Highlight Reel: Rugby in a financial scrum and the EFL considers new revenue streams 🏉📺
This week's top stories feature Premiership Rugby, the EFL, Pepsi, MLS, and the RFL
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Happy Friday!
This is a timely reminder to update your fantasy team before it’s too late. It’s also a chance to run through a quick recap of the 5 stories that grabbed the headlines, and my attention, this week👇
Premiership Rugby’s to cut to 10 teams
The EFL considering 3pm blackout
Pepsi launch new football ad ahead of World Cup
MLS reaches record 10 million in attendances for a season
Super League considers scrapping relegation
Rugby chiefs plan to cut Premiership to 10 teams
Amid financial woes for Worcester Warriors and Wasps, plans are now taking shape to cut rugby’s Gallagher Premiership to 10 teams from a current 13. Such action would entail a professional second division of 10 - a plan that has already received support from Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter and Bristol’s Pat Lam.
EFL will consider lifting Saturday 3pm blackout in next TV deal
The English Football League confirmed on Wednesday that it had issued a request for proposal, inviting broadcasters and media companies to come forward and suggest new ways of presenting the league on TV and streaming platforms from the 2024-25 season (when its deal with Sky ends).
It’s widely reported that within that proposal, lifting the Saturday 3pm blackout is one option that is being carefully considered.
Pepsi launch new Middle East themed football ad ahead of the World Cup
Pepsi is crashing the World Cup party, again. The launch of their new football ad makes no mention to the showpiece event happening later this year but does take place in the Middle East. It comes after earlier outcry (mostly from sponsorship and marketing folk) about an advert from Etihad Airways, which also aims to imply a relationship with the tournament.
P.S. “Official” Is Dead. It’s Official.
MLS draws 10 million in annual attendance for first time
MLS topped 10 million in total attendance during the regular season for the first time. Boosted by the addition of a 28th team, Charlotte FC, which averaged 35,260 fans, the league drew 10,011,578 fans for an average of 21,033 over 476 games.
The good news: 12 teams averaged more than 20,000 fans a game. Of Europe's big 5 leagues, only the Premier League and Bundesliga have managed more than that (18 each). The bad news: Of the 15 teams that saw a decrease in attendance, seven had drops of more than 10 percent.
RFL gives 'strong support' to radical new plans to scrap Super League relegation
According to Sky Sports News, the RFL has given "strong support" to the principles and direction of radical new plans put in place by IMG, its new strategic partner. In the "Reimagining Rugby League Consultation Project", IMG has put forward seven key measures it believes will drive the sport's long-term growth, including the scrapping of relegation and repositioned calendar better aligned with international window.
Highlight Reel: Rugby in a financial scrum and the EFL considers new revenue streams 🏉📺
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