Perhaps it has been discussed for quite sometime on BS, but i was reading today on Wikipedia about RSL and Real Madrid's relations. Seems like a good one, but for 2008 we got big timed on our friendly match and it doesnt seem like all the other things are falling into place. Do we know the situation between these two clubs? "As of September of the 2006 season, Real Salt Lake and Real Madrid have signed a 10-year co-operative agreement. Among the provisions of the deal are a biennial friendly match between the two teams to take place in Salt Lake City, annual February training for RSL at the Real Madrid practice facility in Spain..." We didnt train in Spain this year did we? Maybe im out of the loop when it comes to this topic... someone please fill those of us who dont know in!
The source of the Real Madrid relationship was a close relationship between Dave Checketts and Real Madrid's former president, Ramon Caulderon. Caulderon was ousted in January and RSL was waiting for a successor to be named before attempting to resume the relationship. Source: Keepin it Real
If Madrid get a new Owner that doesnt like the deal are they able to shut down the relationship? Any reason why we didnt train in Spain this year?
My guess is that RSL didn't go to Spain to train for the Calderon reason listed above, plus the cost. The RM/RSL friendly that didn't happen can at least be partially blamed on economics too.
Well they are coming to RFK, not RTS, to play DC United this summer. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/so...ish_clubs_in_america.html?wprss=soccerinsider
This is reflective of the two factors mentioned earlier. 1) The new RM management is not as committed to a RM/RSL partnership. 2) RM will fill up RFK staium for DCU. This means that DCU can pay RM's appearance fee. RSL, at RTS would have a very difficult time coming up with the money to do that. Why do you think they are having a very difficult time finding a name opponent for the MLS All-Star Game? One of the few negative by-products of moving from Rice-Eccles is that RSL no longer has the luxury of being able to sell 45,000 seats to raise the revenue to bring in big name teams. If they are going to bring in soccer's bright lights they will have to do it at Rice-Eccles or Lavell Edwards Stadiums. Those are also our only hopes if Utah is to eventually land a World Cup game.
Playing Real Madrid, All-Star game and World Cup venues are 3 completely seperate issues. You can't just broad stroke label them all. 1. RTS will never be a World Cup venue, in fact Its BYU or nothing at this point. 2. ASG issues involve talking to the wrong teams. Does it seem that every team RSL negotiates with is on the brink of bankruptcy or something? If Celtic was okay going to Denver, then Villareal has no problems with Sandy. 3. RM...I think the problem is that new leadership just doesn't care about RSL or the agreement. They care about some easy $, DC is easy money.
Well the reason i brought this thread up is exactly what everyone is saying here. Its making me sick... Im positive that Bro. Checketts has it under control though. He wouldnt let something like this pass by the way side. I didnt know that RM was going to RFK for DCU and not to play RSL. No matter where they go in Utah, it will definetely sell out... if theyre worried about the money then just jack up the prices of tickets... but i know they wouldnt do that, or would they?
What were the tickets to the madrid game 3 years ago? Weren't they about $40? Cutting the seats more than half will double the cost, yet maybe they could get by because they aren't renting the building and are collecting concession $$$. I'm guessing the price would still be prohibitively high for most.
I thought RSL had ruled exhibition games at BYU when they found that a portion of the stadium would actually have to be modified to accommodate a soccer field, and the existing field has too much of a "crown?" Wouldn't the World Cup folks just move on to a venue in another state and avoid the hassle?
It was a "double burn" for season ticket holders. Of the 20 tickets we got, four were for "bonus games." The RM game used two of those (it practice they collected one and the other was voided). So it was twice the cost of a regular game.
True, but for the RM game there were no free lots. IIRC that revenue was to offset the cost of the turf. I do not believe that will be an option in Sandy.
Possible, I don't remember. I thought the Madrid was played at RES because it was RSL's home field or something. USSF is the one that put BYU not RES on the list, not me.
The Real Madrid game was a big money loser for RSL. Their appearance fee alone was well over $1M. Don't expect to see these kind of matches in the future. While I think RSL does want an ongoing relationship with Real Madrid, I don't think a visit by RM every other year is in the cards. I know that Bill Manning is not a fan of the "international friendlies", but would rather see us playing in meaningful international competition.
That's unfortunate. Since MLS came to Salt Lake, there have been 3 memories that stand out: 1) USMNT v. Costa Rica, 2) the visit by Real Madrid, and 3) the Western Conference final last year. The assumption that we would get to see some of socer's bright lights come to town is one of the things that kept me going during RSL's first 4 seasons. I hope that the club doesn't pull that particular rug from underneath our feet.
While the money cost was high, the PR gain was actually a very large boost. Without the RM match, I don't think that Rio Tinto gets built. One of the big selling points was how much RSL brought into the community when they played RM and also for the US-Costa Rica match. Now that the stadium is a done deal, I see a lot fewer of these matches. They can make a lot more money on a concert.
Really? And what ones would those be. Give me a big name friendly any day over the lame and weak compatitions, unless it is the Copa Libertador I could care less about it. Don't get me wrong if RSL is playing I am there but come on "MEANINGFUL INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION" what a joke.
Meaningful: meaning with something on the line. Not whether or not you are interested. Outside of the RM friendly how many of the friendlies have we played that you think most fans have really cared about? Boca and Everton maybe. China? Saprissa? Fiji? Harbour View?
I would also prefer "meaningful international compotition", but last time i checked we arent in any tournaments with "international comp". So bring on the friendlys.
That is what I mean. And even if we were in the CONCACAF Champions or one of those overhyped competitions that no one cares about (except us die hard fans). As stated the only competition worthwhile on this hemisphere is the Libertador and MLS doesn't compete in that. RM, Boca, Everton all great friendlies that will draw more than any CCL or Superliga game (unless it is a mexican team and then you will fill the stadium with opposing fans). Like I said I will watch anyone we play but give me a break, what competition will draw bigger than a River Plate or Fulham, or even for that matter a Nottingham Forrest?
From Goff: DCU-Real Madrid Update The Insider has learned that negotiations concerning a D.C. United friendly against superpower Real Madrid on Aug. 8 are progressing nicely, but instead of RFK Stadium, the likely venue would be FedEx Field to maximize attendance. Real is also planning to play a second game while in the States, a few days later against an MLS opponent. http://blog.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/ Can we dream that the second game involves RSL? We play at home on the 8th against the Sounders, and home on the 15th against the Dynamo. Any room in there for Real Madrid?
We can dream all we want. But the opponent would more likely be someone like Chicago @ Soldier Field or Dallas at the new Cowboys Stadium (Is that place natural or artificial grass?). Lets just cross our fingers that its not against the CRapids @ Invesco.