U.S. Investors Invading the EPL a Good Move
While the English Premier League is the most popular sports league in the world based on the number of global viewers, it ranks a distant fourth on revenue generated. According to The Daily Express, the top three are:
- NFL
- MLB
- NBA
It’s no surprise therefore that more American businessmen are investing in Premiership clubs. With a global TV audience of more than 450 million in more than 152 countries, the opportunity for the EPL to generate more revenue than it currently does is enormous. And the proliferation of broadband technology is only going to generate new revenue streams for clubs and leagues.
I have no doubt that Arsenal will soon be in the hands of Stan Kroenke. As for Manchester City, a takeover deal looks likely to happen in the summer by a mystery American buyer. Beyond those teams, I wouldn’t be surprised if more clubs are approached by U.S. investors.
For soccer fans living in America, it means the awareness of the league will increase in the U.S. And the chances of Premiership clubs visiting the States on friendly tours will increase.
For the Brits, the Premiership clubs need to realize that the Premier League is no longer simply an English league. It’s the number one global sports league thereby attracting investors from some of the wealthiest countries in the world. Arsenal may try to fight back, but I really believe that Peter Hill-Wood’s efforts are futile.
One Response to U.S. Investors Invading the EPL a Good Move
I would be interested to see where NASCAR and Formula One would rank on this scale. Both include huge crowds, large merchandise sales and revenue generating TV deals in the hundreds of millions of dollars. Both present a better formula for the EPL to follow than MLB or the NBA.