PSG President Nasser Al-Khelaifi has proposed that the Champions League incorporates a Super Bowl-style opening ceremony to guarantee that every match is treated as an “event and entertainment” in the same way that the US showpiece is.
In a statement that has sent football fans fuming, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) Chief Nasser Al-Khelaifi has proposed that UEFA Champions League must introduce a Super Bowl-like opening ceremony to ensure every game becomes 'an event and entertainment' similar to the US showpiece event.
In recent times, the Super Bowl has gained popularity for its pre-game and half-time ceremonies, with this year's event featuring performances from celebrities like Dr Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, and more. In comparison, Champions League matches are a lot less glitzy and extravagant, although a brief opening ceremony takes place before every final. This year's Champions League final will take place on May 28 at the Stade de France.
During an interview with The Athletic, PSG President Al-Khelaifi urged UEFA to emulate their American counterparts by bringing in an opening ceremony and tweaking their Super Cup format.
Exclusive chat with PSG President Nasser Al Khelaifi, who reveals ideas to grow Champions League. He tells UEFA may explore “new venues, new formats” to appeal to US/Asian rights markets & says UCL final should *feel* as big as Super Bowl https://t.co/R8lKHvwQDz
— Adam Crafton (@AdamCrafton_)"The final should be bigger. I can't understand how the Super Bowl can feel bigger than the Champions League final," Al-Khelaifi said when discussing Europe's elite club competition.
"The Super Bowl, and the US generally, have this mindset, creativity and entertainment. That's what I have suggested, to have an opening ceremony to the Champions League, to have one match on the opening night where the winners take on a big team — maybe it is not a good idea, but at least let's challenge the status quo. Each match needs to be an event and entertainment," the PSG chief added.
Al-Khelaifi's comment has not gone down well with fans, with several irked supporters of the sport taking to Twitter to suggest that emulating the Super Bowl format will kill the essence of football itself. Here's a look at what some fans said on the micro-blogging site:
If the Champions League final becomes anything like the Superbowl, football dies. https://t.co/z48jOImNPR
— Jai Griffiths (@JaiGriffiths17)The convergence of ideas between the ECA and UEFA feels like they speak as one now. Headlines today about Nasser al Khelaifi wanting Champions League final to resemble Super Bowl eerily similar to words from UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin in past.
— tariq panja (@tariqpanja)Only Americans thinks the super bowl is bigger than the champions league final https://t.co/gtaLzHdKTm
— Ben Mashala (@StBen10)A lot of people in America eatch the superbowl for the adverts
Everyone who watches the champions league final watches it for the actual football
Call me crazy but I'd prefer the second option any day https://t.co/kfQR6ZAX14
Not a single person outside of the United States thinks the Super Bowl is bigger than the Champions League, these billionaires running football need to stop trying to commercialise a sport that already makes billions and is good as is https://t.co/2cUdRi2Gl2
— L.I. AM (@liamthebeard)No one is Europe thinks the Super Bowl is bigger than UCL Final https://t.co/ICbEaYnBHR
— 𝙇𝙞𝙖𝙢 (@OfficialVizeh)The super bowl does NOT feel bigger than the champions league, don’t let an insecure Qatari businessman say otherwise https://t.co/kNk9FBj9TY
— Disquiet_Pessoa (@DisquietPessoa)Simple answer is that the sport is centre stage at the Champions League final. The talk after the Super Bowl is usually more about the half time show than the game.
— Nathan Allen (@n_allenwriting)Super Bowl is a circus.
Champions League is not. https://t.co/KGJyuUqfjZ
Make the Champions League like the Superbowl? 🤦. Did they not learn from Euro Disney? Americans just do this stuff better pic.twitter.com/Azh2ved5wi
— Jakep792021 (@jakep792021)The Champions League Final is a football match first and a spectacle second, the superbowl is a spectacle first and an American football game second.
I hope they never, ever try to make the Champions League final like the superbowl. https://t.co/j2VE3Mzpxg
The Super Bowl is literally the most irrelevant media-inflated event, and I can't believe they're trying to turn the Champions league into something like that. https://t.co/DHOySmXthd
— Shireen (@ShireenTells)