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How can the Premier League justify having its own round of international fixtures?

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The notion of ‘the 39th game’ has long been dead and buried. However, details of discussions between Premier League clubs have emerged, regarding the possibility of playing one game a season abroad; to capitalise on the growing international interest and love for England’s elite league.

It’s easy to see why playing a round of Premier League fixtures abroad is such an appealing idea; with the plethora of foreign owners now in charge at Premier League clubs, there is a desire to capitalise on growing commercial interest in what is the most exciting league in world football. This idea, unlike the possibility of a 39th game, will not die. It will happen, and if recent reports are anything to go by, it will happen sooner rather than later.

At the forefront of discussions about the ‘international’ round of fixtures is the effect this would have on fans at home, who, at all 20 clubs are likely to miss out on either a home or away fixture every season. The fundamental and most important aspect regarding the ’38th game’ must be not the potential revenue these fixtures will generate, but instead the fans, who, when facing sky high ticket prices in tough economic times, have stayed loyal to their respective clubs and have helped make the Premier League what it is today.

If the Premier League is to have its own way and expand the franchise abroad, providing it has the full support of Premier League clubs, it must first tackle Premier League clubs over their scandalous ticket pricing systems.

At £44  per individual match day, Manchester City fans pay the most per match, whilst Arsenal fans fork out £1,014 for a season ticket at The Emirates. Vastly more expensive than their North London rivals Tottenham, at a still quite staggeringly high sum of £775 a season.

The 38th game would provide huge financial benefits to the Premier League in the form of  ticket sales, merchandise, television rights and so on. This vast increase in revenue should be sufficient enough and more to cover the cost of lowering both match day and season ticket prices at every Premier League club.

So that fans who are being inconvenienced by the international round of fixtures, can feel the benefits of  their beloved team playing one game out of 38 abroad. This would certainly smooth over any opposition from fans to the 38th game, as they will feel the positive impact it has created in lowering ticket prices for them.

The model works for both the NBA and NFL franchises, the latter having filled Wembley Stadium over and over again for the past 7 years. The Barclays Premier League would arguably blow the NBA and NFL international series out of the water. You only have to look at recent pre-season tours Premier League clubs have embarked upon to see the appetite that the world has for the Premier League brand.

Whether its Malaysia, Singapore, America, Canada, Australia- there is an enormous hunger and excitement for a Premier League match to be played in their respective countries and watched by their own fans. Many of whom support Premier League teams more passionately than any team from their own domestic league.

The solution it seems is simple. The Premier League can have their very own international round of fixtures, and all the fruits that come with it. However if they are to get the fans to appreciate the merits of this idea, they must show willingness to work with supporters groups to reduce ticket prices, so that the virtues of the ’38th game’ benefit the wider football community- not just the Premier League and its members.

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