PJL: the big leap or the big shock?

Miami. Sunshine, palm trees… and a bomb dropped on the global paddock. The Premier Jumping League (PJL) has officially been launched, driven by Frank McCourt and an armada of decision-makers and riders. With $300 million guaranteed, sixteen teams, and a blockbuster lineup, the new league is making no secret of its ambitions: it wants a seat at the top table—even if it means pushing the Global Champions Tour and Major League Show Jumping to their limits.

Miami, the founding act

It was in Florida that everything accelerated. Frank McCourt, Neil Moffitt, Nick McCabe, and Lisa Lazarus officially unveiled the PJL, surrounded by a carefully selected group of international riders.

Like its communication, the project is polished. It is also clear, quantified, structured—and above all, dated: March 2027 for kickoff.

Fourteen events have been announced, spread across the United States, Mexico, Italy, Spain, Germany, Great Britain, France, and the Middle East—“depending on geopolitical developments,” the organizers note. Translation: global ambitions, with a watchful eye on world events.

$300 million to change the game

The number makes an impact: $300 million in prize money.

Never seen before in the history of show jumping. And certainly not insignificant.

The PJL aims to fix what many have been criticizing for years: an elite sport… without a solid economic model for its athletes.

Frank McCourt sums up the philosophy: offering a viable career without sacrificing the sport’s values. A message that immediately resonates within the global field.

McCourt, the return of a man who never left

He’s not coming out of nowhere. A former associate of Jan Tops within the Global Champions Tour, McCourt already knows the inner workings of show jumping.

But his résumé goes far beyond the paddocks:
owner of Olympique de Marseille since 2016, former owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers (sold for $2 billion after a turbulent tenure), and a major investor in sports entertainment.

Horses? A passion that’s come galloping back.

A league designed as a global product

The PJL isn’t just selling sport, it’s selling a story.

Partnership with Box to Box Films, free broadcasting, team formats, promised transparency: everything is calibrated to attract a new, younger, broader audience.

Neil Moffitt, CEO (and father of rider Emily Moffitt), calls it a“major turning point.””.
The goal: inject energy, engagement, and clarity into a sport sometimes seen as opaque.

Selection, franchises, and an anti-conflict strategy

Sixteen teams. A brand-new selection system drawn from 250 riders. And above all, a franchise model that the PJL intends to sell to long-term investors.

Nick McCabe, President and COO, is clear:
» we need strong owners, not figureheads«

On scheduling, the league promises to avoid direct clashes with existing giants: the Rolex Grand Slam, the Longines League of Nations, and major outdoor events.

Whether that promise will hold up against the reality of the international calendar remains to be seen.

Riders are already on board

And they’re not unknown names.

Nicola Philippaerts, Abdel Saïd, Lillie Keenan, Laura Kraut, Scott Brash, Ben Maher, Harry Charles, Cian O’Connor, Sophie Hinners, Nina Mallevaey… The list of riders present at the launch already looks like a CSI5* start list.

Laura Kraut puts it bluntly:
« The gap between sporting performance and financial recognition has become untenable. «

World number one Scott Brash goes further:
» The PJL could finally allow riders to balance performance, income, and well-being—for themselves and their horses. «

The horse at the heart of it all

An unavoidable topic. Lisa Lazarus insists:
there is no greatness without equine welfare.

The PJL promises strict standards on transport, rest, veterinary monitoring, and decision-making.

A key argument, as the discipline remains under media scrutiny.

The FEI as a silent referee

One issue remains unresolved: approval of the format.

At this stage, the proposed rules are under review by the FEI jumping committee. PJL leaders are hoping for a compromise by spring, or at the latest, autumn.

Without institutional approval, a smooth launch will be hard to imagine.

Toward a war of circuits?

No point pretending otherwise.

With its resources, its lineup, and its storytelling, the PJL is entering into direct competition with the Global Champions Tour and Major League Show Jumping.

Even if organizers talk about complementarity, the market has its limits.

Too many circuits?
Or finally, real competition?

The PJL is not just another league. It’s a statement of intent—a bid to reshape show jumping around a modern, profitable, media-driven model.

The gamble is huge. So are the resources. The only question is whether, in 2027, the sport will follow… or resist this promised revolution.

More information on the PJL here