Portsmouth chief speaks out on possibility of hosting Championship matches in USA
Portsmouth CEO Andy Cullen has spoken on the possibility of the USA hosting EFL matches including those of Pompey in the near future.
Cullen was one of several senior Pompey heads on a panel for the club’s official fans’ forum, which was broadcast on BBC Radio Solent [5 August].
The Blues chief was quizzed on whether the growing American market for the EFL – alongside the fact the club are owned by the States-based Tornante Company – could see matches relocated to meet the global demand.
“I don’t think we’ll see EFL games over there anytime soon, just the pre-season games and things like that,” Cullen said.
“But the American market – and not to mention in Australia too – is one we’re very focused on.
“American investors were previously just mainly focused on the Premier League, whereas now over half the EFL is owned by foreign owners – a huge proportion of those from the US.”
Portsmouth tapping back into global audiences
Portsmouth’s stint in the Premier League in the early 2000s enabled the club to bask in the limelight of global top-flight coverage.
However, the club have had to produce their own ways of marketing themselves to a more worldwide audience whilst scrapping in the lower leagues – albeit able to ride on the deep history and past glories of the team.
Pre-season tours – as has just been seen – are a prime opportunity to grow relationships around the world, with many Premier League clubs having flocked Stateside in the past few weeks.
Pompey had done just that whilst previously in the Premier League and Championship, and many fans will remember the successful Barclays Asia Trophy tournament in 2007, where the team beat Liverpool in the final match in Hong Kong.
Cullen’s aforementioned aim to market the club in Australia is bearing fruit with three Socceroos now in the first-team squad, and a support base gradually growing Down Under.
It’s an exciting time for Championship outfits to continue to grow their supporter network all over the planet.
In other Portsmouth news, David Norris explains Alex Robertson’s decision to move to Cardiff City.
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