I don't understand why MLS teams seem to head off to obscure places for spring training. Why, for example, are the Wizards in South Africa for training? Why not go to Europe or South America -- which are cheaper and easier to get to, and which have infinitely better and more plentiful competition to scrimmage with? There have been a number of these spring training trips that MLS teams have taken over the years that I just don't get. Any thoughts?
You are misinformed on many points lets take them one at a time. I don't understand why MLS teams seem to head off to obscure places for spring training. Why, for example, are the Wizards in South Africa for training? South Africa has a good league that is in season. . Another reason the Wizards are going on this South Africa tour is because it is being promoted, which means it cuts down costs on traveling, plus these are charity matches. Why not go to Europe or South America -- which are cheaper and easier to get to, and which have infinitely better and more plentiful competition to scrimmage with? Teams this year are going to Agentina, Spain, and Mexico among other places, hardly what you call obsecure. Last year the Wizards played in Agentina against a bunch of "C" team reserve squads so just because you go to a "soccer nation" doesn't mean you play against top quality opponents. The year before that they went to portugal. It may be just as cheap or more so to go to some place "crappy" right now the euro is above the dollar, teams should get the most bang for their buck, and they want get that in unfavorable exchange rates. There have been a number of these spring training trips that MLS teams have taken over the years that I just don't get. Any thoughts? These trips have been going on for a long time. One reason is that you get a better bonding expeirence when you go to a place that doesn't speak the same first language in a sense isolating the players to themselves. Probably the best reason though is so that the teams can find quality opponents to train aganst, tell me which is better the reserves for River Plate or the Rochester Raging Rhinos? Another point that is overlooked is to experience different styles of play, this helps battle against inter-league incest when trying to develop a team. Ofcourse there are the obvious reasons like LA and San Jose playing in a tournament. Helps this answers some of your questions.
I would just add that I'd rather players go to warmer climes than to Europe for preseason training. While it might be a tad nippy for a few opening games (guaranteed in Chicago, given previous home openers), our teams are going to play a lot more matches in conditions similar to those of the southern hemisphere right now than to conditions in Europe (Anyone see the Bayern Munich/Hamburg match this past weekend?).