La Liga to move kick-off times for Asian fans
Source: Agencies |
July 30, 2010, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
SPAIN'S La Liga will change kick-off times and play a pre-season tournament in Asia in a bid to muscle in on the success of England's Premier League in the region.
La Liga CEO Francisco Roca Perez told reporters on the sidelines of the Soccerex Asian forum in Singapore yesterday that some 17 matches would be brought forward in the 2010/11 season to increase exposure for Spanish teams in Asia.
English sides, and in particular Manchester United and Liverpool, enjoy phenomenal support in southeast Asia and Spain's La Liga is determined to get a slice of the action in a region viewed as a prime market to develop a lucrative fan base.
"Our objective is to be one of the prominent leagues in this part of the world," Perez said, adding that changing game times in Spain was essential for success.
"It is a sport that takes some effort to change things and especially kick-off times, which is always something very sensitive.
"Teams don't like to change their ways and their traditions but I truly believe that the understanding is that this is a huge opportunity and there is no other way."
Perez earlier announced the introduction of the International LFP Cup, an annual tournament to begin next year and feature three Spanish sides and one local team in an as yet unnamed southeast Asian country.
Perez said the time was right for the moves into Asia with Spanish football enjoying the acclaim from the recent World Cup success in South Africa while club administrators struggle badly with the country enduring its worst recession for 50 years.
Cash-strapped Real Mallorca has been banned from competing in this season's Europa League and an audit of champion Barcelona's accounts revealed a loss of nearly US$100 million for the 2009-10 season.
Despite the league attracting the sport's finest players, such as Barcelona's Lionel Messi and Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo, other methods of expanding revenue opportunities are required.
La Liga CEO Francisco Roca Perez told reporters on the sidelines of the Soccerex Asian forum in Singapore yesterday that some 17 matches would be brought forward in the 2010/11 season to increase exposure for Spanish teams in Asia.
English sides, and in particular Manchester United and Liverpool, enjoy phenomenal support in southeast Asia and Spain's La Liga is determined to get a slice of the action in a region viewed as a prime market to develop a lucrative fan base.
"Our objective is to be one of the prominent leagues in this part of the world," Perez said, adding that changing game times in Spain was essential for success.
"It is a sport that takes some effort to change things and especially kick-off times, which is always something very sensitive.
"Teams don't like to change their ways and their traditions but I truly believe that the understanding is that this is a huge opportunity and there is no other way."
Perez earlier announced the introduction of the International LFP Cup, an annual tournament to begin next year and feature three Spanish sides and one local team in an as yet unnamed southeast Asian country.
Perez said the time was right for the moves into Asia with Spanish football enjoying the acclaim from the recent World Cup success in South Africa while club administrators struggle badly with the country enduring its worst recession for 50 years.
Cash-strapped Real Mallorca has been banned from competing in this season's Europa League and an audit of champion Barcelona's accounts revealed a loss of nearly US$100 million for the 2009-10 season.
Despite the league attracting the sport's finest players, such as Barcelona's Lionel Messi and Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo, other methods of expanding revenue opportunities are required.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
