SportsBusiness Journal/SportsBusiness Daily’s IMG World Congress of Sports took a more global look this morning, as panelists discussed the opportunities and challenges of international sports. The panel, co-moderated by DLA Piper Global Sports Media & Entertainment Group co-Chair Peter White, featured former Liverpool and EPL CEO Rick Parry; NFL VP/Int’l Chris Parsons; and IMG Tennis Senior VP & Managing Dir Fernando Soler. A poll of the audience revealed that 49% of attendees believe China has the biggest growth potential outside the U.S., followed by Brazil, on the strength of the ’16 Rio Olympics and ’14 FIFA World Cup, and India. Emerging WTA star Li Na, the first female Chinese tennis player to crack the top 10 in the world rankings, has helped the sport’s growth in China, and Soler said, “You need to go and find local heroes that will drive local audiences.” Parsons agreed, citing the first Chinese-born athlete playing in the NFL last season, Bills OT Ed Wang. Parsons noted the NFL has seen a tremendous uptick in attention in China thanks to Wang, which is similar to what the NBA experienced after Yao Ming was drafted by the Rockets. “It’s a catalyst for any sport, getting some great Chinese players,” he said. Parsons cautioned, “It’s quite hard to grow significant revenues in China. ... Now as that starts to change over time, I think you may see more revenue generated.” Parry took a different look on global growth. “Mexico is definitely one of the emerging markets,” he said. “Very strategically placed between the U.S. and South America.” Parsons noted the NFL last season started a Spanish-language version of the RedZone channel in Mexico. “We’ve created now what is a terrific Spanish-language version of RedZone, and we’d like to think about bringing that back into the U.S.,” Parsons said. “Mexico for us -- it’s our biggest fan base outside the U.S.” White added, “South America, Latin America for us might be a quicker path to success (than China).”
AROUND THE WORLD: Another audience poll revealed that 70% of conference attendees believe the NBA -- not the NFL, NHL or EPL -- will be the first to have a franchise based abroad. “It makes a lot of sense,” Soler said. “The NBA has been making a real effort in recent years to promote their game, and I think they’re doing that successfully.” Parsons, who has overseen the NFL games in London, said, “The NFL is blessed in a way because we have a very limited season, we have a week between games, which allows for travel time. I don’t know how other leagues would handle that.” EPL soccer in the U.S.? Not likely, says Parry, the league’s first chief executive. “I would put that somewhere between nil and nil,” he said. White said, “There are some significant challenges. ... I don’t think it’s just as easy as the NBA opening franchises in new cities.” The panelists also discussed foreign ownership. “If there’s going to be global franchises,” White said, “there has to be foreign ownership (in the U.S.).” Parry mentioned the way media rights are handled in Europe as a potential hindrance to a U.S. league expanding overseas. “It’s not for the faint of heart,” he said. Parsons revealed the NFL was “very close” to playing a second regular-season game in London last year, but decided against it. “If you decide to just move a team there after playing a one-off game,” he added, “that would be foolish.”
