[NDR] FYI - Mexico x Bulgaria 11/16

[anderson]

Mexico will apparently play a friendly against Bulgaria in Houston on Nov. 16.

La selección mexicana enfrentaría a Uruguay, Bulgaria y Hungría (http://www.esmas.com/deportes/futbol/467717.html)

[yanks02]

Huh that's kind of cool. Bulgaria's an interesting choice though.

[anderson]

Here's the Chron's report:

Reliant set to host Mexico-Bulgaria (http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/soc/3346097)

[CeltTexan]

Ya know SUM and the Texans could find a cold audience for el Tri in the near future with all this political LaVolpe/Sanchez smack and post qualifying afterglow. It is a wierd time for a "friendly" versus a European opponent. It ain't like Bulgaria is going to have people flocking to the ticket booth!

Maybe a El Salvador-Mexico unfriendly "friendly" is what Lone Star Sports should plan since money generated and the overhead from Reliant is all they care about.

I could care less about this match. Five years ago a match like this would have been such a huge match for soccer starved Houston men like me.....now it sucks cuz if events don't draw well, the anti-beautiful game folks around here have more ammunition about downing Houston's soccer market power. El Tri should pull a large crowd. But as I mentioned above, a meaningless friendly after rumbo World Cup qualifying fever is satisfied for the Panchos this past Wednesday, and with Reliants inflated soccer prices and $10 parking/$6 beers, many fans could just sit this one out.
SUM and Rootes should be wiser to wait till after the World Cup Draw in December to line up an El Tri friendly at Reliant. See who are in the U.S. and Mexico groups and plan similar nations for playing that type of style. Bulgaria is out of WC qualifying. They could be a wise choice if el Tri is grouped with....say...Ukraine, Poland or Serbia/Mont. Since we have yet to see the Draw their group could be Japan, Nigeria and Holland. Jeez who is the marketing head for SUM that thinks up bringning in an eliminated side before the December Draw??? Its dudes like this that are in charge of marketing our National Team...fumbducks!!!

[CbR]

doesnt every stadium have 10 dollar parking and 6 dollar beer? that game will draw 30 thousand atleast

[CeltTexan]

doesnt every stadium have 10 dollar parking and 6 dollar beer? that game will draw 30 thousand atleast

Do you think that SUM is bringing el Tri to Houston to pull 30K???

Last time in Houston el Tri versus Los Cafeteros there was 65K! That match was for a Cup competition. This one off with a Bulgaria side that will be taking in the World Cup from their sofas will cost the el Tri fans the same cash to attend. What about that doesn't make business sense to you?

Mexico will have their die hards there but if SUM (who are the brains behind marketing MLS, the USSF and Mexico in our nation) had someone that was wiser in picking opponents than more money could be made from this friendly in my city. What has been noted by Glenn Davis and others is overkill on soccer here in Houston. We are still fighting negative press and the soccer haters on the issue of support for the beautiful game here in Houston. Everyone knows Mexico is very well supported. The bar has been set so high in them participating that a sparse crowd gives a sour impression to the true diversity of the soccer hungry crowd in Houston. The fact that SUM doesn't know this is alarming. The fact that the Texans are o.k. with Bulgaria coming to town is equally alarming. I can guarantee that if El Salvador was brought in instead of Bulgaria to face a World Cup bound el Tri the "friendly" takes on a whole different look. If SUM really wants to turn a profit and the Texans in Lone Star Sports wants a full house....someone has to be more street smart on creating a one off friendly that has bite! It really is a win-win scenario. Knowing the heated cultural battle that exists on the parks between Guanacos and Panchos in Houston will let Lone Star and SUM get its sold out Reliant for a November friendly between a World Cup bound and World Cup sofa team.

On a side note on SUM

SUM IMHO is horrific at marketing soccer in this country. They are content to make the quick buck on a guaranted ticket in el Trit. Then SUM does very little to draw out to our patriotic and sports mad culture here in the U.S. on the importance of supporting our National Football Team. O sea, SUM has no concept of capitalizing on the Dallas Cowboys false title as "America's Football Team". It is obvious that in U.S. sporting culture our people have always desired a National Football Team. Yet how can sports fans from Philadelphia, San Franciso, Washington , Pittsburgh or Houston stomach a rival city's franchise as the default team for an "America's Team".
Since not even the Candians play our version of football we (not the BigSoccer crowd) lack the concept of a true National Football Team that competes against other nations that can field very talented and competative National Football Teams. SUM is so clueless as to this golden opportunity in a U.S. culture that has always wanted that type of icon but never aware of the one right under its collective nose! It can be understood in the 60's, 70's and 80's as to why it was hard for a SUM like marketing company to pitch our Men's National Team to success hungry U.S. sports fans. My dad's generation couldn't kick a ball and run to save their lives. That changed in the 90's and now our boys are going to Germany '06 with high expectations after what they did in Japorea '02.

This article

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/writers/frank_deford/09/06/team.usa/index.html

by a so called "U.S. sports expert" speaks to exactly SUM's complete failure of promoting International association football via the World Cup qualifying process and the importance and pride that a nation can find in its one ture Natioanl Football Team that speaks to all city's, states, cultures and languages. Even our award winning "sports experts" piss on the Mexico-U.S.A. encounter as not having the ability to speak to the masses. SUM sucks at taking head on the misconceived notions soccer has in our land and turning the corner with the connection. Then us soccer die hards have to listen to The Bruce go nuts over his frustration on why his team and MLS aren't more supported by the massive number of sports fans in this nation.

I'll sum up (ouch..sorry) on SUM in that the inablity to sell a team in Red, White and Blue that has a very diverse and colorful soul to its play and being on the patriotic sports fans in our nation is a clusterfuc{ of Titanic proportions! Bringing Bulgaria over to Houston is a solid example of the lack of street insight to what would make certain city's fans purchase a $40 ticket, $10 parking and beers many times over. Nigeria would have been solid opponent. Iran would have been solid side with supporters in Houston. Honduras could have been brought in for a song

[Blu N Houston]

I would go if... an EPL vs Mexico 1st div team were the second game on the bill.

[anderson]

Well, all parties involved certainly want to make money, but Mexico is also concerned with starting to prepare for Germany. They've scheduled two teams from Europe (Bulgaria and Hungary) and one from South America (Uruguay) for their three last friendlies of 2005. Mexico apparently wants to play teams with different styles than the usual suspects from Concacaf. It's a reasonable approach. Both SUM and Lone Star Sports & Entertainment surely understand that they'd sell more tickets with El Salvador or Honduras than they will with Bulgaria.

[HDC neighbor]

I think that's good scheduling for Mexican NT....once they are qualified....

Compared with USMNT who are just planning and discussing whom to select and what line-up to use for the remainder of qualifying round.....this pre-plannig of Mexican NT is step ahead and praise-worthy....

[CeltTexan]

Well, all parties involved certainly want to make money, but Mexico is also concerned with starting to prepare for Germany.


There is the old saying.."getting two birds with one stone." How about going out of CONCACAF and scheduling to play teams that are actually GOING to the World Cup for trial and prep matches??? National Football Teams that have massive ethnic ties to Houston and more specifically Houston's footie mad soccer culture do exist outside of Houston. As a native from Sharpstown/Alief I can assure SUM, Budweiser or Lone Star Sports that Nigeria and Iran would pull their people from the woodwork! More moeny can be made since the Relaint encounter now fields two nations with Houston support and since both nations are Cup bound....more el Tri fans would feel obligated to fork over the cash once again becasue the matchup is worthy of getting fired up!

To quote Glenn Davis..."after pulling in over 105K for the Gold Cup..."Houston must be considered one of the top markets for soccer in the U.S."

My point is this.

This tour of el Tri is in celebration of qualifying for the Mundial. Budweiser is making a huge new marketing campaign with their continued support of the FMF. They are going as far as putting the FMF crest on Bud cans and selling them in the U.S. Its one thing to bring in the U.S.A.'s arch rival to Texas to turn a buck...capitalism rules no doubt But to bring el Tri to face Bulgaria...a freakin' nation that is not Cup bound is a real let down for one of the top soccer markets in the U.S.
Again, IMHO SUM, Budweiser and LS should have given the Houston market a friendly with bite! Bring in Mexico to take on a side with ethnic ties to Houston. Nations that need to have a trial and prep match in their own right. The 60K+ that we all saw in Colombia-Mexico will be a challenge to match. Not only in attendance but in spirit and atmosphere. What a night for soccer in Houston if Nigeria and Mexico were to lock horns! Heck if I had anything to do with it...what a night to honor Hakeem Olajuwon before kickoff. He's always been a life long supporter of the beautiful game and is the key to Clutch City having anything to brag about in pro sports fame. I would get the Mayor on board...what politician doesn't want to be seen in a photo op like that.

Is it just me or does Houston deserve better. Hasn't our city gone above and beyond supporting the beautiful game. In a city with unmatched youth talent, only club or JC college programs and no MLS or USL side to lead the way....Houston bleeds passion and support for whomever the folks support!!! Just not Bulgaria. :)

[anderson]

I agree that scheduling Iran or Nigeria would've been more interesting. I was at the Rose Bowl in 2000 for the US x Iran friendly. It was an incredible atmosphere - and a helluva cultural experience. :D

Unfortunately, the current international political climate probably makes it very difficult for an Iranian delegation to play in the US. My understanding is that it's much harder these days for Iranian athletes in any sport to get US visas.

Nigeria would also be interesting, but recall the last experience we had with Nigeria in Houston. They were scheduled to play Ecuador at Robertson in 2003, but cancelled at the last minute. The promoters were left scurrying to try to arrange for a Salvadoran club to replace Nigeria against Ecuador, but ultimately called the whole thing off the night of the game. IIRC, the Nigerian federation pulled a similar stunt for a friendly in Europe around the same time. Scheduling anything with the Nigerian federation has apparently long been an adventure in and of itself.

All that being said, the basic point that Mexico should've scheduled a more interesting, and perhaps more challenging, opponent has some merit. But these three friendlies aren't the usual Mexican friendlies. Mexico is usually happy to play anyone who helps sell tickets in their US friendlies, but these games are part of Mexico's program in preparation for the World Cup. If they were most concerned with selling as many tickets as possible, they wouldn't have scheduled Hungary and Bulgaria in Phoenix and Houston.

Also, keep in mind that this game is scheduled for a Wednesday night in November. Most big European federations won't schedule a midweek friendly that requires their players to fly across the Atlantic and back in between weekend club commitments. Even Hungary and Bulgaria probably won't bring any of their players based in the top leagues. They'll probably bring young, mostly domestically-based players.

Nonetheless, if Bulgaria plays a tactically sound game, they'll give Mexico a good run. Recall that South Africa surprisingly played some of the most entertaining soccer in the Gold Cup with a young, mostly domestically-based team.

[CeltTexan]

I agree that scheduling Iran or Nigeria would've been more interesting. I was at the Rose Bowl in 2000 for the US x Iran friendly. It was an incredible atmosphere - and a helluva cultural experience. :D

Nonetheless, if Bulgaria plays a tactically sound game, they'll give Mexico a good run. Recall that South Africa surprisingly played some of the most entertaining soccer in the Gold Cup with a young, mostly domestically-based team.


I remember that Iran-IronEagles match also...what an atmosphere is right Anderson. Armas actually found the back of the net to salvage a draw.

I used to play ball on Sundays with a lot of dudes from the eastern block. Most of them were Bulgarians. They were cool and even called me after our boys beat Mexico in the World Cup. After partying all morning I came home to a recording of Ivan...about as die hard Bulgarian football made as it gets...and he spoke of how enjoyable the match was and how him and the others knew I was a such a die hard U.S. fan. Ya know Bulgaria, with nothing to really play for outside of its own pride could bring in some young guns under Hristo and stick it to a mix and match LaVolpe squad. I should look those guys up, see if they are buying tickets and form a Bulgaria supporters section. It would be hard to see us as both nations have identical colors. The ever opportunist in me might go just to see LaVolpe and el Tri stumble in Houston...again! ;)

[CCTX SoccerFreak]

That should be a good one! I'll be in SA that weekend for coaching license though -- that sucks!

[anderson]

FYI:

Pre-sale of tickets for the Nov. 16 friendly between Mexico and Bulgaria at Reliant Stadium continues through Friday. Tickets to the general public go on sale Saturday. For information call 866-go-Texans

On Soccer, Houston Chronicle, 09/29 (http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/soc/3374448)

[Blu N Houston]

Love the Avatar Anderson. lol :D

[anderson]

Love the Avatar Anderson. lol :DIt's a perfect scowl for a mugshot. :D

[fnsandpwr]

doesnt every stadium have 10 dollar parking and 6 dollar beer? that game will draw 30 thousand atleast
I'm going...

[anderson]

Bernardo Fallas has an update in today's Chron:

Bulgaria sets roster for match at Reliant (http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/soc/3432454)

Lone Star Sports and Entertainment, which is organizing the match, Tuesday announced Bulgaria's roster, which includes veteran midfielder Stilian Petrov (Celtic, Scotland) and strikers Dimitar Berbatov (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany) and Martin Petrov (Atlético Madrid, Spain).

"These teams that will be coming will be the 'A' teams," Lone Star head Jamey Rootes said. "It's going to be phenomenal to have players of this caliber on the Bulgarian team."

...

[R]ootes is confident Mexico's top stars will be at Reliant.

[bford]

ok, what day is the 16th... is that a weekend???

I think I will go...

later

bford

[fnsandpwr]

Wednesday..