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La Liga to stage one game a season in USA

NinjaTuna

Well-Known Member
Jul 9, 2017
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7,155
Another bad point about this is that the company organising this are Relevent. That shitty American company who charged obsene prices for our friendly against Juventus last summer. I think i remember ticket prices to that game being more than those to actual, competitive premier league games.

Really grinds my gears that after that fiasco, they've managed to make a load more money whilst simultaneously trying to kill modern football in the process.
 

Styopa

Well-Known Member
Jan 19, 2014
5,136
14,177
What financial viewpoint? What rewards? Just because a game will be played in america doesn't mean that suddenly la liga will get any more supporters. Yes they can sell tickets to the game but the will have to pay for the venue and will miss out on tickets they could have sold at their own venue. The will not get any more from tv rights as they have already been sold. They might sell some merch at the game might even sell 50,000 shirts at £50 a pop. A cool £2.5m. Not exactly going to buy them much in the current market.

Rather than the cash from the one off game it's more about 'breaking' the American market which is obviously huge.
 

Lilbaz

Just call me Baz
Apr 1, 2005
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Styopa

Well-Known Member
Jan 19, 2014
5,136
14,177

Lilbaz

Just call me Baz
Apr 1, 2005
41,363
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One game won't but they have to start somewhere.

I don't like the idea at all but there's clearly an incentive for clubs to want to do it.

I get that there is incentive just think for the two teams that have to go mid season it the detriment might out weigh the benefits. It's a long way to go and the teams will probably have to do some pr work while over there.

Guess we'll have to wait and see. The news will obviously bring attention to la liga and football as a whole. Just think that what they are trying to achieve can be done with preseason friendlies.
 
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nailsy

SC Supporter
Jul 24, 2005
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https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/45269974

Footballers in Spain have not ruled out strike action over a plan to stage a top-flight league match in the United States, says the players' union.

Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos and Barcelona vice-captain Sergio Busquets were among the high-profile players to attend a meeting on Wednesday to discuss their "concern" over the issue.

La Liga agreed a 15-year deal with US media company Relevent on Friday.

The players' union - the AFE - says its members were not consulted by La Liga.

Players from all of the La Liga sides met in Madrid on Wednesday to discuss the issue with AFE president David Aganzo.

Among those in attendance were Ramos and Real Madrid team-mate Nacho, Barcelona duo Busquets and Sergi Roberto, Leo Baptistao from Espanyol, Bruno from Villarreal, and Atletico Madrid players Koke and Juanfran.

Aganzo said: "The problem is the lack of common sense, a schedule where only the export of soccer benefits - nobody counts on the fans.

"We need to fix it with the bosses. The captains are outraged, they're against it, they are unanimous.

"It does not make sense. We are talking about an agreement that has a validity of 15 years without consulting the players."

On the possibility of strike action, he added: "We will try not to reach that extreme but we are willing to go to the end if necessary."

Aganzo said the players would meet again in September.

Asked last week when the US-based match would take place, and whether it would be a regular fixture, La Liga told BBC Sport it "cannot confirm the teams, match, date or season".

The AFE said players "do not understand the unilateral decisions", adding: "La Liga is distancing the fans of the players, something that harms the show and the essence of football."

After the meeting the league said in a statement: "La Liga will meet with AFE in the appropriate forum to discuss the plans to play a match outside of Spain."
 

LSUY

Well-Known Member
Jul 12, 2005
24,010
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An awful idea that screws over the fans and benefits no one aside from the league admin, Real and Barca. What games do you send to the States? No way the top teams are going to agree to play their important home matches overseas. If you're a Huesca fan (their first time in La Liga) and your game at the Nou Camp is moved to Boston you'd have every right to be royally pissed off. And I can't imagine many Americans being interested in watching the likes of Eibar, Getafe, etc.

Also, if I were the MLS I'd be getting ready to petition the USSF to oppose this.
 

cwy21

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May 11, 2009
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Rather than the cash from the one off game it's more about 'breaking' the American market which is obviously huge.

Remember that most football fans from Central or South America support Real Madrid or Barca in addition to their local club. There's likely more fans of Barca and Real in the USA then there are in Spain. Those two clubs don't need to break into the American (whether American means USA or American means North and South America). They're already the biggest clubs in the world over here.
 

Lilbaz

Just call me Baz
Apr 1, 2005
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Remember that most football fans from Central or South America support Real Madrid or Barca in addition to their local club. There's likely more fans of Barca and Real in the USA then there are in Spain. Those two clubs don't need to break into the American (whether American means USA or American means North and South America). They're already the biggest clubs in the world over here.

The premier league is better supported in the us than la liga. It has a larger viewership and bigger tv deal. Utd are the best supported of them.
 

cwy21

Well-Known Member
May 11, 2009
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The premier league is better supported in the us than la liga. It has a larger viewership and bigger tv deal. Utd are the best supported of them.

The PL is much more visible on American TV thanks to La Liga having their rights purchased to Bein which is almost impossible to find in the US. But make no mistake, United is a distant third when it comes to most supported club in the US.
 

Lilbaz

Just call me Baz
Apr 1, 2005
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The PL is much more visible on American TV thanks to La Liga having their rights purchased to Bein which is almost impossible to find in the US. But make no mistake, United is a distant third when it comes to most supported club in the US.

So real madrid and barca have loads of fans in the usa who never watch them play? Great fans, i guess they don't buy any merch either? So basically from madrid and barcas point of veiw they are worthless (as in they don't bring any money into the clubs).
 

willcpt17

Active Member
Apr 7, 2018
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Such a stupid idea on so many levels. Imagine if a club (let's say Barcelona) has to fly to the States for a Saturday match against Sevilla and then fly back to Europe for a Champions League match on Wednesday in Liverpool? What a nightmare for the players from a travel and recovery standpoint. They would be hard-pressed to find their legs by the time the CL match began on Wednesday.

You would have to feel for the supporters as well. How upset would they be if they spent their money on season tickets and then had to give up a home match because of the agreement to play one match a year in America.

Finally, I live in the US and am totally against this. I was fortunate enough to see Spurs play in Nashville a couple years ago and really enjoyed the match, but I want my first PL match to be the full authentic experience (to travel to London and support Spurs from inside the new stadium, to sing along with everyone, and walk to the stadium with the rest of the supporters) not some bullshit gimmick that Relevent Sports cooked up.

I feel that moving League matches (La Liga, PL, etc) abroad is a slippery slope. If they will come to America, why not China next, and so on and so on.
 

Lilbaz

Just call me Baz
Apr 1, 2005
41,363
74,893
Such a stupid idea on so many levels. Imagine if a club (let's say Barcelona) has to fly to the States for a Saturday match against Sevilla and then fly back to Europe for a Champions League match on Wednesday in Liverpool? What a nightmare for the players from a travel and recovery standpoint. They would be hard-pressed to find their legs by the time the CL match began on Wednesday.

You would have to feel for the supporters as well. How upset would they be if they spent their money on season tickets and then had to give up a home match because of the agreement to play one match a year in America.

Finally, I live in the US and am totally against this. I was fortunate enough to see Spurs play in Nashville a couple years ago and really enjoyed the match, but I want my first PL match to be the full authentic experience (to travel to London and support Spurs from inside the new stadium, to sing along with everyone, and walk to the stadium with the rest of the supporters) not some bullshit gimmick that Relevent Sports cooked up.

I feel that moving League matches (La Liga, PL, etc) abroad is a slippery slope. If they will come to America, why not China next, and so on and so on.

They played their super cup in morocco i believe.
 

Trix

Well-Known Member
Jul 29, 2004
19,337
329,031
That at least makes some sense...geographically close to Spain, plus a good few Spanish folks living in Ceuta & Melilla being able to get to the game.
And it's an extra game, and no one has to concede home advantage.
 

Trix

Well-Known Member
Jul 29, 2004
19,337
329,031
They just want their cut.
I don't think that's the reason tbh. I think it's more that they are playing to the wishes of the supporters who are pretty much unanimously against this happening, and have been very vocal about the fact.
 
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