La Liga will hold competitive matches in the U.S. "as early as this season, as part of radical plans to secure greater revenues" from int'l audiences, according to Murad Ahmed of the FINANCIAL TIMES. The matches are an effort by the league "to challenge the global popularity of rival tournaments" such as the Premier League, "which has gained a strong following" in the U.S. The overseas games "form part of a joint venture" between La Liga and Relevent Sports, which is backed by NFL Miami Dolphins Owner Stephen Ross. The tie-up "is designed to increase the Spanish league’s revenues from sponsorship and media rights in North America." Execs close to the process said that "no firm decisions had been made" about which La Liga teams would play in the U.S., which cities would host games, "or how many matches would be held." Relevent CEO Danny Sillman said, "Our goal is to get one game off the ground; we’ll see how it proliferates from there." The 50-50 joint venture is a 15-year deal between La Liga and Relevent, "with the expectation that an increasing number of Spanish league matches will be played" in the U.S. over time (FT, 8/16). The BBC reported La Liga President Javier Tebas called it a "ground-breaking agreement." The EPL has previously discussed plans to play a "39th game" outside England and Wales. The idea drew criticism from fans and the media, and Exec Chair Richard Scudamore, who proposed the idea in '08, said that it could not happen "until the conditions are right." Tebas has previously said that El Clásico would "never be played outside of Spain" (BBC, 8/16). In Washington, DC, Steven Goff reported Relevent Exec Chair Charlie Stillitano said that Relevent and La Liga have "begun discussing a single game this season, sometime after Jan. 1, perhaps in Miami and almost certainly involving one of the league's famous clubs." Stillitano added that to "properly market the match," one of the participating teams "would have to be" Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atlético Madrid, Sevilla or Valencia "(but preferably one of the first three)." Stillitano: "The league knows that" (WASHINGTON POST, 8/16).
La Liga President Javier TebasGETTY IMAGES
DETAILS TO WORK OUT: In N.Y., Kevin Draper reported La Liga under the deal will "become the first European league to stage a regular-season match" in the U.S. Tebas said, "The big American leagues are playing matches all over the world, so why would La Liga not play a match in the United States?" The match "must be sanctioned" by U.S. Soccer, and La Liga "still must navigate the prickly logistics of holding a match abroad, such as the revenue split between the clubs and which team will surrender one of its home matches" (N.Y. TIMES, 8/16).
NEW OPPORTUNITIES: The joint venture will operate under the name La Liga North America and will represent all of the league’s business and development opportunities, including marketing agreements, exhibition matches, youth academies and consumer activation. The venture also will sell the league’s U.S. media rights, currently held by beIN Sports in a deal that expires in two years. Former Univision and Televisa exec Boris Gartner will serve as La Liga North America CEO. Advising on the agreement for La Liga were O'Melveny & Myers in N.Y., led by Irwin Raij, and J&A Garrigues in Madrid. Relevent was advised by Stefan dePozsgay of Paul Hastings in N.Y. (Ian Thomas, Staff Writer).
NEXT IN LINE: In London, Barry Glendenning mused that cracking America as a foreigner "can be a an odyssey fraught with peril." The "Pilgrim Fathers pulled it off while the similarly sullen Oasis repeatedly tried and failed." Piers Morgan "was sent home packing to blight the lives" of U.K. TV viewers, but James Corden "weirdly continues to thrive." Now it seems Spanish football "is ready" to take its chance. These "modern-day conquistadors have yet to reveal the exact details of their plans to conquer the New World," but their colonization "could begin as early as this season." While the "potential pulling power of a fixture between Levante and Eibar at the Pasadena Rose Bowl remains open to question," North American fans "are almost certainly likely to be able to fill the brims of their nacho hats with melted cheese and scoff their way through matches featuring at least one of Spain’s two most famous teams" (GUARDIAN, 8/16).
NOT HOLDING BACK: AS reported the Spanish Footballers' Association (AFE) released a statement "expressing its opposition to playing games outside Spain." The AFE lamented "not being consulted and believes the decision will hurt fans." The statement said, "Regarding the agreement between LaLiga and Relevent, which includes a regular-season game in the United States, the AFE expresses its most energetic protest. As usual, La Liga ignores the opinion of the footballers and commits them to actions that will only benefit La Liga, without concern for risks for the players." AFE President David Aganzo said, "The footballer is not currency that can be used in business that only benefits third parties. Together we are stronger" (AS, 8/16).
STAMP OF APPROVAL: In Barcelona, Gabriel Sans reported Barcelona sources said that they consider the agreement "logical and positive within Spanish football's expansion plans for a market like North America with enormous potential." The sources added that a game in the U.S. "will not disrupt the team's schedule, as a viable date can be found" (MUNDO DEPORTIVO, 8/16).
