Todd Boehly. A man...who wants an all-star game.

[Martin Alvito]

Boehly eyes U.S.-style all-star game in Prem

Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly has suggested that the Premier League should borrow from American sports by holding a north vs. south all-star game.

www.espn.com

Chelsea could be in for a real FSG-style rough patch. Apparently this man does not understand that no one watches the Pro Bowl in the NFL because the players' desire to avoid injuries renders the contest something almost entirely unlike oblong-ball. Footy is a lot closer to oblong-ball than baseball in that regard.

I could see a one-off playoff at Wembley for the last relegation place (17th/18th) having legs, but never a full four-team tournament. I'm not even sure how a four-team relegation playoff would work. I suppose what he wants is something like the NBA's play-in system for the playoffs, except the losers advance to the relegation final.

I realize that these owners didn't make their money by sitting down and shutting up, but you would think that a billionaire confronted with a sport they don't understand would sit down and shut up for a bit before opening their gob. It's not hard to see why you all wish our billionaires would stay out of your sports.

 

[wm02]

Boehly’s major interest is in broadcasting rights. He commissioned a study at the business school at my university so that the MBA candidates would determine the value of each Major League Baseball team’s broadcasting rights since each team negotiates this on their own.
A friend of mine was involved in this project

 

[McBain]

Another American with a silly made up last name.

 

[4737carlin]

Yeah good idea that, at a time when teams are struggling to find dates to re arrange fixtures, to add another one.

 

[TheBigIguana]

Do it the week after the season ends in the years where there isn't a major tournament. Most of those involved will be off to play international friendlies or qualifiers anyway so give them 45 minutes. It's dumb but it also isn't the end of the world.

 

[Martin Alvito]

Boehly’s major interest is in broadcasting rights. He commissioned a study at the business school at my university so that the MBA candidates would determine the value of each Major League Baseball team’s broadcasting rights since each team negotiates this on their own.
A friend of mine was involved in this project

It's clear that what he sees is the possible ways of increasing the number of dollar signs. What strikes me is that you would think a new owner would want to have some conversations before spouting off about the best ways to go about accomplishing the mission.

Odds are that he will not sustain the level of success of Abramovich without a short-run dip, and playing into the 'ignorant American owner' narrative does him no favors.

 

[perth_blue]

Clubs won't release their players for this.
They kick up enough of a stink for international friendlies.

 

[USABlue]

While it may not be the greatest idea logistically at least he was thinking of ways to help fund the lower leagues.

 

[Lobster Johnson]

Do it the week after the season ends in the years where there isn't a major tournament. Most of those involved will be off to play international friendlies or qualifiers anyway so give them 45 minutes. It's dumb but it also isn't the end of the world.

Better yet, don't do it.

It would be a kick about that fans don't give a toss about. You would struggle to fill a stadium.

 

[wandyr79]

Does he 'want' an all star game or is he simply asking, in a genuine manner, why there isn't one? If the latter, he is told why and then maybe he says 'fair enough'?

As a supporter of a team lower down in the pyramid I do like that aspect that he is (hopefully genuinely) thinking about the game as a whole and not just his own little bubble and the bubble of the big 6.

 

[Nymzee]

Buffoon

 

[mmmmsnouts]

Maybe take all your jet-setting preseason made-for-TV Glory Hunter Invitational money and give that to the lower leagues

 

[trueblue84]

Another American with a silly made up last name.

At least he's not Todd Boehly Jr III.

 

[4737carlin]

While it may not be the greatest idea logistically at least he was thinking of ways to help fund the lower leagues.

Yeah he has good intentions, there is some logic on his idea as far as the money goes it can raise, its just not practical

 

[COYBL25]

Another American with a silly made up last name.

His first name is quite silly too.