Steve Forbes, Forbes
NEW YORK - AT A TIME OF TENSION between Washington and Beijing—China’s worrying naval assertiveness, serious charges of cyber-spying, trade restrictions and protection of intellectual property—here’s a piece of good news: American-style football is coming to the Middle Kingdom. Chinese sports authorities have formally approved the creation of the country’s first football league.
The China American Football League (CAFL) will kick-off its first season in 2015, with six to eight teams in two conferences. The teams will be based in China’s major cities.
The mover behind this breathtaking breakthrough is Philadelphia-based, American businessman Marty Judge, who is co-owner of the Arena League’s Philadelphia Soul, a professional arena football team. Among those partnering with Judge are former NFL MVP and current ESPN analyst Ron Jaworski and Super Bowl-winning coach Dick Vermeil. The agreement was concluded with Judge’s Beijing-based company, Ganlan Media International and the Chinese Rugby Football Association.
Initial franchise owners will pony up $10 million per team and will receive a piece of TV-licensing rights.