I am calling on all US Soccer fans, and those who support development of soccer in the United States, to boycott this summers ChampionsWorld series. This series has done nothing to promote MLS, A-League or any other level of soccer in the U.S. and has done everything to line the pockets of the promoters with US Soccer fan money. I was willing to give them a pass last year, as it was their first year of trying this. However, this year they have shown once again complete arrogance and condescension towards every individual who supports the development of soccer in the United States. How hard would it have been to have at least one game against a MLS Team or an all-star team? How hard would have it had been to schedule double-headers with MLS and A-League sides in the appropriate cities? Here in the Pacific Northwest they scheduled the Celtic-Chelsea game on the very same night that the Portland Timbers are playing at home against the Seattle Sounders. This scheduling has forced a number of dedicated supporters of both teams into a difficult decision. They could have done things differently but they just do not care and that speaks volumes. So please don't spend your hard earned dollars on these guys until they show a commitment to developing soccer in the United States and just collecting money from those who support soccer in the U.S.
1. We knew they didn't support US Soccer before. 2. If the game wasn't opposite the Saskwatch Derby, would you be complaining? 3. I agree it doesn't directly support MLS/A League soccer, but I think there is a trickle down effect. Get a couple of kids to those games, let them have a fun time with 60.000 people going nuts, they will get hooked on Soccer. In the long run, it will help US Soccer. 4. The reason most people started watching soccer was to watch good soccer. It's an exhibition, but it's good soccer (quality players anyway). For the most part, much better soccer than US fans are used to seeing without the aid of a TV. It puts pressure on US Soccer/MLS to raise it's game to meet the world standard. 5. I don't think many Euro teams would want to play against an MLS team. What if they lost? How many times has Bayern been back to play Metro? There isn't anything in it for them. You want to blame someone? Blame the 30k area soccer fans in each of these cities who show up for those games, but not for USA games or A League/MLS games. WTF are they doing the rest of the year? Being snobby a-holes, most likely. 6. They could have put it in a doubleheader with an MLS game, can't argue that. It would have been nice. Can't imagine them putting it together with an A league game, but, maybe it could have been done. 7. If Timbers/Sounders fans have to make a choice, they aren't Timbers/Sounders fans. I was at Roma-Real at GS 2 years ago, I was at ManU- Juve last year. If they were playing opposite a Metro game...I wouldn't go. It's that easy.
So if your boycott worked and these high profile games were played in front of tiny crowds, US soccer would somehow benefit? IMO just the opposite. I'm looking forward to the tour, I had a great time at the game I attended last year and I see no reason why ChampionsWorld should feel they have to "promote" American leagues with this tour. But I can understand why you're pissed off about the scheduling conflict.
Finnegan, whats the difference between the Houston Astros going to play in Mexico City a couple games and Man U (or any other team) going to the US and play a couple matches? Should the Japanese, Mexicans, Korean, Puerto Ricans boycott MLB because they go there and dont play games against local teams? The Celtics or Red Devils coming into the US and promoting thier product is no different that Coca Cola going into China... god how I love knee jerk reactions
My wife and I are going to do the same thing we did last year, even though this time there's a CWT match 40 miles away... pocket the money we'd spend on tickets and go to two MLS matches involving the Fire in DC or Columbus. Now, if it were Liverpool/Roma instead of Chelski/Roma in Pittsburgh, it would be a different story.
I went to last year's Man Utd - Celtic match and had a fantastic time. If I'm still in town this summer I'll certainly go to Chelsea - Celtic. I'd like to see them play an MLS side, but they certainly aren't morally obligated to do so, just like major US sports sides aren't under a moral obligation to play local sides when they go overseas. The very notion that Chelsea and Celtic should be condemned for not showing a committment to US soccer is absurd. Does the USSF or any MLS club show any committent to any foreign league or clubs? Does any US sports league? There would probably be less public interest if the played an MLS side anyway, so I can understand why they don't, even though I personally would be very interested in seeing at least one such match. In any case, the 2 dozen or so folks in the northwest who feel the need to express their righteous indignation by boycotting will not be missed.
Here we go again. Why don't the Timbers and Sounders change their date, if they're so worried about it. ChampionsWorld doesn't owe American soccer one blessed thing.
Not trying to be a smart ass, but does you know why MLS plays on the same night as CONCACAF qualifying? August 18 the Columbus Crew are playing at home, but there will most likely be a USMNT (if we beat Grenada)?
Good - I am glad that this has provoked some responses and I think some people made some valid points.... I absolutely understand and agree that the teams and ChampionsWorld are not obligated to do anything beyond make money. I also agree that the 67,00 wankers who will show up in Seattle but can't bother to show up at a Sounders, Timbers or Whitcaps game are also to blame. However, soccer in the U.S. is still a fairly fledgling enterprise and you think it would be in the interest of the ManUre's and Chelsea's of the world to help support it in anyway they could. On top of that it is just the right thing to do. Now some have made good points about playing a MLS side - what is in it for the Euro team? Not a lot to gain and alot of potential embarassment. But really - how hard would it have been to schedule some doubleheaders? I am sure for instance that the Timbers would have traded their home game if Seattle had an opportunity to have played a doubleheader following the Chelsea/Celtic game (I bet they would have asked for some renumeration). Some specific answers to some specific points: Didn't know that - what is their cut? In a strictly technical sense no they don't. But it is called RESPECT. When you go into another country, into another teams area you should at least check the bloody schedule and have some respect for those local teams and fans. Will it make a difference? Probably not with all the euro-wannabee snots who are gonna go but I feel compelled to say something. Good for you. If everyone thinking about going to one of these game did this instead we would have a major impact. Or at least everyone who went to one of these games also went and bought a ticket to their local side. Yes I would. Because I didn't go last year and I wasn't planning on going this year regardless of when it was. It just rubs more salt in the wound with this schedule. "Saskwatch Derby" I like that We actually are starting a three way "Casadia Cup" this year between Seattle, Portland and Vancouver more infohere No disagreement here. There is only one guy I'll excuse from Section 107 and that is a British guy who has been a Chelsea fan his entire life.
Why are they wankers? Maybe they just find one option entertaining but not the other. I took a friend to Man Utd - Celtic and to the Sounders game a few days before it. He had never been to a soccer game above the level of high school. Initially, he was more interested in the Sounders game because he figured it was a competitive match, whereas Man Utd - Celtic was an exhibition. In the end, he had an OK time at the Sounders game but an absolute blast at Man Utd - Celtic. So spare me the "Eurosnob" crap that gets spouted so often on these boards. Yes, there are a small number of people to whom the name applies, but for the most part, most people find the prospect of going to exhibitions between teams that play at or near the highest level of the sport more entertaining than seeing matches between teams that play at a much much lower level. That's typically going to be true regardless of the city, regardless of the country and regardless of the sport. Though many posters here insist otherwise, the vast majority of people who go to Champions World events aren't actively cultivating some kind of "Euro-soccer image." The sum total of such people in Seattle wouldn't fill one section at Seahawks stadium. People are simply making choices on how to spend their entertainment dollars. I just don't believe that the concepts of right and wrong really in any way apply to a tour of the US by European soccer teams.
I went to the Real Madrid-Roma two years ago and Manchester United-Juventus last year. I've seen it all. No need for me to go back to any more ChampionsWorld Tour games. I say boycott them as well.
This is absolutely true....I had forgotten all about Chinaglia bitching about having to paythe USSF about two million dollars for playing the tour in the USA last year....Not that anyone should feel sorry for him....
And if not playing an MLS team was seen by TPTB as actually adversely effecting US soccer, then USSF could make it a condition of permiting the Tour.....
I don't see any reason why the A-league in particular can't arrange a block of tickets for their fans. Or why they don't park out in the lot with a both that says "Your local Hometown Hero's" on it. 22 guys putting on a show in a parking lot, you can't buy publicity like that.
I'd rather spend my money on MLS, and watch the CW matches on the tube for free. That's what I did last season; that's what I'll do this time around. so, thank-you, Charlie, I'll pass on the ticket, kick back and watch for free.
I've no problem with them playing the matches here. Free Market and all that. Thing is, last year all they could offer was ManUre-America here. To be honest, I've no interest in forking out $50+ to see two teams I hate. This year it was made even easier for me. Mexican teams have been playing meaningless games here for a long time now. They've saturated the market and the fans don't pack the colliseum like they used to. I've a feeling that it won't take long to find that saturation point in other parts of the country.
A rising tide lifts all ships. Look, ANYTHING that can raise the profile of the game in general here in the US should be welcomed. It can only bring peoples attention to the sport. Look beyond the "us vs. them" attitude for a second and try to see the bigger implications..
This is a great point. I have some personal anecdotal evidence of this same effect. When I was 13, Mexico played a friendly in San Diego in preparation for the 94 World Cup. After seeing the passion of 50,000+ Mexican fans I became a soccer fan for life. Any place where soccer can make money, is great for the sport. Afterall, Moeny talks and bullstuff walks.
Yep, but according to FIFA rules USSF does have this within their jurisdiction. And no more interesting than whether USSF violates US antitrust laws by taking a cut from CW for letting them put on the games.....
You can hear an interview we gave on Friday with Chelsea Director Paul Smith on World Soccer Weekly this Monday at 8pm PT. We asked the question. The reason that the Euro teams are not playing MLS teams are numerous and on both sides. As we repoerted the other week, MLS invited Chelsea to play the all stars at RFK stadium for this years' event. Chelsea accepted, Champions World were ok with it but scheduling difficulties with the Celtic match have caused some issues. They're still working on it though as of Friday. Last years tour did not see any MLS opposition largely due to MLS' position that any game between ManU and an MLS team had to take place at the HDC. ManU were not interested due to the small gate receipt numbers on 27,000 versus the 45 or 60k they pulled in at the colliseum. Additionally, MLS was not really excited about having their teams play friendlies during the season (a position I find incredible as the Galaxy did just that witht he ridiculous Sun Moon World Peace Cup). Also, there was concern about filling large venues with an MLS opponent - probably not a bad thought given the poor turnout at USMNT games. They were particularly concerned at the difficulty that MLS has had in the past about selling out events like the All Star Games. The last piece of info is that many of the Euro teams didn't really want to play MLS teams when they had the opportunity to play big pre season matches against their European competition. Agree or disagree with the reasoning, those are the facts as I know it. I really wouldn't take it as a slight against US Soccer. From what I've heard bothe MLS/SUM and CWT have learned lessons from last year and are at least talking this year! WHo knows... maybe you'll see something down the line. As for the notion of double headers - While a nice thought, do you really think the MLS teams involved would give up the gate reciepts for one of their matches this season? I don't think so.
Anyone who wants to bemoan the Champions World Tour should ask themselves the following questions: "Where was I when Newcastle played DC United in 2000?" "And Blackburn last year?" "And Tottenham the year before?" "And Boca Juniors the year before?" They've got Forest scheduled this year. Get your tickets now! The fact is many teams, from England in particular, come to the US to train before the season opens. It's a pretty safe bet that these games, scheduled by the MLS clubs themselves, don't sell out. Why? Because they are poorly advertised. I get pissed when I find out after the fact that some 3rd division team is playing some college in South Carolina in a scrimmage. I'd gladly drive the 10 hours to see a match with a team I will probably never see. Becasue I enjoy the game, the atmosphere and just about everything there is to do attending just one match. MLS clubs and A-League clubs host their fair share of international competition. And I'm sure the attendance figures could be boosted if they had the ability to partner up with an organization that will spend, spend, spend to put the a$$e$ in the seats. Those of you who want to whine and complain that someone is making money by putting together a well advertised tour of top-level European clubs should ask yourselves, what have you done to assure that the ManU's, Liverpools and Che£$ki's of the world would want to play the best the US has to offer in a half-empty stadium? And quit running down those of us who choose to watch, attend, and enjoy these games. Thx, Jay! Milan-Barca '03 ManU-Barca '03 ManU-Celtic '04 Che£$ki-Milan '04 And as soon as I'm done typing here Che£$ki-Roma '04 And probably Liverpool-Milan '04
Metrostars played Milan and Bayern in years past at Giants Stadium as well and about 30,000 showed up for both games. Compare that to 60,000 for the Juve/Milan game and 80,000 for ManU/Juve and you see why the Euro clubs don't play MLS teams.