What US city would love to have 180,000 Orange fans like the gathering in Basel? It has to be a city that allows to drink beer in public and a city that is famous for it's beer!!!
No. A 3.1 in the final and you think that's going to get them to consider shifting the tournament here? How big do you think the ratings were in Europe? Growing presence on our TV landscape? How big do you think the presence is on their TV landscape? This is, without a doubt, the single dumbest thing I've ever seen proposed here. And I've seen a lot.
Well, every city that wants to be considered has to ship me a crate or two of their finest beers so I can make a fully informed judgement
I'm sure shipping Milwaukee's "Beast" to another country violates some sort international treaties. If it doesn't, it most certainly should. That shit is NASTY!
This is a great idea for cultural exchange! 1) We in the US host the Copa America (Brazil v Argentina) and the Euros (Holland v. Italy), and 2) You in Europe and SA host our crappy NA tournament (Cuba v Panama) and the Asia Cup. I like it.
I watched it and in some ways, it seems the USA would have fit in well competing in that tournament but of course, that could not be readily so ...
I don't blame some people for laughing off this Thread, but it brings up a good issue. Just as "globalization" is getting out of control in other areas it's going to in sport as well. I have already heard that there is serious talk about having an Italian cup final played here in the US. Can we (and by we I mean all nations) please keep some tradition and sense of who we all are. I don't want the World Series (or Opening Day for that matter) played in Japan, and I don't want any foreign championships played here. I'm a big fan of English & German soccer - and I'm all for occasional exhibition matches played here, etc. But inevitably, because nothing is more important than $, we're going to see things that seem ridiculous happen. I hope I'm wrong.
I didn't pay serious attention to it when it was said, so take it for what it is worth, they have talked about having the Superbowl in Europe.
Goodell did bring it up, but I wouldn't put a whole lot of stock in it, either. Offhand comment seized upon by some, I'd call it.
Most Europeans have dismissed out of hand bids to hold Euro in Turkey because it would necessitate playing in stadia in Asia (The Champions League/Cup Finals have/will be played in the European side of Istanbul). It is hard to imagine fans supporting Euro being played in the US. Not to mention that this Euro tournament would conflict with the US's potential World Cup bids. Please remember American sports fans have very short attention spans when it comes to soccer. Of course this could change, but the success of the previous World Cup drew largely on the large immigrant communities represented by the participants. Sure Germany, England and Italy have big followings in the U.S., but how many Americans actually trace their soccer routes to Romania or Croatia?
Sure, you can have the Euro's. We will have, the super bowl, that big nascar race, the nba final, that hockey game final, the u.s open tennis, the masters, Globalization and all. Actually, while we are at it, can we also have the whitehouse on a months long loan?
I think a lot of Yanks would gladly oblige you if you would take George and his Cheny gang along with it for the rest of his term (ending in november?).
how about the Frisian Skutsjesylen on Lake Michigan: www.picturesofholland.nl/skutsjes/frameset.htm - 2k
NBA final, well: obvious European powers are now right up there and even above at times in power as well as a good share of Europeans playing in the NBA. Maybe the NCAA tourney would be a more proper analogy. I mean it's a great thing, the way basketball has gone in so many countries in Europe.
This isn't quite up to Thomas Flannigan's "Let's host WC qualifiers at a baseball field above the Arctic Circle in Alaska", but it's damn close.