SPORTEL Monaco 2024 - Global Sports Media & Technology Convention - Day Two
Gomez said regular season European matches in the U.S. would also embolden Liga MX to increase presence in the country
FC Barcelona v Como1907 - Joan Gamper Trophy
WHAT HAPPENED
Barcelona's La Liga fixture against Villarreal in December could take place in the U.S., with the Royal Spanish Football Federation already giving its initial approval. La Liga president Javier Tebas has been keen to take the national league worldwide to globalize the competition and bring in more revenue.
Real Madrid voiced their firm opposition to the idea. In a published statement, Madrid said: "Real Madrid CF wishes to express to its members, supporters, and football fans in general its firm rejection of the proposal to play the matchday 17 match of the National First Division League Championship between Villarreal CF and FC Barcelona outside of Spain."
Former USMNT player Herculez Gomez said he is not surprised by the European interest in the U.S., highlighting Mexico's established commercial strategy that has leveraged the massive Mexican-American population for decades.
“There is no league in the world that would benefit from this than Liga MX," Gomez said on his YouTube channel. "Whether it's FMF, Liga Mx, Mexico, the Mexican national team. They milk the United States, they've been milking the US for the past, two, three decades. That's what they do and that's what they will continue to do. FMF sees the U.S. as a gold mine.
"This is why the Mexican national team plays constant games in the United States. This is why La Liga hosts constant games in their preseasons, or whatever the case may be. This is why Leagues Cup exists because they understand what it's about. The dollars behind it. The economics behind it.”
WHAT GOMEZ SAID
Gomez said that Liga MX clubs have long recognized the financial potential of the American market.
"It's great Barcelona vs Villarreal. Doubt, you're going to see Barcelona vs Real Madrid - I don't know if they give up a marquee game like that," he said. "But a team like Villarreal, a team like Getafe, a team like Girona, a team like Espanyol, a team like, I don't know, X team here that doesn't mind giving up a home game to sellout to promote their team, to promote their product within the United States? And La Liga, Tebas, the president, to promote more of that brand within the United States?
"Absolutely, that'll happen. And the same thing's going to be said with Chivas. Same thing's going to be said with America, same thing going to be said with those type of teams that have done games. We've seen the games in the Rose Bowl, Chivas vs America in a preseason game, they've packed the place. There is no stadium in the United States that a team like Chivas, a team like America, if promoted well, would not pack. So, look forward to that - more Liga Mx games on the horizon, more FMF selling us what they want in the United States. Because that's what sells. And that's what people buy.”
THE BIGGER PICTURE
The established popularity of Liga MX among US television audiences has created a commercially proven pathway that European leagues now seek to replicate. It was also underscored by the revenues tied to the recent Club World Cup in the U.S.
FBL-ESP-JOAN GAMPER-BARCELONA-COMO
WHAT’S NEXT?
Liga MX clubs will likely accelerate their own initiatives to schedule official matches in the United States.
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