By Andrew Warshaw
October 8 – One of North America’s leading sports industry executives has questioned the wisdom of European clubs playing lucrative fixtures in the United States, whether pre-season or, as is now being suggested once again, competitive Premier League games.
Tim Leiweke, the man who took David Beckham to the US, has more than 30 years’ experience in the sports and entertainment business and used to be president and chief executive of Anschutz Entertainment Group, owner of Major League Soccer’s LA Galaxy.
Speaking at the Leaders in Sport summit at Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge stadium, Leiweke, who is now president and CEO of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment told delegates: “Is that good or bad for MLS? Is that a pioneer vision or a pirate move? Therein lies the debate.
“North Americans are spoilt, they have the best basketball players in the world, the best hockey players, the best baseball players and the best NFL players.
“We do not have the best soccer players in the world.”
The possibility of playing competitive matches overseas has been resurrected, albeit only loosely, in discussions among Premier League chairmen but no firm plans have been drawn up.
Leiweke is not convinced the idea would work for the development of the game in the United States.
“Are those competitors our partners or do they see that North American landscape and want to take money out of that landscape? Therein lies the challenge for Major League Soccer.”
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