Fulham v. Blackburn at Meadowlands

Discussion in 'Yanks Abroad' started by ossieend, Feb 8, 2008.

  1. ossieend

    ossieend New Member

    Apr 3, 2005
    derby u.k.
    Most of you have probably heard that the EPL is discussing the possibility of each team playing a game in a foreign country from 2011 each season. These wouldn't be friendlies, but normal regular season games just like the Dolphins played the Giants at Wembley this season.

    Now, if Fulham were to play Blackburn at Giants Stadium this season with all the Americans, Ryan Nelsen and possibly Simon Elliot on the teams. What sort of crowd do BS posters think would attend the game? I think I read somewhere that capacity is around the 80 000 mark.
     
  2. Clint Eastwood

    Clint Eastwood Member+

    Dec 23, 2003
    Somerville, MA
    Club:
    FC Dallas
    Lalas opened his big mouth and said this gem, and if its Blackburn v Fulham he might be right:

    "They can come over and play these games and people can come and check it out, but I think they are going to leave the stadium more often than not thinking: 'You know what? I can get much better value and more excitement by going to see my Galaxy play.' We do not have a monopoly on crap soccer - it's played all over the world."
    Los Angeles Galaxy general manager Alexi Lalas

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/7232856.stm

    Keep in mind these friendlies are being considered for January. In other words only warm cities will be considered. The one mentioned on SkySports last night was Miami.

    If I remember the story from last night there were 5 host cities mentioned, the rest being in Asia and Australia. This isn't really about the US market, it's about Asia.
     
  3. Friedel'sAccent

    Friedel'sAccent Member+

    Jul 7, 2006
    Providence, RI
    Club:
    Reading FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    He might be right, and that was actually pretty funny.

    But why on earth is he still the go-to guy when the BBC need an American opinion on something soccer-related?
     
  4. Dynamo Kev

    Dynamo Kev Member

    Oct 24, 2000
    Because the English press like out-spoken jackasses..

    If it's only one game/team, I can't see it working.. If Man Utd get to play Derby while Arsenal have to play Spurs, then it's an easy 3 points, which could make a difference at the end of year. And that goes both ways for relegation teams.. here's my solution:

    Using the previous years final standings, rank the teams 1-5 (Pot A), 6-10 (Pot B), etc..
    Send a team from each Pot to play round-robin (3 matches each) over a week or 10 day period in different countries..

    So each country is assured of getting a top 5 team, plus trips to LA or Far East won't just be for 1 match..

    I see SAF is complaining about this, typical.. He didn't have a problem making a 6,000 mile round trip to Dubai mid-week before the Tottenham FA Cup match.. Fergie, Fergie, shut your mouth..
     
  5. cleansheetbsc

    cleansheetbsc Member+

    Mar 17, 2004
    Club:
    --other--
    For the same reason Rev. Al Sharpton is the spokesman for "African-Americans."
     
  6. sidefootsitter

    sidefootsitter Member+

    Oct 14, 2004
    They're thinking one game abroad per team per season.

    I doubt they'll put two top squads against each other 'cos they want the big gate to stay local.

    New York, DC, Philly, Boston need a domed stadium to have a winter game but may handle an early fall game, if that was to be scheduled.

    Dallas, whenever the new Cowboys place is finished, can host a winter game.

    However, as Phil Neville intimated, the game might be sandwiched between long off-weeks for each squad. In that case, the game can take place anywhere within the US under a dome or in the South.

    Then the teams could spend a week in Miami or Cabo.
     
  7. dark knight

    dark knight Super Moderator
    Staff Member

    Dec 15, 1999
    Club:
    Leicester City FC
    Simon Elliot and Ryan Nelson could probably draw 40,000 each. :)

    I think a lot of UK fans would use it as an excuse for an NYC vacation, but those two teams wouldn't be a big draw in NY.
     
  8. DoctorD

    DoctorD Member+

    Sep 29, 2002
    MidAtlantic
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    ticket prices?

    Friedel didn't draw too much when Blackburn played DCU in 04. Granted it was a friendly, but he ain't that much of a star.
     
  9. JuanPeron

    JuanPeron Member

    Jul 16, 2005
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    St. Vincent and the Grenadines
    Terrible idea. I doubt they get 20k.
     
  10. sidefootsitter

    sidefootsitter Member+

    Oct 14, 2004
    If Fulham played someone like Newcastle in a major metro area, not only would they draw well, they'd draw more than they would at Craven Cottage.

    Plus, the main point of these matches is the promotion of the league.
     
  11. GoHawks4

    GoHawks4 Member

    Apr 24, 2002
    Chicago
    Club:
    Liverpool FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Who are the four retards that answered 70k-80k?
     
  12. cleansheetbsc

    cleansheetbsc Member+

    Mar 17, 2004
    Club:
    --other--
    For every Mets versus Yankees, there is a Pirates versus Royals waiting to happen.
     
  13. Shaydee

    Shaydee Member

    Apr 8, 2002
    New Jersey
    Club:
    New York Red Bulls
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    i'd say if they promoted it right they could get maybe 35,000.
     
  14. olephill2

    olephill2 Member+

    Oct 6, 2006
    Club:
    Watford FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I hate this idea with a passion. In terms of marketing, it's a teriffic idea because it promotes the league on a global scale and will lead to increased merchandise sales as well as a wider pool of global sponsorships and potential investors. But the bottom line is that the Premier League should not, and is not, simply about business and growing the brand. Because this is a sport, there needs to be an innate respect for tradition. I'm vehemently opposed to this idea, as a Premier League fan, because it disrupts the natural balance in club schedules and therefore invalidates the league table.

    This is yet another example of greedy executives making decisions that, while wise from a business standpoint, tarnish the integrity of the league.




    Actually a really interesting observation. See my thoughts in your rep explanation.
     
  15. cleazer

    cleazer Member+

    May 6, 2003
    Toledo, OH
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    The answer is Zero.
    No one would want to go see a game in New York in the middle of January. Try someplace further south, and much warmer.
     
  16. Scorpion26

    Scorpion26 Member

    May 1, 2007
    NY
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Canada
    :mad: Hell no I think its a ridiculous idea, and why force an extra game on the players. Look the BPL is already known throughout the world, and they don't need to push its game abroad. I don't want it during the season, but in there preseason fine its not that big of a deal. I just don't see it being a good factor for the players, and it should be scrapped. :mad:

    I think the only games that would be worth watching might be Reg battles, and maybe title races.
    I just don't see Man Utd playings its top guns unless needing to win the league against a team like Derby. That extra game in the season is just not needed in my views, and don't get me wrong hell yea I would watch the games if I have the chance too, but do they need that extra game really. BPL starts it, and then La Liga, Bundeliga, Ligue 1, and many others might do the same will all this be necessary for the players, and its league. I rather keep them out, and have MLS be MLS until it can achieve there height of glory, because that won't help MLS out too much in my views. Keep it with the Pre-Season touring, and let it be at that.
     
  17. ossieend

    ossieend New Member

    Apr 3, 2005
    derby u.k.
    Actually Scorpion, you raise some interesting points especially the one about other Euro leagues having games in the States. I know they're talking about January, but that isn't set in stone yet or for that matter, that it'll be a 39th game. Imagine Milan/Sampdoria, Liverpool/Fulham, St Etienne/PSG being planned for in say September about 50-100 miles from an MLS game at the same time. There'd be even more unhappy people. Eapecially if these other leagues did this and it became a semi regular thing.
     
  18. ossieend

    ossieend New Member

    Apr 3, 2005
    derby u.k.
    OK Imagine I said Reliant. Now, how many people?
     
  19. Shaydee

    Shaydee Member

    Apr 8, 2002
    New Jersey
    Club:
    New York Red Bulls
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    30k tops
     
  20. FineYoungCasual

    FineYoungCasual New Member

    Feb 9, 2008
    London, UK
    With the exchange rate the way it is right now it's an easy trip for UK fans to come over to NY and pack the house.
     
  21. Shaydee

    Shaydee Member

    Apr 8, 2002
    New Jersey
    Club:
    New York Red Bulls
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Fulham and Blackburn can't even pack their 20,000 odd seat stadiums in their own towns. No way they could pack Giants Stadium.
     
  22. sidefootsitter

    sidefootsitter Member+

    Oct 14, 2004
    The teams will have to be spread out - big one vs. small one.

    And, of course, if you play in Asia, all Asian players would have to be on the field.

    And, if you play in the US, all Americans would have to be on as well.

    And, if you play in Russia, you'll have to play Smertin.
     
  23. olephill2

    olephill2 Member+

    Oct 6, 2006
    Club:
    Watford FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Don't forget that if the match is played in Algeria, you'll have to play Hameur Bouazza!
     
  24. FineYoungCasual

    FineYoungCasual New Member

    Feb 9, 2008
    London, UK
    I think this game is going to be a little better promoted then a regular Satruday game at the Cottage, don't you? Dolphins don't sell any tickets in Miami but they sold out in London no problem. This would be a league promoted occasion and with the ease of travel between NY and London and the favorable exchange rate I'm sure both teams would bring enough travel fans to fill out whatever they needed to have a full house. There's absolutely no way in hell the EPL puts on a show like this and let's it fail... just not going to happen in the very lucrative US market. They'll give the tickets away if they have to (which I doubt they will have to). They'll leverage this to build relationships with every English business in NY, every sports business in NY... no way they only pull 20,000 fans like a typical afternoon in Fulham.

    Vegas was swarmed with Brits for the Ricky Hatton fight despite tickets being sold out months earlier because people made it the center piece of a vacation, same applies here. travel will be easy and the promotion of the event will bring in locals and business types too.
     

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