I’ve recently been rewatching “Fever Pitch: The Rise of the Premier League”. I was struck by just how many similarities there were to the world of orchestras. Both facing the challenges of live attendance, unlocking the true value of their product, and bringing about change in a world where the core fans don’t want it.
By taking radical steps to go against the established way of doing things, making live events into a spectacle, and marketing the sport properly, the Premier League not only managed to reverse a 33% drop in live attendance but now hits record ticket figures each year and has become most successful football league in the world. The Premier League provides a clear blueprint for what orchestras can do to implement change and thrive.
Today, the Premier League is the most successful football league in the world. It is by far the most viewed league with 643 million people watching live broadcasts, compared to second place La Liga with just 71 million. Clubs’ income continues to grow and live attendance is increasing each year. However, it wasn’t always this way.
