Abstract
English football, and the FA Premier League (FAPL) in particular, is today a bigger business than it has ever been, generating record revenues both within its stadia and through the rising value of its broadcast rights. The game is televised in more countries than ever before and watched by an increasing number of passionate fans all around the world.
But has the game strayed so far from its roots that it is now tailored more towards the media product than the live event, with the globalisation of its appeal marginalising traditional domestic support bases? Despite the rising cost of attendance, football grounds are as full as they have ever been and FAPL matchday revenues have doubled in just eight years. But broadcast rights fees are expected soon to account for a majority share of income and younger consumers appear not to be inheriting the club ties that older fans were born into.
This report examines the recent growth of English football, with a primary focus on the experience of the FAPL, and the relative importance of its matchday and media elements. It assesses recent trends in both sectors and their impact on other commercial revenue streams, aiming to identify the future direction the game may take. In so doing, it will examine the hypothesis that: “the soaring value of Premier League broadcast rights and the globalisation of the competition' s appeal through worldwide television coverage have turned the sport into an entertainment product in which the core stadium experience has become a mere servant to the game' s media master.”
Main report themes:
- Can the value of FAPL broadcast rights continue to rise at recent rates?
- Is football recession-proof?
- How can football use the internet to monetise its global fan base?
- Can mobile technology improve the matchday experience as well as the media one?
- Can the ‘new stadia effect be sustained beyond the end of the recent building boom?
- Is an ageing population good news or bad for match attendance?
- Is access to technology excluding core, but less affluent supporter groups?
- How does the Premier League perform against other leagues, sports and leisure activities?
- What innovations are being developed in the media and matchday environments?
- How do UK consumers follow the national game?
- How do they interact with the game online?
- What do fans think about the current state of the game?
- Which sponsorships are achieving cut-through in an increasingly cluttered market?
| 
View Cart
