How would you like to sip on egg nog (or your espressino) watching a Serie A or Coppa Italia match between Christmas and New Years day?
Reflecting on his past Michel Platini once declared that one of the considerations that led him to choose the Italian Serie A over the English top flight was the two week break at the end of December.
Currently, Serie A’s break commences the Monday prior to Christmas Day and resumes on or after the Epiphany (January 6).
Whereas this parochial break was marked as a “pro” in Platini’s column, Serie A may be missing on a major business opportunity. The holidays are a time in which people take time off work, time which people from near and far can use to visit stadia and cities. For locals, it may be an opportunity for entire families to attend live matches as opposed to watching games at home.
How does Serie A’s break affect players? As a result of the break, footballers often get 5-7 days off which they use to rush off to their country and or cities of origin to spend a few days with their families. Players, particularly those who originate from farther places (South Americans have been notorious for this in the last 20 years), often add a few pounds returning to their club teams out of shape and jet-lagged.
Serie A should consider moving its two-week winter break until after the Epiphany. This action may give players the rest that they need, MORE time with family (not less) without the heavy holiday meals. The move might not only have a positive effect on stadium attendance but it gives the league an opportunity to better market itself, to compete with the English Premier league for market share (not much football on television over the holidays other than English PL and domestic cups), thus raising its “visibility”.
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