by JoeTerp » Thu Apr 10, 2008 7:04 am
Five ways that the 39th step could be good for the Premier League
The knee-jerk reaction to a 39th game for Premier League teams was an expected bad one. Most reporters and pundits see it as a brazen attempt to generate more cash for the clubs, and they aren't wrong, but that is not necessarily an evil thing. The way the exercise happens is key to its success.
Most fans have an enigmatic view of club revenues, it is a necessary evil for buying players - but any unusual attempts to raise revenues (bond schemes, naming rights, paid-friendlies) are derided as money-grabbing. The clubs have to get money from somewhere - is tapping into a foreign market not better than fleecing the paying regulars?
In terms of revenue, if Manchester United are paid £1m plus expenses for a testimonial, then an average of £5m per game, this scheme must be achievable and still allow the organisers a profit. The Premier League is all about money, and how it is raised - so without concerning ourselves with the morals of the matter, here are five ways to make this thing work.
1. Play competitive games
The initial proposal dealt with a need for the top five sides to be seeded to keep them apart - but how would that help? If the games were played between teams next to each other in the table then they would be more competitive and therefore unbalance the league less. If Arsenal play Derby but Fulham play Reading and Manchester United play West Ham, there is an obvious imbalance. Surely it would be better if Arsenal played Manchester United and Derby played Fulham - both games would be competitive and surely that is a fairer basis to start.
2. Spread the revenue evenly
The Premier League, for all its faults, is far fairer than Serie A or Primera Liga in terms of distributing television revenue and prize money. The Spanish system almost guarantees the Barca/Real duopoly and Juve/Inter/Milan use their own TV season tickets to embed bigger revenue streams. If all the proceeds from these game were shared evenly, then the possibility of £2.5m per club for a one-off game would boost the smaller clubs more than the bigger ones. It might then actually tighten the division up.
3. Return some cash to English fans
On the basis of £2.5m per club, if the clubs used half of this money to reduce Premier League ticket prices then every top flight club could reduce prices by £1 - £3 per game; this is one way that match going fans could actually benefit.
4. Being first
While other sports have played league games on neutral grounds (Rugby League has, as usual, pioneered this idea to extend its geographical reach); football hasn't. If the Premier League doesn't try it then Serie A or Primera Liga will, and then English football may have to play catch-up using rules decided elsewhere. And playing catch-up will probably be less lucrative and less beneficial. Make no mistake, the most nervous people in world football about this idea are the movers and shakers at the likes of Milan and Madrid.
5. Euro Super League
A European Super League is a bad thing; it would denude the domestic game of the top teams and best players and leave the rump fighting it out for a devalued competition. This measure would be a step that might avert a bigger break-away and still increase revenue. One game away is not too bad considering most top flight teams try to get their players away for a week or two over the tough winter months (some teams even play lucrative friendlies).
(Publication Date: 14/03/2008)
