The Debate: Should Premier League play games abroad?

Feb 12 2008 by Alan Weston, Liverpool Daily Post

YES: The Case For - An opportunity the Premier League will surely grasp

by Roy Yates from the Florida Liverpool FC supporters club

AS ONE of the thousands of Reds here in the US, it was great to hear the news we might finally be given the opportunity to see the team play a meaningful game on this side of the Atlantic, especially if one of the major cities in my home state of Florida is chosen as a venue to host the game.

As a Scouser, I can sympathise with season ticket holders back home who are less than happy with the suggestion. We had the same situation here, when many of the Miami Dolphins season ticket holders gave a similar thumbs down when it was announced their regular season opener versus New York Giants was to be played in London.

However, despite all the protestions and debate, it is impossible to deny the event was a massive success both on the field and off.

Approximately 10,000 Dolphins and Giants fans flew to the UK to enjoy the game and the attractions of London. The game saw an 82,000 capacity crowd sell-out game and, despite the weather, all the fans went home happy, knowing they had just been part of a little bit of NFL history.

Off the field, economists estimated that over the weekend more than £20m was pumped into the London economy.

Would the success in London be replicated with Premiership teams coming to the United States?

Personally, I feel the success or failure of the idea will depend fundamentally on where the games are to be played, and versus which opposition.

The Premier League's "big four" will draw large crowds wherever they play, as they already have a solid fan base throughout the US, who would travel to watch their teams play wherever.

Similarly, what fans back home would not be tempted to book their holidays in Florida if their team was chosen to play in the Sunshine State or in New York if the team was to play in the Big Apple?

Watch the game at noon and then off to Disneyworld or Miami's South Beach in the afternoon, or visit the Statue of Liberty or the Empire State Building and then off to see a match. It surely sounds a better option than a bag of chips and a pork pie in Wigan!

However, pair Derby v Sunder- land, playing in Los Angeles, and we might have a different scenario. As Alexei Lalas (Los

Angeles Galaxy general manager ) was quoted this week, many US fans might come out after the game thinking: "We do not have a monopoly on crap soccer - it's played all over the world!".

The US is a massive market, and potentially for the Premiership is worth hundreds of millions of dollars in marketing, branding and TV rights.

Regardless of where one stands in the debate, it is undeniable that, given the opportunity, the Premier League will grasp the chance to showcase their product. Who would bet against the Cup Final one day being played in New York?