Appetite comes with eating, and private leagues are always thinking about their next meal. From football to basketball, cycling, athletics, and rugby, their shadow is becoming increasingly pressing. With them come promises of boosted revenues and an attractive sporting spectacle. But also questions and concerns, for the "small" players and for the federations.
The United States and the Middle East at the helm
Luc Tardif makes no secret of his concerns on the matter. The president of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) must contend with the expansionist ambitions of the NHL, which wants to step on the federation's toes and conquer new markets by organizing its own World Cup. "We're in negotiations with the NHL. They want to come to Europe, just before our World Championships—every four years, but still, they come to our market. It's a big issue that concerns all international federations, including ours., he alerts Free Games. In athletics, Michael Johnson created his professional tour (the Grand Slam Track, launched in April). He gives athletes big purses, and they go where there's the most money. Similarly, the NBA wants to come to Europe for basketball. They're going to enter the European league market, and in some ways, the IFs are suffering.
In cycling, "One Cycling" aims to bring together the best teams in the peloton. Supported by Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, this cycling Super League operates on the same principle as the one that rocked the world of football: bringing together the best of the best, offering direct clashes between the stars, and thus generating more revenue. According to the Belgian media outlet The Latest News, Flanders Classics and RCS Sport, which organize some of the biggest Belgian and Italian races today, would be ready to join the adventure.
Which riders? Potentially big names, since among the eleven teams making headlines are Visma-Lease a Bike, INEOS Grenadiers, Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe, and Soudal Quick-Step. In rugby, too, a Super League project, mainly driven by American players, could see the light of day as early as 2026, with eight franchises and, for players, salaries "almost twice those received in France," according to Actu Rugby. These initiatives are advantageous for stars and big teams, but they undermine the balance.
"Federations should not only have expenses"
Focused on financial profits, private leagues ignore the principles of solidarity that are in place in most sports ecosystems. "We take care of the competitions that help with training, that are necessary for the development of athletes – these are costs, not revenue. Private companies, on the other hand, come into this field to make a profit but without taking care of development activities. No one sees the damage, points out Luc Tardif. In this system, clubs, federations, and the IF must not only have expenses. Otherwise, it can't work. This balance is extremely important."
In its negotiations with the NHL, the IIHF has proposed that the league hold its World Cup in Europe in September or October, or in February but on another continent. For the time being, without succeeding in convincing his interlocutor. "If we're not there, there won't be any miracles. For a player to develop, there has to be a whole process that's respected and, above all, funded. We allocate nearly 20 million a year to travel, organizations, training, and all the development tools. If we don't do that, no one will.", hammers the president, worried about having to share part of this cake with a league with a voracious appetite. "We must understand that we have a role to play and that we must protect the means that allow us to do what we do."
