Premier League Games in the USA: A New Era for English Football?
The Premier League is on the cusp of a major breakthrough, with American TV giants NBC reportedly pushing for regular-season games to be hosted in the United States. This move could mark a significant shift in the way the Premier League operates, with potential games involving Arsenal, Chelsea, and Tottenham set to take place across the Atlantic.
The Premier League logo
Since 2013, NBC has held the exclusive rights to broadcast England’s top-flight football in the United States. Their last contract, signed in 2022, brings in more than £360 million per season for the Premier League, making them one of the league’s largest financial contributors.
Now, NBC is looking to utilize this influence by bringing regular-season games to the US. While the Premier League has hosted pre-season tournaments in the US, regular season games have always been off-limits. However, NBC Sports’ president of acquisitions and partnerships, Jon Miller, is ready to push for this initiative again.
“At some point in the future, I would love to see a couple of Premier League games open the season here in big stadiums on our opening weekend. And I know that’s something that we’ll continue to push for.”
Miller expressed his support for bringing games to the US, particularly on the opening day, telling The Athletic that he believes there is an American audience eager to see regular season games.
A packed American football stadium
The idea of taking games abroad was last proposed in 2008 with the potential introduction of a ‘39th game’, but it faced severe backlash and was ultimately scrapped. However, sixteen years later, Miller is ready to push for this initiative again.
The Premier League has been receptive to NBC’s proposal, and with the success of the Premier League Summer Series last year, it’s clear that there is a appetite for Premier League games in the US.
Premier League fans cheering on their team
As the Premier League continues to grow in popularity, it’s likely that we’ll see more games being played abroad in the future. Whether this is a good thing for the league remains to be seen, but one thing is certain - the Premier League is on the cusp of a new era.
The Premier League logo
