The news that La Liga will play regular-season matches in the United States came as a surprise to most fans. But to Charlie Stillitano, it was long in the making.
Stillitano was one of the brains behind last Thursday's historic announcement, which was described as "a first-of-a-kind, 15-year, equal joint venture to promote soccer in the U.S. and Canada."
It means Spain's top clubs, including Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, will play matches thousands of miles from home—with points at stake.
Soccer is growing fast in the States, with a Gallup poll in January leading Forbes to suggest it will soon be America's third-favourite spectator sport.