London that sky always bang on about are actually fucking nfl league games?

That's fucking insane! Why & how the fuck does that work?

As the premiership games being played overseas, I think it's an idea behind ludicrous, it's like they've thought about the most inappropriate, outlandish thing you could do & then proposed it.

 

[Best Believe It]

So those American footy games in that there London that sky always bang on about are actually fucking nfl league games?

That's fucking insane! Why & how the fuck does that work?

As the premiership games being played overseas, I think it's an idea behind ludicrous, it's like you think about the most inappropriate, outlandish thing you could do.

We live in a world where the FA Cup final - supposedly the showpiece event of English Football - is scheduled for the benefit of people overseas and often to the detriment of people actually going to the cunting game. That's the FA.

 

[SummerOnions]

It would be fucking lovely if the FA put as much thought into making the sport more accessible for the match-going fan, improving the standards and number of coaches in this country and, you know, actually developing English Football as they do trying to make as much money as possible.

Haha don't be ridiculous, we might actually win a WC or something

 

[Brizzle]

So those American footy games in that there London that sky always bang on about are actually fucking nfl league games?

That's fucking insane! Why & how the fuck does that work?

As the premiership games being played overseas, I think it's an idea behind ludicrous, it's like they've thought about the most inappropriate, outlandish thing you could do & then proposed it.

Not sure on the exact process but yes, they are league games and they 'count' as home games for one of the sides which takes a stake of the revenue.

 

[Frogfish]

It's not being proposed as a 39th game now but a regular season game. Which means half the teams would play one less game at home ! Season-ticket holders not going to like that never mind the clubs. Stooopid proposal.

 

[FoxForceFive]

Not sure on the exact process but yes, they are league games and they 'count' as home games for one of the sides which takes a stake of the revenue.

So their fans miss out on a home game & the team plays at a disadvantage to make some cash.

Nice.

 

[Brizzle]

So their fans miss out on a home game & the team plays at a disadvantage to make some cash.

Nice.

Looks that way... The Jacksonville team 'bought' a number of home games so think they have 4 home games over here over the next 4 years. As they maybe aren't such a big name it is a great way for them to get bucketloads of cash.

 

[Brizzle]

It's not being proposed as a 39th game now but a regular season game. Which means half the teams would play one less game at home ! Season-ticket holders not going to like that never mind the clubs. Stooopid proposal.

It has pro's and cons. For teams with massive overseas support you might find you still get an electric atmosphere. And being pretty candid I don't think many teams have particularly intense home support for PL games these days.

The main aspect that would worry me is the extra travel for players but I wouldn't be against 1 home game every other season (if they could actually schedule it evenly) being played away from Anfield.. There would be uproar if it were a big game but for a lower category game I don't think it is the end of the World.

 

[My_Blood_Bleeds_Red]

You could summarise the whole thing in these few words....More money for the FA chiefs' coffers. (note : I did mention chiefs, i.e. the top dogs in the FA, so sharing the pie is a foreign concept with these corrupt clowns) (2nd note : I did use the word 'dogs' too).

 

[Markeh]

Every club already does their preseason abroad in an attempt to milk money if possible. Why doesn't the premier league just relocate to America and be done with it?

 

[Judge Jules]

Haha don't be ridiculous, we might actually win a WC or something

A toilet bowl, you mean? 😉

 

[SummerOnions]

A toilet bowl, you mean? 😉

Hodgson would consider that a success!

 

[Silver Sean]

The MLB does the same. This season began with a game in the MCC in Melbourne. Last season began in Japan. Madness.

 

[Mystic]

The MLB does the same. This season began with a game in the MCC in Melbourne. Last season began in Japan. Madness.

I can understand it a little more in America because no countries other than Canada play their sports because they're shit, but we have the champions league and europa cup, there's no need for this, pre season friendlies are enough.

 

[Woland]

We wouldn't lose a home game. The shitehawk teams with hardly any fans will swap for the extra money and we'll get to go somewhere sunny with a majority supporting us instead of stoke or whatever.

It's a lot of horseshit but it will defo benefit the big clubs in terms of home advantage and smaller clubs in terms of dough.

 

[Judge Jules]

Hodgson would consider that a success!

A mate of mine who was in the Army often referred to the toilet as the "tope". Maybe that's what Hodgson meant all along by "Utopia".

 

[Whirly]

For reference, baseball has a 162 game regular season.

The NFL has a 16 game regular season.

 

[localny]

I think it's a terrific idea for overseas fans like ourselves. Think of the passion and the feeling - as well as the lift for the game overseas in terms of fans, and we would be one of the major winners.

It's hardly going to become a slippery slope with 10 games abroad.

It's one game a year. Jaysis.

I think you're all being cranky curmudgeons - walking into this this thread is like walking into the Rovers Return in the 80's.

 

[Brizzle]

I think it's a terrific idea for overseas fans like ourselves. Think of the passion and the feeling - as well as the lift for the game overseas in terms of fans, and we would be one of the major winners.

It's hardly going to become a slippery slope with 10 games abroad.

It's one game a year. Jaysis.

I think you're all being cranky curmudgeons - walking into this this thread is like walking into the Rovers Return in the 80's.

I agree, I think it is actually good for teams like us with a global fanbase.

Mystic - it is nothing like the CL because getting away tickets for the CL is probably the hardest for people to get their hands on!

As I suggested at the top, I think those who don't want it to happen are the current ST holders etc and it will be purely from a selfish viewpoint of "but then I can't go" which whilst understandable, get over it.

 

[hmmmmm1]

Why the hate, will improve our brand aboard.

Its teams like palace/stoke who would be thinking its a crap idea

 

[cloggypop]

Fucking terrible idea.

Mmmmmm hotpot and a pint of Newton & Ridleys please.

 

[Best Believe It]

I agree, I think it is actually good for teams like us with a global fanbase.

Mystic - it is nothing like the CL because getting away tickets for the CL is probably the hardest for people to get their hands on!

As I suggested at the top, I think those who don't want it to happen are the current ST holders etc and it will be purely from a selfish viewpoint of "but then I can't go" which whilst understandable, get over it.

I'm not a ST holder and barely get a chance to go to games but I don't want it to happen, chiefly because the only reason it is happening is so the FA can make more money. It's not the idea in isolation, it's the fact that it's indicative of an organisation whose chief motivation is to milk the game of as much cash as it can. It's not as if it's going to pump the money it makes back into the game, make it cheaper for people to get on coaching courses or spend more on training facilities for kids.

 

[Mystic]

I agree, I think it is actually good for teams like us with a global fanbase.

Mystic - it is nothing like the CL because getting away tickets for the CL is probably the hardest for people to get their hands on!

As I suggested at the top, I think those who don't want it to happen are the current ST holders etc and it will be purely from a selfish viewpoint of "but then I can't go" which whilst understandable, get over it.

It's the English Premier League, it's played in England. Fair point about it being different due to it being impossible to get away day tickets, I understand it must be frustrating for those who support the team around the world, but that doesn't mean we should be moving our home games, it's a preposterous idea. Liverpool play home games at Anfield, fans know what they're getting into when they support the club, this isn't about "selfish" season ticket holders, simply, we shouldn't be whoring out the traditions of the game or the club, just further fuel Richard Scudamore's gravy train. Dick around with / expand the champions league all you want, but don't subject the domestic game to this Americanised shit.

 

[6TimesaRed]

question..

If a player receives a red card, if playing in america he wouldn't be under FA jurisdiction.. so technically his suspension would not apply..

 

[FoxForceFive]

I'm not a ST holder and barely get a chance to go to games but I don't want it to happen, chiefly because the only reason it is happening is so the FA can make more money. It's not the idea in isolation, it's the fact that it's indicative of an organisation whose chief motivation is to milk the game of as much cash as it can. It's not as if it's going to pump the money it makes back into the game, make it cheaper for people to get on coaching courses or spend more on training facilities for kids.

Yep all of this.

If they turned round & said that they'd invest all the cash from it into reducing lower tier ticket prices for home games it'd make the blow softer imo.