Chelsea’s recent acquisition by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital is grounded in the vision of expanding the club’s brand in the U.S. market as reported by Football.London.
Boehly, already familiar with American sports ownership as a part-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, recognized Chelsea’s potential for growth in the U.S. and was quick to assemble a team to bid for the club amid sanctions on Russia following the Ukraine invasion.
Historically, English football has struggled to establish a stronghold in the U.S., facing fierce competition from well-established leagues like the NBA, NFL, MLB, and NHL.
However, moving American attitudes toward soccer have opened the door for Premier League clubs.
This is evidenced by the growth in U.S. Premier League fandom, driving up broadcast rights to £2 billion for the latest three-year cycle, with predictions for further increases.
Pre-season tours are now common across the U.S., and talks about moving a regular-season game to the U.S. are ongoing.
The World Cup in 2026 and the FIFA Club World Cup arriving in the U.S. next year show why Europe’s elite clubs, including Chelsea, are intensifying their focus stateside.
However, the reelection of Donald Trump as U.S. President brings new uncertainties, as his “America First” agenda could lead to economic challenges for English clubs trying to capitalize on the American market.
Professor Simon Chadwick, a specialist in global sports business, states that Trump’s policies may create barriers for foreign sports brands, saying, “Make America great again has long been Trump’s raison d’etre.”
He warns that potential tariffs on imports could impact revenue streams, particularly TV rights and pre-season earnings.
“It could move into impacting TV rights or through imposing tariffs on earnings generated on pre-season tours, which have been lucrative for clubs,” Chadwick added
Selling merchandise in the U.S. is a profitable avenue for Chelsea, but import tariffs could drive prices up, risking fan loyalty.
“Suddenly, a shirt value could be inflated by import taxes by some 30%,” Chadwick said.
With U.S. sports jerseys generally priced lower, Premier League clubs face a competitive disadvantage, particularly if Trump discourages support for overseas leagues to promote American leagues like the MLS.
