Todd Boehly is making quite a name for himself at Chelsea already. To fans of rival clubs, the new American co-owner has been reckless with money, blase with staff decisions and now outlandish and uncultured with his proposed Premier League plans.
To Chelsea fans, although some factions remain unconvinced and it's too early to truly judge, hearing from the club's owner and having a public face for this initial overhaul of the team and staff has been reassuring and exciting. It has been a massive change for a generation of people that grew up with Roman Abramovich's Chelsea and nothing else.
Now, with ideas of untapped potential at the club, Boehly has raised the idea of an extremely American addition to English football, and it's had a mixed reception.
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Speaking at a SALT conference in New York, the LA Dodgers owner said, "Why isn't there an all-star game? People are talking about more money for the pyramid. With the all-star game in LA this year, we made $200 million from a Monday and a Tuesday. You could have a North versus South all-star game for the Premier League and fund whatever the pyramid needed very easily.
"I think everyone likes the idea of more revenue for the league."
Although Boehly's words do not represent action from the league, the radical idea of implementing money-making - for the pyramid, as he stated - exercises within football's hierarchy has gained traction, and Gary Neville has hit out at the idea on Twitter:
"I keep saying it, but the quicker we get the Regulator in, the better. US investment into English football is a clear and present danger to the pyramid and fabric of the game. They just don't get it and think differently. They also don't stop till they get what they want!"
Neville has been a long-term advocate for an independent regulator in English football to rule and power over the FA and to give specialist insight into governing football that reduces the government's own intervention. His comments claiming US investment is a danger seems to be unfairly jumping the gun on Boehly, a man who is funding a new side and, at the very least, proposing an idea that aids the pyramid, even if the logistics behind this are unknown. It also sets its own dangerous precedent by grouping American owners under one generalised label.
With change comes risk, and given the stance of the Glazer family at Manchester United and previous issues with the Kroenke's at Arsenal and Fenway Sports Group at Liverpool, the worry is a lack of investment into English teams whilst owners run for profit. Boehly, a man who has already spent £250m and has prepared for an £800m debt to restructure the club, has so far put his money where his mouth is.
The promise upon his arrival hinted that watching football would become a more expensive event but would also improve in quality and experience. The idea of an All-Star game, something used in baseball and basketball in America, has become world-famous for bringing together the best athletes into one match per season.
It has also attracted ex-Manchester United teammate Rio Ferdinand to be an advocate for its implementation of it in England. In 2011, Ferdinand tweeted: "Baseball All-Star game tonight, tv coverage is quality. We need a PL All-Star game too...the powers that be, let's talk + develop this...."
Albeit it 11 years ago, back in Ferdinand's playing days, and perhaps also importantly given the former United allegiance of the two players in question, it came before the Red Devils slumped down the table. If Ferdinand was commenting upon the All-Star proposal now, his answer might be different in retrospect, but as an event, he has shown previous enjoyment.
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