TY - JOUR
T1 - Looking forward, glancing back; competitive balance and the EPL
AU - Plumley, Daniel
AU - Ramchandani, Girish
AU - Mondal, Sarthak
AU - Wilson, Rob
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
PY - 2022/3/31
Y1 - 2022/3/31
N2 - The formation of the English Premier League (EPL) in 1992 heralded a digital and financial revolution within the game. Broadcasting fees rose exponentially, clubs became cash rich and English clubs became attractive purchases for foreign investment. Our paper examines the change in competitive balance in the top tier of English football since the inception of the EPL, focusing on 56 seasons between 1964/65 and 2019/20. Our analysis shows that competitive balance has declined in the EPL era and that the league has begun to be dominated by a select number of clubs. From a sporting economics perspective, received theory suggests that such a decline could harm the product. If competitive balance continues to decline, the EPL may face potential future challenges from the attractiveness of the product to broadcasters and the continuing emergence of financially (and sporting) dominant super clubs leading to the potential of breakaway European super leagues, such as Project Big Picture.
AB - The formation of the English Premier League (EPL) in 1992 heralded a digital and financial revolution within the game. Broadcasting fees rose exponentially, clubs became cash rich and English clubs became attractive purchases for foreign investment. Our paper examines the change in competitive balance in the top tier of English football since the inception of the EPL, focusing on 56 seasons between 1964/65 and 2019/20. Our analysis shows that competitive balance has declined in the EPL era and that the league has begun to be dominated by a select number of clubs. From a sporting economics perspective, received theory suggests that such a decline could harm the product. If competitive balance continues to decline, the EPL may face potential future challenges from the attractiveness of the product to broadcasters and the continuing emergence of financially (and sporting) dominant super clubs leading to the potential of breakaway European super leagues, such as Project Big Picture.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85128194039&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - https://shura.shu.ac.uk/30039/
U2 - 10.1080/14660970.2022.2059855
DO - 10.1080/14660970.2022.2059855
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85128194039
SN - 1466-0970
VL - 23
SP - 466
EP - 481
JO - Soccer and Society
JF - Soccer and Society
IS - 4-5
ER -