Lionel Messi effect: Apple boss urges MLS clubs to sign more stars football news

The head of Apple TV’s collaboration with Major League Soccer has urged clubs in the league to take the example of Inter Miami’s deal with Lionel Messi and sign more top stars. Apple’s senior vice president of services Eddie Cue told reporters at Inter Miami’s 2-0 win over Real Salt Lake on Wednesday that Messi made a big impact on subscriptions by bringing in new viewers from Europe and South America as well as North America Is. “I’m excited that there are teams that are definitely working hard,” Cu said. “Obviously what Inter Miami has done is an example of that and I think more teams need to do that.” And I think it will.”

“At least I’ve seen it enough now that there’s a level of excitement… When anyone asks what I want from anyone, any team, I’m like, sign a few more players!” He said.

Miami’s recruitment of big-name international players is unprecedented in MLS, with Messi initially joined by two former Barcelona teammates in Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets.

In December, Miami added another top international player with the acquisition of former Barça and Liverpool striker Luis Suárez.

For MLS clubs to open their pockets to spend big on international talent will require a change from clubs that in recent years have focused primarily on bringing in low-cost, young talent from South America.

MLS Commissioner Don Garber, speaking earlier, said he was aware of reports suggesting there could be changes to the league’s salary cap and roster rules that would make it easier to bring in big-time players, but he said the league was Know that he has to remain smart in this matter, it is moving towards development.

However he acknowledged that Inter Miami was able to generate record revenue from the Messi deal.

“If we thought every team could do this by signing players, I can assure you that MLS would adapt its rules to be able to do that,” he said.

“Our thinking in terms of strategic player spending – we will do whatever we need to do to grow our fan base, increase the competitiveness of our league and grow our revenues, and ultimately increase the credibility and viability of MLS on the global stage. ” ” He added.

“No one can stop us from doing this. We just want to be thoughtful about it,” he said.

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Cue suggested there may be differing views among the 29 club owners in the league.

“There’s a lot of owners, a lot of teams and so in life when you have so many, it’s always hard to get everybody going in the same direction. (Don Garber) does it very well but it’s a tough job. And so I try to help because I kind of bring a different or at least a different perspective on it,” he said.

But Garber painted a positive picture of MLS’s growth.

“Season tickets have gone up, our total ticket sales have gone up, our sponsorships have gone up, social media and our media coverage has gone up. All of this is giving the league global recognition,” he said.

Apple hasn’t released subscription numbers for the first season of its subscription broadcasting service MLS Season Pass, but Sports Business Journal reported this month that they’ve reached two million — following Messi’s signing for Miami in July. The number has doubled.

MLS season ticket holders were given free access to the service, while a number of special offers were available to fans. The report did not say what proportion of the two million subscribers had paid the full fee.

Q said he was surprised by how much of a difference Messi has made to the numbers.

He said, “I was surprised. I had no idea because I knew it would make a difference but I thought it would take time. They moved the needle very quickly on a global perspective and an American perspective.”

He added, “So, no, I didn’t appreciate his power and reach… It’s amazing to see.”

Cue said Messi has managed to attract spectators to MLS games even from outside the United States and Canada.

“I won’t tell you the exact numbers but I will tell you that before Macy’s it was at the very top in America. After Macy’s it changed materially because they added a huge number of customers from South America and Europe, so it was a big Change,” he said.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)