In a groundbreaking move, Wrexham, the Welsh soccer team owned by Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, is considering making live broadcasts of its games free in the USA. This would be a first for any major professional soccer team.
Wrexham Director of Football, Shaun Harvey, spoke to World Soccer Talk about this unconventional idea. However, he clarified that the decision ultimately lies with the English Football League (EFL). The EFL will determine how the next international rights deal for seasons 2024/25 through 2027/28 will work for Championship, League One, and League Two clubs.
Wrexham Director of Football, Shaun Harvey, said:
“I personally would love to see Wrexham games free-to-air in the U.S. every single week.
“Whilst that could have a significant financial negative impact on our P&L (profit and loss statement), actually as long as it’s readily available and easily accessible, we’d probably take our chance that we would generate more by creating a bigger fan base than we would on revenue from individual subscribers.”
New EFL deal is in the process, with current deal expiring this season
The current international rights deal of EFL ends at this season's close. Depending on what path EFL chooses to take next could potentially transform clubs like Wrexham and other 71 teams within EFL.
Wrexham Director of Football finds himself in an interesting position as he was once chief executive of the EFL seven years ago. He was instrumental in setting up iFollow - a first-of-its-kind streaming platform - which is set to expire at this season's end. Now as a director of a football club himself, Harvey along with other executives from various clubs across England and Wales are eagerly awaiting what comes next after iFollow.
The new international rights decision could mark an end to iFollow but also heralds an exciting new era for all clubs under EFL.
A new deal can provide number of options to interested broadcasters
The English Football League had a number of options available to broadcasters regarding future broadcasting rights in last year's tender: International broadcasters can acquire exclusive rights to stream every single match.
For sports fans across America who follow English football closely or even indulge in sports betting, this could be a dream come true. Having one subscription to access EFL matches would not only simplify the viewing process but also make it more accessible.
The possibility of Wrexham making its games free in the USA is an exciting prospect for soccer fans and sports bettors alike. However, the final decision rests with EFL and their choice will undoubtedly have far-reaching implications for all clubs under its umbrella. As we wait for this decision, one thing is clear - change is on the horizon and it could potentially revolutionize how we consume football content internationally.
