Javier Tebas: "To LaLiga, being global is a challenge, an opportunity and a duty"

Speaking at the Grimaldi Forum, the president of LaLiga wanted to make clear that "being a global league is a challenge, an opportunity and a duty". "It's a challenge because we compete with many other contents, either as the Premier League or the Bundesliga, or other sports like basketball with the NBA, tennis or golf. It is an opportunity, so we can all grow, attracting more fans, and is a must, because if we do not compete in the medium term, LaLiga won’t be global and will stay just in the domestic market", he said.

#sportel @LaLiga @Tebasjavier : «We need to increase the value of our rights by making people FEEL #football » pic.twitter.com/EIQkJzfN9d

— SPORTEL (@sportelmonaco) October 12, 2015

 

"The key factor to be a global league are the audiovisual rights. May 2015 was an historical moment with the regulation of the centralized selling of media rights in Spanish football, and with this measure we are equating Premier League, Bundesliga and Calcio. In addition, we changed schedules to reach the maximum of fans around the world without harming the supporters who go to the grounds in Spain. Attendance has increased by 10% in the fields, we have achieved greater global audience and subscribers to pay-TV have increased, so we were probably right", said Tebas.

The president also stressed that in the effort from LaLiga to make fans feel football and complete their experience beyond 90 minutes, they should approach international broadcasters to know "what happens in all countries, what they need and how they consume football "and confirmed the opening of offices in New York and Shanghai, which bind to which LaLiga already has in Beijing, Dubai and Johannesburg, in addition to offices in Spain, at Madrid and Barcelona.

#sportel @LaLiga @Tebasjavier: «We have changed the worldwide perception of the name #LaLiga» pic.twitter.com/ylIQXsF6nJ

— SPORTEL (@sportelmonaco) October 12, 2015

 

"Until now sports were just for watching, now the fans want to feel it too. A match is 180 degrees, but to be global we need to fill the other 180 degrees with games, statistics, reports before and after the games... If we fail, we never going to be a global league", he emphasized.

Finally, he stressed the importance of "LaLiga World" program: "It has allowed teams that are not Barcelona nor Real Madrid to play friendlies around the world and this makes them more recognized globally and LaLiga’s image also more valuable".