Keir Gordon writes for City AM on which sports league system will come out on top internationally

Three distinct sports league models are all jostling for dominance in global sport. For decades, European, US and centralised leagues have defined how sport is run, financed and experienced. But, as sport becomes a focus for global investment and a key part of the entertainment industry, traditional models are breaking down.

Keir Gordon, Partner in our Corporate team, asks in an opinion piece for City AM - "Which one will come out on top? Or perhaps, which blended approach will become the most dominant?"

In order to assess this properly, Keir explains, we first need to look at the three different mindsets of each model:

• The European model is built on open competition, promotion and relegation, and deep community ties. But it struggles with financial sustainability, particularly outside elite tiers.
  
  
• The US model, by contrast, favours stability. Closed leagues, player drafts and salary caps are designed to maximise franchise value and reduce volatility. It’s a business first approach. However, its rigidity can dampen open competition and limit market responsiveness.
  
  
• Then finally, there’s the centralised model – often state-backed, with sport seen as a vehicle for national pride. It focuses on elite performance and uniformity, often at the expense of local engagement and commercial autonomy.

Each model has strengths. But, Keir argues, none alone solves the challenges of a global sports marketplace under pressure from rising costs, stakeholder tensions, fragmented audiences and increasing regulatory scrutiny. "In reality, these models are no longer competing in silos. Instead, we’re seeing deliberate cross-over."

Read the full article in City AM here.