via Imago
Sport Bilder des Tages FC Barcelona, Barca s Gerard Pique delivers a speech during the Aura Foundation Award ceremony at the 30th anniversary of Aura Foundation in Barcelona, Catalonia, north eastern Spain, 16 July 2019. Aura Foundation has awarded institutions and entities that have contributed to social and labor inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities. Aura Foundation Award ceremony !ACHTUNG: NUR REDAKTIONELLE NUTZUNG! PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xMartaxPérezx GRAF5239 20190716-636989082127938882
via Imago
Sport Bilder des Tages FC Barcelona, Barca s Gerard Pique delivers a speech during the Aura Foundation Award ceremony at the 30th anniversary of Aura Foundation in Barcelona, Catalonia, north eastern Spain, 16 July 2019. Aura Foundation has awarded institutions and entities that have contributed to social and labor inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities. Aura Foundation Award ceremony !ACHTUNG: NUR REDAKTIONELLE NUTZUNG! PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xMartaxPérezx GRAF5239 20190716-636989082127938882
Gerard Pique has always been ambitious. Be it his ball-playing abilities as a Centre Back or his astute business acumen, the former Barcelona player has come across as a visionary. Post-retirement, his primary objective has been working on scaling up his sports-entertainment enterprise Kosmos.
The former Spanish national, who has garnered an $80,000,000 fortune, tasted success yet again with the innovative 7-a-side football league in the Kings Cup. His company also managed to optimize FC Andorra’s infrastructure and took them from the 5th Division to Spain’s 2nd division in an incredible 4 years. However, his company’s foray into tennis failed miserably. In a recent interview with Marca, the Spaniard talks in detail about his vision for the Kings League.
Gerard Pique wants to emulate the NBA model with the Kings League
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
One of the biggest debates in the sporting world has always been the economic disparity within teams. From media rights distribution to spending cap; this debate has garnered more and more attention now with the Saudi teams in the fray.
Feels like the next 20 years are going to be a big shift in football. Used to go on holiday and see shirts from all over the uk, kids are all wearing PSG/Barca/Dortmund now. How long until they’re all in Saudi shirts? Marketing has overpowered the sporting aspects. Super league?
— Pricey (@iampricey) July 26, 2023
Gerard Pique doesn’t want the teams in the Kings League to suffer this fate. Hence he has set up relevant regulatory infrastructure to maintain a level playing field. The Kings League does this with the same economic distribution for all the 12 teams involved. He explained his vision better by saying he wants to copy the NBA model.
“Rules at the level of the field of play, well, few, because we think about the entertainment, the show. For us it is vital that the 12 teams have the same equal treatment and that they grow equally. They have the same economic distribution,” said Pique. “We want to copy the NBA,” concluded the Barca legend.
Kings League mainly targets the demography between 13-35 years old
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
The Barca legend was then quipped about the viewership details of the League. Kings League is worlds apart from traditional soccer. It’s a seven-a-side weekly league of 12 teams with some whacky rules. The rules include a water polo-esque kickoff style, penalty kicks inspired by the American system of the 90s, and unlimited substitutions.
via Imago
Final Four of the Kings League held at the Spotify Camp Nou with an absolute sellout and a huge record of attendance live and on social networks. Barcelona March 26, 2023 In picture: Gerard Pique Rostros conocidos asisten a la Final Four de la Kings League celebrada en el Spotify Camp Nou con un lleno absoluto y un enorme record de asistencia en vivo y en redes sociales. Barcelona 26 de Marzo de 2023. 900/Cordon Press *** Final Four of the Kings League held at the Spotify Camp Nou with an absolute sellout and a huge record of attendance live and on social networks Barcelona March 26, 2023 In picture Gerard Pique Familiar faces attend the Final Four of the Kings League held at the Spotify Camp Nou with an absolute sellout and a huge record of attendance live and on social networks Barcelona March 26, 2023 900 Cordon Press PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxFRAxESPxITA 900/CordonxPress LOF – King League
Safe to say, this is a sporting revolution targeted at Gen Z who prefer more dynamism and excitement in their content. Pique confirmed the same and said – “Eighty to 85 percent of the people who watch us are between 13 and 35 years old. We are talking about the majority of them being very young people.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
WATCH THIS STORY: American Athletes With Ownership in Soccer Teams
The Kings League so far has garnered positive responses from all corners of the world for its entertainment value. If Pique manages to scale it up to the size of the NBA, he might truly revolutionize the way soccer is viewed by the coming generation. But what does that mean to the traditional soccer league? Will they go redundant owing to longer watch time and no guaranteed dopamine rushes? Let us know your thoughts below!
