As the lockdown continues to drag on, there has been some good news for football fans that have seen their beloved sport suspended for the first time in their lives. With the English Premier League set for a return in the near future, the Scottish Premiership will be starting their new 2020/21 season in August, but with a completely new and innovative setup.
Celtic were crowned Scottish Premiership champions for the ninth time in a row after the SPFL (the Scottish Professional Football League) opted to end the 2019/20 season. The Hoops already have odds as low at 1/4 to make it a historic tenth title victory, with Old Firm rivals Rangers given attractive odds of 6/5. With inviting promotions such as a free bet no deposit offers circulating, it’s certainly worth taking advantage of before the season begins and before the odds get shorter.
A virtual season ticket the way to go
If the betting odds are as clear as day then so is the layout of the upcoming Scottish Premiership season. The SPFL and Sky Sports have agreed terms that will include ‘virtual season tickets’ for top-flight clubs which will provide an alternative source of matchday income, whilst, at the same time, ensuring social distancing measures are upheld by preventing fans from spectating games.
As a result, during the 2020/21 season, each Premiership club can sell packages to season ticket holders so that they can watch all home games from the comfort of their own home. Sky’s monopoly over the Scottish Premiership was confirmed when, from August, it will be the only broadcaster to offer live coverage of the SPFL with 48 games available.
No loss of broadcasting money
And, even more impressively for Scottish football, the SPFL and Sky have come to an arrangement to spread the financial settlement for the games that could not be completed in the 2019/20 season across the terms of the five-year contract signed between the two bodies. This, of course will provide both the competition and its clubs with security and financial stability.
Scottish football overcoming challenges
Though perhaps always overshadowed by English football, the SPFL have ensured the long-term stability of Scottish Premiership football. The deal struck with Sky shows the pragmatism of all clubs as well as Sky, and the fact that both governing bodies have been able to work out a deal for what should have been the end of the 2019/20 season is impressive too.
Providing a virtual season ticket for next season is an innovative creation as it will maintain and nurture the relationship between fans and their respective clubs, but also give clubs that economic stability that seemed far-fetched in recent times.