Cullen excited for Portsmouth future after ‘game-changing’ agreement
Portsmouth are primed for a bright future after securing their Championship status in their first season back.
Immense credit must be given to manager John Mousinho, who achieved the feat despite lingering in the relegation zone for most of the campaign.
Now, the focus is on building Pompey’s stock and pushing them further up the Championship table.
With that in mind, Portsmouth’s chief believes that the Fratton Park club can build their reputation abroad.
Portsmouth appealing to American audience
English football has risen in popularity exponentially over the years, with the Premier League one of the country’s biggest exports.
Now, the EFL is reaping rewards and, although not on the same level, the quality for viewers has significantly increased.
On Sky Sports, there is now a dedicated channel, Sky Sports+, where viewers can watch regular EFL action.
| EFL statistics from 2023/24 season |
| The Sky Bet EFL (Championship, League One and League Two) is the highest attended league body in Europe for 2023/24 |
| The Sky Bet Championship broke an all-time record for attendance in 2023/24 |
| All three Sky Bet EFL divisions featured in the top 15 best attended Leagues across Europe in 2023/24 |
| More than 23.7 million supporters passed through the turnstiles of an EFL competition |
Fans from overseas now have the opportunity to watch their favourite teams, thanks to recent television deals.
When speaking to The News (26 May), Pompey CEO Andy Cullen highlighted the impact the deal is having on an American audience.
He said: “What we’re seeing is the EFL, particularly with the Championship and the likes of Wrexham and Birmingham, having a profile in the US.
“There was a new TV deal concluded last year with CBS in America. The coverage with CBS has been game-changing to the US audience.
“I think what we’re trying to do is grow the club in every possible way we can.
“We’ve got a really, really strong community club with its roots in Portsmouth and we’ve got a really strong nationwide reach.”
Pompey have global appeal, like Wrexham and Birmingham City
Portsmouth will follow what Wrexham and Birmingham City have been doing off the field, with a documentary on the agenda.
Pompey are a club with an exceptional fan base, and that is highlighted every time they play at Fratton Park.
They are the beating heart of the football club and turn up to watch their side regardless of the form book.
Furthermore, Portsmouth have enjoyed success in the not-too-distant past, famously lifting the FA Cup in 2008.
During their Premier League stint, they were managed by Harry Redknapp and possessed Jermain Defoe, Peter Crouch, and Sol Campbell.
Pompey’s American links cement their bond across the pond, with Michael Eisner’s company owning the Fratton Park club.
Eisner is the former chairman and CEO of The Walt Disney Company.
Whatever happens over the summer, the future looks promising for Portsmouth, in England and beyond.