European soccer leagues are open leagues, where the teams change each season through promotion and relegation, different from major North American sports leagues that are closed. As a result, the economic strategies and opportunities between the two types of leagues are very different. Recently, the European Super League, a hybrid between an open and a closed league, threatened to “Americanize” European soccer resulting in out cry from fans around the world. The 12 richest team owners came together to create a new league, with the main purpose to increase their profits. Although the Super League failed, and the Champions League is set to be reformed, major changes are coming to the way European soccer is played.
Presentation deriving from economics seminar on the economics of sports with Andrew Zimbalist, Robert A. Woods professor of economics.