I may be the only person who doesn't want them to come over this year, mostly b/c it's a World Cup year and teams have bad track records when they come over to the States during those summers.
Bad in their performance or bad in terms of who comes with the team? I think that anyone who plays in the world cup does not need to join back with their club team until late July.
I wonder if they'll do a big Puma thing around this? The world cup will keep away our best players, but they could use it to unveil the kit or something...
True. They could drag Theo along too. Would he be playing by then? He's always one of Arsenal's favorites for publicity things like this. They'd both be good for all the press conference/pr work these things involve.
Very likely Theo and Gibbsy as well. And the Jenks, Sanogo, Zelalem, Zcsc, Arteta, Flamini, Gnabry,Tomas, etc.
I'd gladly buy some Arsenal merchandise if they got a store here. Also: Don't play at MetLife, too big (unless you get Barca in a friendly). Let 'em play at RBA: nice, intimate and they'll sellout the joint easy.
Emirates Cup is rumored to be the 2nd and 3rd of August. I would assume that if Arsenal comes it will be the week before that. My guess would be games on the 23rd and 27th at Red Bull Arena and RFK stadium.
It'll more likely be FedEx Field if they come here to DC, meaning a few miles into Maryland. I would sell someone's soul to see them at RFK, but as much as I love the place, it's not really up to hosting a big international match like that anymore. It's convenient for access, but it's literally crumbling, and I'm not sure Wenger would approve of the pitch; although it's not as bad as WHL or the Bridge, it 's not exactly up to the Arsenal's standard. Actually, now that I mention it, it's not as if the surface at FedEx is much better; just ask RGIII. Still, it has a greater seating capacity and has hosted international club matches before. It just sucks ass in every other way. You can't really take Metro, you can't walk there for 'Skins games and since Snyder owns the place, he'll probably impose the same rule, parking is awful and expensive, food and drink is awful and expensive, the atmosphere blows, getting out is a nightmare... All that being said, I at least want to able to say I saw the Arsenal play at RFK instead of just Sp*rs. No matter where they come, the Armoury will be there in full effect.
FedEx Field is hosting Inter v ManU on the 29th. Word is that Arsenal is looking at smaller venues to insure a sellout. Having major European soccer teams competing in those markets the same week virtually guarantees that they won't be playing in NFL stadiums.
I don't know what other options they have. Boston was strongly rumored, and it isn't hosting a "Champions Cup" event, but i just saw that Liverpool is playing Roma at Fenway on the 23rd, so Washington seems as likely a choice as any.
Well, as I said, I would love for them to come to RFK. Just please, please, PLEASE don't let them play DC United.
I checked the schedule, and DC United's only games in that period are on the 20th and 30th, while NYRB's games are on the 19th and 30th. What does that tell you?
Is Baltimore an option? If they are looking at smaller venues, could Philly's PPL Park be a possibility?
I don't know where they would play in Baltimore besides the Raven's stadium and Camden Yards. I looked at Philly's schedule and they don't have any games scheduled between the July 19th and August 1st, so i would say they are likely in the running as well. The issue with that is they would basically be competing with themselves in the market, as the two venues would be around two hours apart.