Thanks to an American living in London, Premier League fans in the United States can now experience aspects of the league that exist outside the edges of their television screens.
Chris Macchi, an Ohio native, hosts "On The Ground", a series on the Premier League's official U.S. Instagram account, @PLinUSA.
The series takes American fans on a journey to see each Premier League stadium, where they learn about the traditions around the grounds and the culture of the city while hearing from local fans, too.
"The goal is to tell stories that add color and context to the amazing clubs and communities around the Premier League - ideally the stories that we don't get to hear or see during the 90 minutes," Macchi says.
"If the audience finishes our story and finds a new appreciation or understanding of the people that make the Premier League experience possible, I'll be over the moon."
.@arlowhite's, @LeeDixon2's, and @graemelesaux14's Excellent Adventure through the lens of @mxcchi#MyPLMorning pic.twitter.com/kop3mrEijB
— Premier League USA (@PLinUSA) January 12, 2019
"On The Ground" plays out over the course of a matchday on the account's Instagram story. In its first full season, it's taken Macchi across the entire country.
After covering Tottenham Hotspur's victory at their new stadium on Saturday, he's now featured a match in every Premier League ground this season - an experience he says is invaluable.
"When you walk into St James' Park in the heart of Newcastle up North, or hang around the Amex for a post-match pint in Brighton, you realize how much these fans fuel their clubs, and what these clubs mean to their fans," Macchi says.
"The Premier League is recognized globally for an unparalleled level of skill and competition, but after learning about and visiting each club, you quickly realize that it’s the fans that breathe life and energy into the experience."
"On The Ground" has proven a hit among English and American audiences alike. Last weekend, AFC Bournemouth devoted five pages of its matchday program to a story on the series.
Stateside, Macchi was brought on-air during NBC's "Premier League Mornings Live" broadcast outside of Fenway Park last month to talk about his experiences.
Our very own @mxcchi was on @NBCSN with Rebecca Lowe from our Premier League Mornings Live event in Boston 🍀#MyPLMorning pic.twitter.com/IyOU0ksfnp
— Premier League USA (@PLinUSA) March 31, 2019
On Saturday morning, you can catch "On The Ground" as it comes from Manchester, where Macchi will be building up to the day's big match, Manchester City vs Tottenham Hotspur.
You can also watch every episode of "On The Ground" on @PLinUSA’s Instagram highlights.
