Plans for a Premier League All-Star game just may be in the cards. Earlier in the month, Chelsea owner Todd Boehly received heavy backlash when he suggested bringing an All-Star game to England’s top flight. Critics accused the businessman of Americanizing the Premier League.
“Ultimately, I hope the Premier League takes a little bit of a lesson from American sports,” Boehly said at a conference in New York. “People are talking about more money for the pyramid; MLB did their all-star game in L.A. this year. We made $200 million from a Monday and a Tuesday.”
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was quick to rebuff Boehly’s suggestion. “When he finds a date for that, he can call me,” claimed Klopp. “In American sports, these players have four-month breaks. Does he want to bring the Harlem Globetrotters as well?”
Klopp also suggested that many fans would not want to see their favorite players alongside rivals. “I’m not sure people want to see that: United players, Liverpool players, Manchester City players, Everton players all together.”
Premier League All-Star game moving forward?
Nevertheless, The Times has reported that Boehly’s wishes could actually come true. While initial thoughts were to have the All-Star game feature all Premier League players, the potential format could be a little different.
The report claims that a Premier League XI would possibly face an All-Star team from Bundesliga, LaLiga, Serie A, and so on. These matches, if scheduled, would take place all over the world in an attempt to grow the sport in certain areas.
Perhaps the biggest concern for the Premier League on this issue would be schedule congestion. The upcoming Qatar World Cup has already forced clubs to squeeze matches into a tight timeframe. A recent study has even showed that Premier League players are already suffering more injuries that ever before.
It has been suggested that these All-Star games would be played either in the summer months or during winter breaks. This would essentially cut down recovery time for players.
PHOTO: IMAGO / PA Images
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Mercator
September 30, 2022 at 4:02 pm
Now this could make $200 million. Say what you want, every football fan would watch this if they do it correctly. Clubs do summer games all the time outside of league play, this is really no different they will have just branded it much better. Plenty of players can drop out, for EPL, La Liga, Seria A etc even the 5th, 6th, 7th best person in the league at any given position is worth watching.
Klopp is clowning himself saying “I’m not sure people want to see that: United players, Liverpool players, Manchester City players, Everton players all together.” That’s called international football – people love it so much we will all be watching a tournament in QATAR in 2 months.
Michael F
September 30, 2022 at 6:32 pm
Except the matches in Qatar actually mean something. All-star games in America have been suffering from poor tv ratings for years when compared to meaningful games from these pro leagues.
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Watch these soccer all-stars go at half speed and avoid contact or play defense? Not anyone’s idea of a must watch.
Mercator
September 30, 2022 at 7:40 pm
I disagree. There are summer friendlies with clubs all over the world and they turn out massive crowds. Call it an all star game and broadcast it world wide. It will make $200 million. It’s not a real competition of course, but tons of people would show up and watch on tv, particularly if its in the summer when there aren’t many competitive games on.
Bill
October 1, 2022 at 8:58 am
I agree, I’m American and once I had my driver’s license I didn’t watch any all-star games. They’re not relevant. I’m also 72 and there’s been a lot of time pass in between.
dave
October 1, 2022 at 1:20 pm
The game itself would probably be half-speed, no contact, no defense, borderline unwatchable for fans more on the serious and purist sides. I doubt I would watch
.
But it might also be a spectacle with appeal to a large volume of casual fans in a favorable advertising demographic. MLB All Star Game draws ~7 million viewers, which is not too far from World Series viewership. NBA All Star Game draws ~6 million viewers, roughly half of an NBA Finals
.
If a hypothetical UEFA all-star game could draw half the global audience of UCL Finals (probably a very significant overestimate, but it is the MLB/NBA ratio), it would be a blockbuster cash grab. TLDR, I agree with all of you
Michael F
October 2, 2022 at 8:37 am
Good synopsis Dave. Yes, I didn’t say it wouldn’t make money… but I did emphasize that it wouldn’t necessilary be a good watch for fans. And isn’t that the American way? 🙂 A cash grab from the masses with some meaningless games.