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.---Only if it happened ala' West Ham where they have an 80,000 sized ground on their doorstep as a leftover from a huge sporting event. I wouldn't be in favour of leaving Aston. 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?---Since the Prem started. I suspect they are trying to drive out the unsavoury element that inevitably has a lower income bracket. 3) Are football stadiums and crowds are becoming too similar and commercialised? e.g. ejection or decrease in attendance of partisan fans.---Yes definitely.4) Would you be in favour of a return to standing and singing sections of stadiums to improve the atmosphere?---80% fans would.5) Has the Premier League lost competitive balance and become too predictable?---It has and hasnt. It used to be ManUre & Chavski taking turns each year because of their ability to buy any player. However with the managerial merry go rounds now that Fergie has gone and Wenger to leave soon, plus the oil money we will have more trigger happy chairmen with less patience leading to a destablised elite. At the moment you could have any one from ManUre, Chelski, Man City, Liverpool, Arsenal and as dark horses, Spurs that can feasibily win the league. Inevitably it will come down to Man City and Chelski thanks to their unlimited funds each year. Financial fair play is simply to lock in the established elite.6) Given recent events at Cardiff and Hull, what are your attitudes towards a change of stadium/club name, club colours?---Absolutely OUT OF THE QUESTION changing the name of the club or 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?----There is a myth going round that "we pay the players wages". Villa Park holds 42,000 with an average season ticket price of £460 (Source: Guardian). We have about 20,000 season ticket holders which barely comes to £10m per year. Thats the price of the transfer of a very average full back and his wages for 3 and half years. Where does the rest of the team come from? TV money of course! The bulk of our revenue will come from TV ergo they have priority. Any responses would be greatly appreciated.Thanks,Oliver
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.Under no circumstances.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?There was an attempt to do so, but it failed.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, as long as people sit down in the seats.5) Has the Premier League lost competitive balance and become too predictable?No.6) Given recent events at Cardiff and Hull, what are your attitudes towards a change of stadium/club name, club colours?Disgraceful.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.Any responses would be greatly appreciated.Thanks,Oliver
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.The team I support play at Villa Park.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? Yes they have created more corporate opportunities. I think te Birmingham demographic inhibits them following Arsenal for example.3) Are football stadiums and crowds are becoming too similar and commercialised? e.g. ejection or decrease in attendance of partisan fans.It depends o the club and the location, it also depends over what time period you are focussing on. There has certainly been an increase in the Family Fans, The Tourist fan, The fair-weather fans and the Corporate customer. Some fans have been priced out of attending.4) Would you be in favour of a return to standing and singing sections of stadiums to improve the atmosphere? Yes5) Has the Premier League lost competitive balance and become too predictable?History would suggest that the PL has never been really competitive, there are only a handful of teams that can win it. There seems to be more rotation at the bottom.6) Given recent events at Cardiff and Hull, what are your attitudes towards a change of stadium/club name, club colours? I would not give my support if any of those things happened. It would not be my team anymore.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 Premier League is a business and it will attempt to maximise its revenue and profitability with very little consideration for "Local Fans" this may have longer term consequences but why would any business limit its market?I now live in the USA and you can see the model that the PL is aiming for. However culturally the way that sport is organised, marketed and broadcast is very different.Good luckAny responses would be greatly appreciated.Thanks,Oliver