Barcelona v. AC Milan @ FedEx The Washington Times reports that this game will probably be played Wednesday, July 30. Game time has not been set. Ticket info has not been released. Is there a chance DCU will move a game to make it a double-header? (Sorry if this was already reported, but I didn't see it here.)
Re: Barcelona v. AC Milan @ FedEx They had better not. I'm so p***ed with this bloody tour ... not one game against MLS opposition. They're not getting a penny of my money.
Re: Re: Barcelona v. AC Milan @ FedEx I think a game like this hurts MLS in the short-run, but helps in the long run since it raises the interest level in soccer. It would help in the short and long run if they did it as a double header or against MLS competition, but we probably won't be that lucky. Maybe they can tack on a US Open Cup game or something.
Re: Barcelona v. AC Milan @ FedEx I doubt it. My understanding is that Charlie Stillatano, ex GM of the Scum, is the promotor of this as well as the ManU games. He appears to be out to give MLS a hard time, not to cooperate and promote the game.
Re: Re: Barcelona v. AC Milan @ FedEx Given that he was made out to be the scapegoat for their problems (albeit quite rightfully), can you blame him?
Re: Re: Barcelona v. AC Milan @ FedEx I couldn't find a link. It was a blurb in the roundup on the second page of the sports section. "Two of the most prominent soccer clubs in the world, Barcelona of Spain and AC Milan of Italy, will meet at FedEx Field on Wednesday, July 30, as part of the ChampionsWorld Series 2003." "According to a ChampionsWorld spokesman, game time and ticket information for the match have yet to be confirmed." Then there are 4 more paragraphs that describe the teams and the ChampionsWorld tournament.
Re: Re: Re: Barcelona v. AC Milan @ FedEx Bradley's column this week discusses this issue. I dunno, as I've said in other fora, I'm torn. Not directly analogous, but did the WC have a "rising tide lifts all boats" type of effect on MLS?Perhaps, but pretty difficult to say. Will this tour have an effect? It might've been possible to make this case if they'd involved MLS somehow. But a free-standing, barnstorming tour without a connection to MLS? I just don't understand how folks are making this linkage... People that can see quality soccer are already watching on FSW. The "casual" fan isn't going to go to these games and then say... Man, I just gotta go buy season tickets to MLS. Why would they? There won't be any cross-marketing at these games. I just don't get this line of thinking. (and neil, I'm not trying to be "up in yo' grill" about this, it's more of a question than anything else.)
Re: Re: Barcelona v. AC Milan @ FedEx Here's a glaring exception (if this game is promoted by the same group): Barcelona vs. Juventus is in a doubleheader with DC United vs. New England at Foxboro. Of course, if Barcelona vs. AC Milan is being done at FedEx, that pretty much says it's going to have nothing to do with us.
Isn't Blackburn rumored to be coming to play United toward the end of July? If the Stillatano-wants-to-screw-MLS assumption is true (and why not), what better way than to schedule this on a date likely to conflict with United's plans.
Well, this is both a good and bad idea: The good - I don't think any event that raises the profile of soccer in the DC area hurts DCU or MLS in the long run, and a game like this gives us a chance to see a couple of storied teams without pouring more money into ManU's coffers. The bad - no DCU/MLS involvement, and I don't think Champions World gives a rat's hindquarters about MLS. The ugly - FedEx?! WTF?! Didn't they ruin FedEx as a soccer venue a few years ago when they added some seats and permanantly narrowed the playing surface? Plus, that place seats 86,000, and I don't care who the teams are, drawing 86,000 on a Wednesday night to a venue with no public transportation and notorious traffic problems is going to next to impossible...and if it does happen, the traffic nightmare might make people wish it hadn't.
The 30th game has been moved to the DH on Sunday, the 27th. DC @ NE at 4:00, Barcelona vs. Juventus at 6:30. As per the Revs site: http://www.nerevolution.com/game_info/2002_game_schedule.asp MLSnet has it too: http://www.mlsnet.com/schedules/ As does DCU: http://www.dcunited.com/index.cfm?section=games&cont_id=mst&league=mls&mst_action=schedule
Re: Re: Re: Re: Barcelona v. AC Milan @ FedEx I guess the line of thinking is: It's a lot of fun to go to a professional soccer game, we should go more often. I think a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see some clubs may get people to start attending soccer matches.
Anyone who thinks they will get 86k for a wednesday night match is crazy. If you noticed during the CL, even Juventus had a difficult time selling out their home. They are reducing capacity over the next few years. The idea of 86k for a friendly that will be played on a weeknight is not really feasible. Put the game as a double-header with the DC United. It won't happen, but it would be better.
If FedEx does a good job hosting a big soccer match, it may give DCU a little leverage in dealing with RFK.
In August of 93, AC Milan and Torino opened their Serie A seasons at RFK. I don't recall the attendance, but the stadium was more than half full. There were buses of AC Milan fans from Chicago, Toronto, St. Louis and a number of other places. Not anywhere near 86K though.
Re: Re: Re: Re: Barcelona v. AC Milan @ FedEx Excellent summary. There is nothing to these tours but an attempt to grab EuroSnob dollars. After this game EuroSnobs will go back home, tune on FSW, and dream of visiting Europe so they can watch "their" teams again. DC United attendance won't change one bit.
Barcelona v. AC Milan @ FedEx Most of the people I know that are going to these games are supporters of MLS and the USMNT, as well as being followers of European football. Just because someone respects the game being played at a higher level doesn't make them a snob. I was a supporter of Tottenham Hotspur long before I supported DC United and I hope I don't need to tell you why. Does this make me a snob because I still follow EPL and root for Spurs? Does it make me a snob because I am driving 8-10 hours to see Spurs and ManUre? There is a lot more to these tours than "grabbing EuroSnob dollars". It is about exposure of the sport and grabbing SOCCERsnob dollars. And after this game, I WILL be returning home to tune in FSW and watch "my" team because FSW is showing MLS matches, in case you didn't know. And one other point you seem to miss entirely is that there will be no European football to go home and turn on after the game, at least not for a few weeks, as they will be in the midst of their off-season. You did seem to get one thing right, DC attendance won't change as a result of these games.
Re: Barcelona v. AC Milan @ FedEx Ditto, I'm not a fan of the EPL or La Liga or other euro leagues, but I do follow them and watch any good matchup FSW might be showing at any given time. Having said that, I'll probably go to this game because it proves to be some good futbol being played in my backyard.