http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2006/Jul/28/sp/FP607280343.html If this is not deemed MLS related I guess it can be moved. But to me it was.... In 2005 in from of over 14,000 fans DC and LA came to the most isolated landmass in the world and played a game... or did battle... it was a rough game. But no more. One would begin to suspect that the MLS won't be returning to Hawaii as planned. With the descion to lock the Aloha Stadium into a football configuation. While soccer is still possible, the ASA has made it clear that despite the demand for the baseball and soccer configuration that it would be discontinued and that football would remain the sole tenant. So, with no other stadium of any reasonable capacity, I'de say at this point that any dream of a pre-season cup in Hawaii is no more. Which is to bad. It could have been a really cool event to have a couple MLS sides and a couple Asian sides come head to head. http://mls3k.blogspot.com/
Assuming that next season, they aren't Real Rochester or Real Seattle; Real Salt Lake probably could have potentially brought a few hundred fans to Hawaii. Some would want to combine a trip to the Polynesian Cultural Center with an RSL preseaon game and pretty much everybody here wants an excuse to get out of The Inversion Layer in Feb. or March.
Interesting article. I never thought about it, but the World Baseball Classic seems like it would have been an ideal fit for Hawaii. I didn't realize 14K showed up for an exhibition MLS match at Aloha Stadium last year, that's pretty impressive. I can see why they'd want to lock the stands though. I always thought that movable-stands business was a little weird. I remember going to Aloha Stadium a few times back in the 70's when I was a kid. It's a neat stadium.
Ya, I always thought any reasonable attempt to market a preseason game in Hawaii could do well. I mean take a vacation and see your favorite side play in paradise? When USC came for football last year they did an amazing job of selling vacation packages and events for fans. and of course the Probowl does as well. Hawaii is an unfortunate place for a pro sports team. But would is pretty amazing for pre or post season cups, tours, or games.
That's too bad, but it sounds like they could still do it. But the added expense might be too much. Maybe if they brought in a big team from Eruope or maybe from Japen it would justify the expense.
I've seen their stadium. It only seats 35000 but its pretty nice, right by the highway and near the Honolulu airport.