The Americanisation of the Premier League

[ollie1012]

Hi All,

I am a third year Newcastle University student and I am conducting a dissertation into the Americanisation of the Premier League and whether there has been a change brought about due to the influence of the American sporting model. I have a number of questions which I would like to post:

1) Would you be in favour of leaving traditional Villa Park for new modern stadium with the potential for greater revenues? e.g. Red Bull rumours.
2) Under Lerner (or more generally) has there been a move to target, and market the game, to more affluent, consumer based supporters at the expense of traditional fans?
3) Are football stadiums and crowds are becoming too similar and commercialised? e.g. ejection or decrease in attendance of partisan fans.
4) Would you be in favour of a return to standing and singing sections of stadiums to improve the atmosphere?
5) Has the Premier League lost competitive balance and become too predictable?
6) Given recent events at Cardiff and Hull, what are your attitudes towards a change of stadium/club name, club colours?
7) Has the Premier League lost touch with the local fans in favour of internationalising the game to chase further TV revenues, fans etc?

Any responses would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Oliver

[rob_bridge]

Is it Americanisation or Internationalisation you are refering to?

1) Nope - no need. We only get 80% at the current venue on average.
2) I don't think so. Tickets at Villa Park are amongst lowest in Premier League. Have to be following recent economic issues.
3) I think this has probably been happening for most of the last 20 years.
4) Oh yes - Villa are leading the way.
5) There are 3 / 4 leagues and has been for some time. However the size of the bottom League within Premiership is now c50% clubs. Every team who has won the league since 1993 has 'bought' it as each one was one of the 3 richest clubs at the time.
6) Well I feel sorry for them but he who pays the piper calls the tunes.
7) Of course - there must be hundreds of season ticket holders who don't make games due to ludicrous kick off time.

[Pete3206]

1) Never
2) No, but I also I think the club corportate/hospitality stuff is very good
3) Yes
4) Absolutely yes
5) Only the wealthiest clubs can complete for the big prizes. Just the way it is.
6) Over my dead body, will anyone ever come into Aston Villa and change the name/colours
7) Yes

[Hookeysmith]

1) Would you be in favour of leaving traditional Villa Park for new modern stadium with the potential for greater revenues? e.g. Red Bull rumours.
Never - it is the most imprtant thing about our club - name, history, heritage - foresake that for money and sky to mutually masturbate to - would be like selling our souls
2) Under Lerner (or more generally) has there been a move to target, and market the game, to more affluent, consumer based supporters at the expense of traditional fans?
Has improved for all levels of fans to be honest
3) Are football stadiums and crowds are becoming too similar and commercialised? e.g. ejection or decrease in attendance of partisan fans.
Only the new souless ones
4) Would you be in favour of a return to standing and singing sections of stadiums to improve the atmosphere?
Yes - but am a firm believer that good , exciting football brings crowds and atmosphere - we should focus on that natural way rather than try to manufacture soething false
5) Has the Premier League lost competitive balance and become too predictable?
No shit Sherlock - add to this cup compettitons (FA Cup) where the last winners outside of the money teams make up 11% in total of winners in 18 years - money dictates success - simple
6) Given recent events at Cardiff and Hull, what are your attitudes towards a change of stadium/club name, club colours?
Over my dead body - and less dramatic i would never go again
7) Has the Premier League lost touch with the local fans in favour of internationalising the game to chase further TV revenues, fans etc?
Not really at our club - they do lots for local fans - the fans are just bored with the premiership being a rigged deck

[Legion]

1) Never
2) No, but I also I think the club corporate/hospitality stuff is very good
3) Yes
4) Absolutely yes
5) Only the wealthiest clubs can complete for the big prizes. Just the way it is.
6) Over my dead body, will anyone ever come into Aston Villa and change the name/colours
7) Yes

All these.

[dave.woodhall]

1) Would you be in favour of leaving traditional Villa Park for new modern stadium with the potential for greater revenues? e.g. Red Bull rumours.
No.

2) Under Lerner (or more generally) has there been a move to target, and market the game, to more affluent, consumer based supporters at the expense of traditional fans?
It's been happening everywhere since 1992.

3) Are football stadiums and crowds are becoming too similar and commercialised? e.g. ejection or decrease in attendance of partisan fans.
Yes.

4) Would you be in favour of a return to standing and singing sections of stadiums to improve the atmosphere?
Yes.

5) Has the Premier League lost competitive balance and become too predictable?
Yes.

6) Given recent events at Cardiff and Hull, what are your attitudes towards a change of stadium/club name, club colours?
Stadium name change not bothered about, the rest I'd find another club to watch.

7) Has the Premier League lost touch with the local fans in favour of internationalising the game to chase further TV revenues, fans etc?
Yes.

[Havencheese]

1) No way!
2) Not overly, so, no.
3) Yes, homogenised.
4) Most definitely yes.
5) Yes. Historically there have been periods of dominance by certain clubs, however more regional and smaller clubs will find it harder to do what Wimbledon and Watford did in the 80's. Then we have the Sky 4...
6) Not a fan of this idea.
7) Yes, I also think there are too many foreign players as it is.

[Dave Cooper please]

1) Would you be in favour of leaving traditional Villa Park for new modern stadium with the potential for greater revenues? e.g. Red Bull rumours.

No, prefer it not to be renamed either.

2) Under Lerner (or more generally) has there been a move to target, and market the game, to more affluent, consumer based supporters at the expense of traditional fans?

The game has been moving that way for years, it's nothing to do with Lerner specifically.

3) Are football stadiums and crowds are becoming too similar and commercialised? e.g. ejection or decrease in attendance of partisan fans.

Stadiums? No, there are still plenty of distinctive grounds, even many new ones gain their own character after a while. Crowds? Possibly, but we can't return to the old days, a balance has to be struck.

4) Would you be in favour of a return to standing and singing sections of stadiums to improve the atmosphere?

Oh yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.

5) Has the Premier League lost competitive balance and become too predictable?

You need to be rich to compete but looking at the table, it's hard to call who'll win it this year, so in that way, no it hasn't. It is increasingly impossible to break into the top six without a gazillionaire owner though.

6) Given recent events at Cardiff and Hull, what are your attitudes towards a change of stadium/club name, club colours?

Hate it. As much as I have to take all that Sky have created some things are sacrosanct, and the colours and name of a club should be two of them.

7) Has the Premier League lost touch with the local fans in favour of internationalising the game to chase further TV revenues, fans etc?

Yes, but it's been an ongoing process for many years now.

[dekko]

1) Would you be in favour of leaving traditional Villa Park for new modern stadium with the potential for greater revenues? e.g. Red Bull rumours.
Nope.  Its a wonderful, iconic old ground and a massive part of the club's identity.  Plus we don't fill it, so theres no point moving.

2) Under Lerner (or more generally) has there been a move to target, and market the game, to more affluent, consumer based supporters at the expense of traditional fans?
No more than any other premiership club (which is to say maybe a little bit).  The corporate and hospitality facilities are top class, but I wouldn't say its come at the expense of the regular fan, especially as tickets are quite cheap compared to a lot of other clubs (although still expensive).

3) Are football stadiums and crowds are becoming too similar and commercialised? e.g. ejection or decrease in attendance of partisan fans.
Oh yes.  Although, again some are much worse than others (Arsenal springs to mind).

4) Would you be in favour of a return to standing and singing sections of stadiums to improve the atmosphere?
Absolutely 100% yes

5) Has the Premier League lost competitive balance and become too predictable?
Yes.  This season looks like being more open than it has been in a while, but even so it'll still be one of the ultra-rich clubs that wins it, and the league is still divided into top 8 followed by everyone else

6) Given recent events at Cardiff and Hull, what are your attitudes towards a change of stadium/club name, club colours?
I think its a real shame.  Admittedly neither of those clubs would be anywhere near their present stature without their owners, but I think they've both displayed a lack of respect for the game, its traditions and the fans by treating their clubs as their personal playthings.

7) Has the Premier League lost touch with the local fans in favour of internationalising the game to chase further TV revenues, fans etc?  Yes.  The most obvious example being the constant moving around of kick off times to suit TV audiences, devaluing the FA cup (although that has more to do with the influence of money).  I feel its only a matter of time before we start getting regularly scheduled league games being held abroad, similar to the NFL games that are held at Wembley.

Good luck with your dissertation, don't leave it all to the last 2 weeks like I did.

[UK Redsox]

1) Only if it was just off the M5 somewhere near Worcester
2) Not that I've noticed
3) What have ejections got to do with commercialisation ? Bad behaviour should be subject to getting chucked out.
4) No. Its a backward step.
5) Money will usually win out but I still think that its pretty competitive.
6) If its the right name for the right reason/money then consideration should be given.
7) To some extent. However, TV viewers vastly outnumber in-stadium fans so its hardly surprising.

[MarkM]

1) Would you be in favour of leaving traditional Villa Park for new modern stadium with the potential for greater revenues? e.g. Red Bull rumours.

With the exception of the North stand there is nothing left of the Villa Park that I used to attend when I was young. Well except for the location. Would I bin it for a new purpose built stadium? possibly if the reasons were good enough such as we needed the larger capacity and could not grow on our current site or we could be assured of a large increase in revenue that would be used to better improve the team and not go back into the directors pockets

2) Under Lerner (or more generally) has there been a move to target, and market the game, to more affluent, consumer based supporters at the expense of traditional fans?

Cost has driven many 'traditional' supporters away but it has also seen the growth of more families attending, although football tickets in general are overpriced Villa Park is still pretty cheap in comparison to other clubs so we do buck a certain trend.

3) Are football stadiums and crowds are becoming too similar and commercialised? e.g. ejection or decrease in attendance of partisan fans.

I would agree that they have.

4) Would you be in favour of a return to standing and singing sections of stadiums to improve the atmosphere?

Yes. There is a debate to be had about reducing the cost for standing area's as I am not sure that it would come down that much

5) Has the Premier League lost competitive balance and become too predictable?

In general yes, you can probably pick the top 5 or 6 teams most seasons with the only thing changing is the order.

6) Given recent events at Cardiff and Hull, what are your attitudes towards a change of stadium/club name, club colours?

Some things should be sacred, the club name and home colours [away colours are always in motion!] should not change. I suppose in today's world everything else is up for grabs.

7) Has the Premier League lost touch with the local fans in favour of internationalising the game to chase further TV revenues, fans etc? 

The league probably has, the individual clubs should not. Some clubs will always be more marketable than others in different markets and those that can mirror that with success on the pitch will continue to dominate the league

[ktvillan]

1) Would you be in favour of leaving traditional Villa Park for new modern stadium with the potential for greater revenues? e.g. Red Bull rumours.

No.  Villa Park is a great traditional style stadium that could be expanded if required

2) Under Lerner (or more generally) has there been a move to target, and market the game, to more affluent, consumer based supporters at the expense of traditional fans?

Before Lerner, under Ellis, Villa had been at the forefront of things like executive boxes (we were one of the first if not the first club to have them) and match day hospitality packages.  I don't think there has been any increase in that under Lerner.


3) Are football stadiums and crowds are becoming too similar and commercialised? e.g. ejection or decrease in attendance of partisan fans.

Yes, another reason not to move to a soulless modern stadium.  There's still room for partisan fans.

4) Would you be in favour of a return to standing and singing sections of stadiums to improve the atmosphere?
 
Yes but not that bothered.

5) Has the Premier League lost competitive balance and become too predictable?

Most definitely, you can usually predict the top 3-4 each season though not necessarily in the right order, maybe even the top 6-7 now.   And surprise surprise they are usually the wealthiest 6 or 7 clubs in the league.
 
6) Given recent events at Cardiff and Hull, what are your attitudes towards a change of stadium/club name, club colours?

Totally against it unless the supporters vote for it, but would not be averse to Royal Aston Villa once Prince Billy is King.

7) Has the Premier League lost touch with the local fans in favour of internationalising the game to chase further TV revenues, fans etc?

Absolutely, but selling its soul to chase and keep the TV dollar was it's reason for being set up, so it was inevitable from day 1.

[Witton Warrior]

1) NO!
2) The gentrification of football continues but the demographic still looks about the same
3) See above!
4) Standing for those who want it. I shudder when I see the phrase "singing section" - We are the Holte!
5) Draw up a list who has won any of the domestic honours in the last decade for your answer
6) I support Aston Villa who play in claret and blue at home - change either and I go...
7) Fans who attend are now part of the entertainment and we our wishes are a very secondary concern

[Bad English]

"American sporting model"

Are there no questions about salary caps and player "drafts"?

[mal]

1) No, never and never again.
2) Hard to tell really. Wouldn't say that there has been a noticeably American slant to marketing since the changeover but then I wouldn't be in the target group.
3) Yes.  I was furious when the standardisation of the nets came in and you could no longer tell at a glance on the TV which ground the game was being played at.  Some of the character of Villa Park was lost when the stanchions went from the goals and more stilll when the stanchion less nets went.  Not as much as when the Trinity was demolished and that was nothing to do with Lerner...(can you hear the gnashing teeth?)
4) Yes
5) Yes - but that's Berlusconi's fault
6) It's wrong. Completely unacceptable and more particularly should be proscribed in the rules of competition (club name changes are to a degree I believe but they should add stadia too - it demeans the game)
7) Yes. Sponsorship and branding are out of control and never have a beneficial effect - the sharks are always only out for themselves.