Americas Champions League

[UPRISING]

Pure entertainment and fund raising for the victims of the natural disasters in Central and North America? 

As the Guinness commercials say...BRILLIANT (idea)!

Who making those teams?

Concacaf XI?
Conmebol XI?

Sepp Blatter and Uncle Jack yuh know how tuh reach mih...all ah want is a few tickets (fuh me, mih familly and SOME EX TT Nationals) ..and a cooler of Stag!

[BBL]

Silva dreams big with soccer tourney concept
By Ian Thomas, Staff Writer

With the return of the UEFA Champions League group stage last week, capturing the attention of not only European soccer fans but also the entire globe, MP & Silva co-founder and President Riccardo Silva was once again left wondering: Why aren’t we doing this in the Americas?

That question has provided the impetus for an ambitious project from the international media rights company: a new soccer club tournament that would cover all of North America, South America and the Caribbean.

Currently, the two confederations covering teams from these regions — CONCACAF, which covers North and Central America and the Caribbean, and CONMEBOL, which covers South America — each host their own separate competitions among club teams in their nations. Silva hopes they can unite the two, not only pushing the level of competition higher in the Western Hemisphere but also creating a large business opportunity.

“The possibility of having U.S. teams compete against some of the best teams in Brazil and Argentina could help to raise the overall quality of football at an elevated rate,” Silva said. “The Americas also have a combined population that is 30 percent higher than that of Europe, which shows the commercial potential of this idea.”

According to Silva, a tournament of this scale could be worth more than $500 million in television and marketing rights, a number vastly larger than what is earned for the rights to tournaments hosted by CONCACAF and CONMEBOL, roughly $100 million combined.

At its most basic, the idea calls for a 64-club tournament, divided into an initial group stage followed by a knockout round, akin to the Champions League. While teams would be chosen for the tournament based upon league finishes and cup victories, the format would ensure that 16 teams from the U.S. and Canada, as well as Brazil, participated.

To best avoid conflicts with other leagues or international games, the seven- to nine-month competition would likely start in February and would feature mid-week matches.

There would be a substantial prize pool, even at the tournament’s launch. Each team would earn a minimum of $5 million in prize money just for competing, with the payout scaling as teams advanced, with $30 million going to the winner. Silva estimates $440 million would be distributed to the clubs.

But while Silva says it’s “unbelievable that this has not existed yet,” he also understands the challenges of getting two confederations and multiple leagues and clubs all on the same page. Ongoing investigations into bribery and fraud also taint the actions of CONCACAF and CONMEBOL, which could provide another resistance to such an idea.

However, Silva is steadfast in his belief. “If teams want to play in a competition, and broadcasters want to broadcast it, I don’t see a reason for anyone to block it. Of course, everything must be in place, and everything must work for everyone, but if you look at the opportunities this could create for all parties involved, it makes too much sense.”

While there is no set timetable for the launch of such a tournament, Silva says work already has started. MP & Silva has consulted and met with many of the largest clubs in South America and has received pledges of support, including from Corinthians and Flamengo, as well as many of the other top-tier clubs in Brazil and Uruguay. The firm also has met with South American broadcasters about the idea.

They plan on pursuing North America next, planning outreach to U.S. Soccer, MLS and Liga MX.

To that end, they have brought on former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue as a senior adviser to the project.

“The concept of top North American soccer clubs competing against top South American clubs comes in the right moment for soccer’s continuing strong development in the U.S. market,” Tagliabue said. “The Americas’ international football traditions, legacies and extraordinary supporter base rank with the best in the world, but a solid league platform to globally showcase Americas’ great soccer hasn’t existed until now.”

MP & Silva has begun staffing up the project. Aside from Silva and partner Carlo Pozzali, there are a number of other key executives. Daniel Cohen, former senior vice president of Bloomberg Sports, will serve as senior vice president and managing partner of the Americas and oversee all sales, acquisition and development strategy. Andrew Nestor, owner and consigliere of Serie A club Bologna, will serve as vice president of business development. Alfonso Alanis-Cue, previously senior director of partnership marketing for MLS and SUM, will serve as vice president of business strategy and will be responsible for all strategic planning.

“When you look at the money that could be involved and what will be provided to clubs, we believe this can be a turning point for soccer across the two continents,” Silva said.



http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2015/09/21/Events-and-Attractions/Americas-Champions-League.aspx

http://www.facebook.com/ACLFutbol

[Tallman]

Silva dreams big with soccer tourney concept
By Ian Thomas (Sports Business Daily)

With the return of the UEFA Champions League group stage last week, capturing the attention of not only European soccer fans but also the entire globe, MP & Silva co-founder and President Riccardo Silva was once again left wondering: Why aren’t we doing this in the Americas?

That question has provided the impetus for an ambitious project from the international media rights company: a new soccer club tournament that would cover all of North America, South America and the Caribbean.

Currently, the two confederations covering teams from these regions — CONCACAF, which covers North and Central America and the Caribbean, and CONMEBOL, which covers South America — each host their own separate competitions among club teams in their nations. Silva hopes they can unite the two, not only pushing the level of competition higher in the Western Hemisphere but also creating a large business opportunity.

“The possibility of having U.S. teams compete against some of the best teams in Brazil and Argentina could help to raise the overall quality of football at an elevated rate,” Silva said. “The Americas also have a combined population that is 30 percent higher than that of Europe, which shows the commercial potential of this idea.”

According to Silva, a tournament of this scale could be worth more than $500 million in television and marketing rights, a number vastly larger than what is earned for the rights to tournaments hosted by CONCACAF and CONMEBOL, roughly $100 million combined.

At its most basic, the idea calls for a 64-club tournament, divided into an initial group stage followed by a knockout round, akin to the Champions League. While teams would be chosen for the tournament based upon league finishes and cup victories, the format would ensure that 16 teams from the U.S. and Canada, as well as Brazil, participated.

To best avoid conflicts with other leagues or international games, the seven- to nine-month competition would likely start in February and would feature mid-week matches.

There would be a substantial prize pool, even at the tournament’s launch. Each team would earn a minimum of $5 million in prize money just for competing, with the payout scaling as teams advanced, with $30 million going to the winner. Silva estimates $440 million would be distributed to the clubs.

But while Silva says it’s “unbelievable that this has not existed yet,” he also understands the challenges of getting two confederations and multiple leagues and clubs all on the same page. Ongoing investigations into bribery and fraud also taint the actions of CONCACAF and CONMEBOL, which could provide another resistance to such an idea.

However, Silva is steadfast in his belief. “If teams want to play in a competition, and broadcasters want to broadcast it, I don’t see a reason for anyone to block it. Of course, everything must be in place, and everything must work for everyone, but if you look at the opportunities this could create for all parties involved, it makes too much sense.”

While there is no set timetable for the launch of such a tournament, Silva says work already has started. MP & Silva has consulted and met with many of the largest clubs in South America and has received pledges of support, including from Corinthians and Flamengo, as well as many of the other top-tier clubs in Brazil and Uruguay. The firm also has met with South American broadcasters about the idea.

They plan on pursuing North America next, planning outreach to U.S. Soccer, MLS and Liga MX.

To that end, they have brought on former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue as a senior adviser to the project.

“The concept of top North American soccer clubs competing against top South American clubs comes in the right moment for soccer’s continuing strong development in the U.S. market,” Tagliabue said. “The Americas’ international football traditions, legacies and extraordinary supporter base rank with the best in the world, but a solid league platform to globally showcase Americas’ great soccer hasn’t existed until now.”

MP & Silva has begun staffing up the project. Aside from Silva and partner Carlo Pozzali, there are a number of other key executives. Daniel Cohen, former senior vice president of Bloomberg Sports, will serve as senior vice president and managing partner of the Americas and oversee all sales, acquisition and development strategy. Andrew Nestor, owner and consigliere of Serie A club Bologna, will serve as vice president of business development. Alfonso Alanis-Cue, previously senior director of partnership marketing for MLS and SUM, will serve as vice president of business strategy and will be responsible for all strategic planning.

“When you look at the money that could be involved and what will be provided to clubs, we believe this can be a turning point for soccer across the two continents,” Silva said.

[Flex]

U.S. Soccer proposes joint CONCACAF-CONMEBOL tournament for 2020
By Jeff Carlisle - U.S. soccer correspondent

The United States Soccer Federation has sent letters to CONMEBOL, CONMEBOL's member federations and CONCACAF proposing a new international men's tournament that it is calling the Continental Cup 2020.

The New York Times was the first to report the news.

The letter, a copy of which was obtained by ESPN FC, proposes a tournament that will in many ways mirror the Copa America Centenario that was hosted by the U.S. in 2016. The invitees will consist of all 10 CONMEBOL countries as well as six CONCACAF nations.

The USSF is offering to underwrite the entire event, including a guarantee that each team will receive a minimum of $4 million to participate. Teams can earn additional prize money of $225,000 per point won, and $5m for winning the tournament. Before prize money, the total compensation to CONMEBOL and its teams will be $90m, while CONCACAF and its teams will receive $74m. All told, the USSF is willing to pay out nearly $200m to the participants -- both teams and confederations -- of the event.

The tournament is set to run concurrently with that year's European Championships. The USSF is also offering to establish a 2026 Legacy Fund to assist in growing the sport of soccer in the entire CONCACAF region ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

"CONCACAF is in receipt of the communication sent by the U.S. Soccer Federation to CONMEBOL Member Associations," the regional governing body confirmed in a statement. "We view this opportunity positively as it is not intended to replace or substitute any future editions of the CONCACAF Gold Cup and it complements our vision to continue providing opportunities for our Member Associations to play competitive football at the highest level."

CONCACAF and CONMEBOL have been engaged in talks for over a year on holding another combined Copa America, but have been unable to come to an agreement. The intention is to turn the combined tournament into a quadrennial, joint continental event. Any combined tournament would have to be approved by both confederations as well as the USSF. According to the letter, USSF president Carlos Cordeiro has invited CONMEBOL leaders to discuss the proposal next week in Miami.

Due to fallout from the FIFA corruption scandal that ensnared executives of both CONMEBOL and CONCACAF, the USSF had less than a year to organize the Copa America Centenario. By getting its proposal on the table now, the USSF is hoping to kickstart organizing efforts, regardless of which entities will agree to participate.

The USSF's motivation is clear. Despite the short run-up to the 2016 tournament, the U.S. still managed to receive a cut of $72m. That proved to be a critical infusion of cash for the USSF given the fallout from the U.S.'s subsequent failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup. The tournament would also provide a valuable event in which the U.S. could participate, as well as help determine host cities for the 2026 World Cup, which is being hosted by the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

A USSF spokesperson indicated to ESPN FC that it is still possible for a combined Copa America to be held if the three aforementioned parties can agree.

The letter indicated that the proposed tournament will not have any impact on the future of the CONCACAF Gold Cup or the Copa America. Cordeiro, speaking at the organization's Annual General Meeting earlier this month, cast doubt on the future of the Gold Cup, stating that he was unsure if the event would continue beyond 2021. CONCACAF later issued a statement indicating that the Gold Cup is on the FIFA calendar through 2023, and that it has every intention of continuing to hold the tournament.

This year's Copa America is slated for this June and July in Brazil. But CONMEBOL said last year that it was planning to move the Copa America to a quadrennial schedule starting in 2020 to coincide with UEFA's European Championship.

[Deeks]

Like I said, the next president of the TTFA must have deep pockets,  or friends and associates with very deep pockets.

[FF]

Deeks you ent read asylum post on the matter??

Waiting for some saviour to swoop in is why we in this mess in the first place

[asylumseeker]

Like I said, the next president of the TTFA must have deep pockets,  or friends and associates with very deep pockets.

The USSF's wherewithal comes from its funding model, not from a Jeff Bezos or a Warren Buffet hijacking the federation. We need a proper funding model that does not consist of welfare payments to clubs and national team "emergencies".

If dahis what we want, let me suggest that we nominate any puppet backed by foreign money. However, someone would have to be tasked with the responsibility for beefing up our financial crimes architecture, if anyone cares.