Why sports should never abandon their heartland

While globalistation is now considered an antiquated and accepted concept of the twentieth century, it seems its effects are hitting the biggest domestic sporting leagues.

With the NBA and NFL having staged sell out matches in London, and the EPL floating the 39th game idea, sport is set to face one its biggest shake ups.

The NBA for example has recently opened a London office in addition to stadium projects in China.

And unlike the protests to the 39th EPL game, the NBA and NFL are single sporting entities and don’t face opposition from political hierarchies from within their own sports.

Expect to see more NBA and NFL matches held outside North America as these leagues solidify their increasing fan bases in the international market.

But how far could this global expansion go?

Even if they are only small steps at first, one NBA pre season game in London or a 39th EPL match in Beijing, if they are successful, which they will probably be, it will lead to further attempts to expand, especially when these leagues are competing for the same audiences and market space.

Their own markets have obvious limitations.

While a strong international TV contract was the accepted way of spreading the leagues global influence, these domestic leagues are coming to the consensus that only be offering the real thing can they hope to make significant strides.

The foundations are being built for this global expansion.

In a decade’s time these leagues could be far from domestic.

Where will it end?

As an extreme case of what happens when a sport abandons its heartland, look to Formula 1 Grand Prix racing.

While it is a different scenario considering it is a World Championship compared with the domestic leagues, it still provides an interesting example of what happens when a sport moves away from its heartland.

Formula 1 has abandoned popular and historic races.

Silverstone, for example, the host of the first world championship event and scene of so many pivotal and memorable moments is the latest track set to be cast away.

With little remorse Formula 1 boldly moved to new frontiers in Asia and the Middle East as it increasingly turns its back on Europe and even North America.

As F1 moves away from its heartland, it lost more of what was an already diminishing soul. Loyal fans in its heartland ignored.

It’s little wonder F1 divides sports fans like few other sports, those who can’t get enough of the soap opera and those who see it as a commercial entity and not a sporting one.

In domestic leagues, this disenfranchisement would be worse as local fans are deprived of seeing their home team.

For the EPL, the “greed is good” tag is beginning to stick as clubs buy success, the big four hogging the major trophies.

But what keeps the EPL grounded is its base, home and away rounds from Hull to Newcastle.

It is the fairest and most common sense draw, one that makes the AFL’s draw look amateurish in comparison.

If they go down the 39th game path, then a key component to the sport’s heritage will be lost.

As F1 did long ago, so too do these leagues risk allowing commercial and economic matters to so dictate the sports direction.

It will be the confirmation of what some of us don’t want to believe, that sport has been completely consumed by business.

So to the EPL, NBA, NFL and the likes, be warned.

Global expansion will undoubtedly have its economic benefits but there will be a far greater cost: permanent damage to your soul.