AP

Spanish league moves to expand in Middle East, North Africa

Sep 5, 2022, 4:20 PM | Updated: Sep 6, 2022, 4:23 am

Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski, center, celebrates with teammates after scoring his side's second g...

Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski, center, celebrates with teammates after scoring his side's second goal during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Sevilla and Barcelona in Seville, Spain, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022. (AP Photo/Jose Breton)

(AP Photo/Jose Breton)


              Real Madrid's Luka Modric, left is tackled by Betis' Alex Moreno during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Betis at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022. (AP Photo/Pablo Garcia)
            
              Real Madrid's head coach Carlo Ancelotti reacts during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Betis at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022. (AP Photo/Pablo Garcia)
            
              Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski, center, celebrates with teammates after scoring his side's second goal during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Sevilla and Barcelona in Seville, Spain, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022. (AP Photo/Jose Breton)

MADRID (AP) — The Spanish league will attempt to expand its reach in the Middle East, North Africa and the Indian subcontinent, continuing its push to grow internationally and narrow the gap to the English Premier League.

The new joint venture announced on Tuesday pairs the Spanish league with multinational esports and gaming organization Galaxy Racer, which has expertise in the region, on a 15-year deal with 50-50 participation.

They aim to generate 3 billion euros ($2.9 billion) in revenue and be similar to what the league did with entertainment group Relevent Sports to help promote soccer and the league in North America, the league said.

The league wants to significantly increase the presence of its clubs and Spanish soccer in this “strategic part of the world.” The goal is to target younger audiences in an area with 1.3 billion people under the age of 30.

The league said it wants to “speak to younger audiences meaningfully” through content creation and a crossover focus on gaming and esports,

“With the market set to enter a new era of growth, this is the right moment to take our business in the region to the next level and attract the next generation of younger sport fans to our competition,” Spanish league executive director Oscar Mayo said.

A production studio will be created by the joint venture to take advantage of Galaxy Racer’s “extensive experience in licensing, product development and content generation, production and broadcasting in a region seen as one of the fastest growing territories in the business of sport,” the league said.

The Spanish league said it already is one of the most popular leagues in the area. Dubai was the first international office the league opened in 2013.

The Bundesliga has not been broadcast in the region in recent years, and Serie A has limited distribution in the area, backers of the new venture said.

The 15-year deal signed in 2018 with Relevent, co-founded by Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross, included an agreement to play regular-season games in the United States, but the league has yet to make it happen because of challenges involving some clubs and the Spanish soccer federation.

The Spanish league in August signed a multi-year deal to have videogaming company EA Sports as its title sponsor beginning next season.

___

More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

___

Tales Azzoni on Twitter: http://twitter.com/tazzoni

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

AP

Associated Press

Ex-Packer Guion gets 1 year for domestic violence assault

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Former Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Letroy Guion was sentenced to one year in jail after pleading no contest in a domestic violence assault at his home last fall. Brown County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Walsh also ordered Guion on Tuesday to serve three years’ probation and complete a domestic […]

1 year ago

Joe Jarzynka...

Associated Press

Durant eager for Suns debut vs. Hornets after knee injury

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Kevin Durant has been through quite a bit during his 15-year NBA career — but joining a new team midway through the season is a new one for the 13-time All-Star. The 34-year-old Durant doesn’t seem all that worried. Durant makes his highly anticipated Phoenix Suns debut on Wednesday night against […]

1 year ago

FILE - Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores stands on the sideline during the second half of an N...

Associated Press

Judge: NFL coach can press discrimination claims in court

NEW YORK (AP) — NFL Coach Brian Flores can pursue some of his discrimination claims against the league and its teams in court rather than through arbitration, a judge ruled Wednesday. The written decision by Judge Valerie Caproni in Manhattan was issued months after lawyers for the league tried to get the lawsuit moved to […]

1 year ago

Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Alex Stalock cools off in the first period during an NHL hockey game ...

Associated Press

Kane trade reinforces hard reality of Blackhawks rebuild

CHICAGO (AP) — After days of speculation, the harsh reality of the Chicago Blackhawks’ situation was reinforced by one move in a flurry of transactions ahead of the NHL trade deadline. Showtime is over, at least in Chicago, and a seemingly bright future is, well, way off in the distance. The reverberations of Chicago’s decision […]

1 year ago

FILE -  Yves Jean-Bart, president of the Haitian Football Federation, wearing a protective face mas...

Associated Press

Disgraced ex-Haitian soccer president announces he’s back

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Haiti’s former soccer federation president whose lifetime ban from sport over sexual abuse allegations was overturned last month announced Wednesday that he is reclaiming his position. Yves Jean-Bart’s defiant announcement could lead to a standoff with FIFA, which already has appointed an emergency management committee to lead the Haitian Football Association […]

1 year ago

FILE - Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers walks off the field after an NFL football game against the ...

Associated Press

Rodgers says decision on future will come ‘soon enough’

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Aaron Rodgers says he will make a decision on his future “soon enough” as the four-time MVP quarterback ponders whether to play next season and if his future remains with the Green Bay Packers. Rodgers, 39, discussed his future while speaking on an episode of the “Aubrey Marcus Podcast” that […]

1 year ago

Spanish league moves to expand in Middle East, North Africa