Brand Sports.

[ph123]

I think the fundamental point which all the pundits miss is that football teams in the UK grew out of representation of local towns and cities. As far as actual football is concerned MANCHESTER vs LIVERPOOL would always be a sell out locally because of rivalry and local support within those towns.
Of course, the BRAND football is a victim of its own success so that nowadays, BRAND MANCHESTER vs BRAND LIVERPOOL will also be a sell out where football matters world wide.
Rather like Grand Prix racing, GP used to be the pinnacle of motor sporting events in each country. But the BRAND GRAND PRIX has outgrown that idea too. Frankly, you can hold the BRITISH GP anywhere in the world; the spectacle is the same. Very few local issues effect how teams approach any particular race and as I need a special pass just to view the paddock of the support race, let alone get anywhere near a GP car, how could I miss it? I’m not supporting anything in British racing green am I? (The way pit lane walkabouts are staged, they could be anywhere too. Only Monaco and perhaps Spa remain reasonably sacrosanct.)
Money and media coverage are altering the fabric of so many 'local' events. It does seem a shame that local fans and supporters which gave these international sports their original wealth, no longer matter.