This summer, some of the biggest, most well-known soccer teams in the world (Man U, Celtic, Juventus, Barcelona) will be touring the U.S., playing exhibitions as part of their pre-season training and making some money in the process. I'm one of those people who is bothered a little by the fact that Man U is not playing any American teams on its tour. I also wonder if the U.S. could be a regular summer destination for the big Euro clubs to conduct pre-season training, like the Norwegian and Russian clubs that go to Spain every February. At around the same time, MLS will hold its annual All-Star game, which I think is pretty much a waste, except that it gives the MLS players a break in the middle of the season. I don't think the ASG attracts new fans to the league, and I think most people who are already supporters of MLS could live without it. It's a meaningless exhibition. I wonder if, instead of the ASG as we now know it, MLS could arrange an annual exhibition between an MLS all star team and a big Euro club. Such a game would be a big draw (MLS Best XI v. Man U). Tickets would be sold, MLS would get more exposure than it does with the ASG now, the Euro team would get an exhibition against a competitive foe, and the game itself would likely be better than the current ASG tends to be. What if the game became established such that, each year, the Champions League winner toured the US and played against the MLS All-Stars? Something like when Bayern Munich played the Metros a few days after winning the Champions League, except it would be more of a national event and the Euro team would take it a little more seriously since it would be pre-season training? I know there are a million reasons why this would never work, so let me here some of them.
Money. Respect. Power. Money: Manchester United would probably not get as much money from such event. They may even have to split it. Respect and Power: Manchester probably has a supeiroirty complex. We schedule our games. We do what we want, MLS isn't going to run this, we are.
I'd much rather see a ManU match against a regular MLS squad than an All-Star squad. It could mean much more for the league. If an all-star squad beat man-u.. It would be nice but it would be seen as nothing too shocking (to many) but a regular squad beating or just having a good showing against them, would help.
Actually, according to comments made last year by MLS officials, this is where the league is looking at taking the All-Star game in the future. Last season they were trying to get a major European club lined up as the opponent against the MLS All-Stars, and I don't know whether that fell through or if after the success of the World Cup team they just decided to stop pursuing that and go with the USMNT as the opponent (which was a great idea for last year in my opinion). I haven't heard anything mentioned about possibilities for this year's All-Star game, but if they do decide to take it in that direction, it shouldn't be too hard to find an opponent since so many clubs like Barcelona, Man U, Juventus, Celtic, etc. will be in the country around that time anyway.
Looking at it from another perspective. The MLS players may not like the idea. It would cut in half the number of players that make the All Star teams. That said, I often think the American "All Star" games include too many above average players that don't quite fit the star persona. I believe some players, maybe all, have bonuses for all star call ups. The 15 or so mediocre players that wouldnt get called could turn this into a union thing as well. Other than that, I'd love to see the end product. I think it would be really entertaining.
Why? You see, I think it's an arrangement which can benefit everybody. Some big Euro club comes to the US for pre-season training. The press here largely ignores them, so they can train in relative peace. The facilities are first rate. On top of that, they get a competitive game in with the MLS All Stars and a pretty nice appearance fee and/or cut of the gate and ancillary revenues. The game is broadcast on national TV here in the US, so the club gets to promote itself to the American audience. Maybe the Euro club doesn't make as much cash as Man U will this year, but I think the Man U tour is a one shot deal. If it were to happen again next year, interest would wane a little. MLS/USSF get to showcase the best of MLS to the "Eurosnob" audience which won't/doesn't come to see MLS games but will turn out for Man U, Real Madrid, Juventus etc. They get a bigger crowd than they would have for a traditional "East v. West" MLS All Star game. They get more coverage fro the press given the presence of a well-known Euro club.
I suppose this could be a factor, but it might be balanced out by those MLS All Stars who would relish the opportunity to showcase themselves against a big Euroclub. For every marginal All Star who might get shut out by this proposal, there's a Ruiz or a Mathis who would probably be wildly in favor of it for that reason.
I just saw this blurb on MLSnet.com about the 2003 All-Star game: "The 2003 Pepsi MLS All-Star Game, the League’s premier summer showcase, will be staged on Saturday, Aug. 2 in Carson, California at The Home Depot Center, the new home of MLS’ Los Angeles Galaxy, which opens on June 7. Televised live on ABC Sports (3:30PM ET), the 2003 edition of the Pepsi MLS All-Star Game will see a star-studded MLS squad take on a prestigious international club to be announced on June 11 at The Home Depot Center. Last year fans also voted for a single MLS All-Star squad, which defeated the U.S. National Team, 3-2, at RFK Stadium on August 3, 2002." Any ideas on who the club team will be that plays the MLS XI? I hope this becomes the new tradition for all-star games. It's so much better than East v. West.
It's about 100 times better. It's a fabulous idea, which should be a winning proposition for all parties involved.
since the game's at Home Depot Center, i would say they'd try to get a Mexican club to ensure lots of people go. but it could be anyone, hopefully ManU
Well, it won't be Man U, which is playing the next day in Philadelphia. As someone else mentioned, there will be a few clubs to choose from this year. Celtic will already be on the West Coast, having played Man U in Seattle, so they might be the most likely, at least from a logistical standpoint.
We have ManU, Juve, Celtic, etc. coming to the US. Here's the schedule of these European teams... 7/22 ManU v. Celtic, Seattle 7/23 DC United v. Blackburn, Washington DC 7/25 Celtic v. AC Milan, Cleveland 7/27 ManU v. Club America, Los Angeles 7/27 Barcelona v. Juventus, Foxboro 7/31 ManU v. Juventus, Giants Stadium 8/03 Barcelona v. ManU, Philadelphia I'd say the fact that Barca & ManU play in Phily the day after the All Star Game pretty much eliminates them. Juventus plays 2 days before the ASG, so that's not the best scheduling for them either. That leaves Celtic, Blackburn, AC Milan and Club America that would be in country about that time. Blackburn with Big Brad between the posts would be a GREAT choice for the All Star Game. Will Brad be ready to play by then? Of course, Champions League champion AC Milan playing the MLS All-Stars would be pretty cool too.
This will help sell a lot more seats, and perhaps the sale of TV rights to Europe. More money for MLS - even if they simply hand it right over to <insert big Euro trash team name here>. Plus, there's the added exposure to MLS around the world.
Re: Re: Man U and the MLS All-Star game Fair point. But I counter with Tim Howard's upcoming transfer to Man U. Part of the deal MIGHT be having them be the opponent.
You know what's going to ruin this idea? What will be the seating capacity of the Home Depot Center? A rinky-dink 30,000 or so. When soccer-specific stadiums are built here, they're all tiny. A match between an MLS all-star squad and a great European club could pack Giants Stadium, maybe sell it out. But we're going to hold it in a shoebox. They'll be laughing their asses off at all of you!
Re: Re: Man U and the MLS All-Star game If Barcelona does not finish in the top six in Spain to gain automatic qualification for the UEFA Cup (and it ain't looking good with 3 games left, 4 pts. back), they may choose to enter the InterToto Cup as a way to get into the UEFA Cup through the back door. And that could mess up the whole schedule above since the InterToto Cup conflicts with the summer trip to the U.S. Just something to keep in mind if we're going to speculate and brainstorm on different scenarios for the MLS All-Star game opponent. Who knows what ChampionsWorld & ManUtd will do if Barcelona pulls out for the Philly match. What replacement could they find for Barca? Obviously with the stadium in Philly sold out, they will want to have a game there, but if they would opt to cancel the game rather than replace Barca, the schedule would slighty open up for ManUtd to play the MLS All-Stars (or Juventus), if they cared to play Saturday after a Thursday game, including a transcontinental flight. Can't see ManUtd agreeing to go back to the west coast again and then flying from there back to England. It wouldn't be very convinient for Juventus either, but perhaps a little more plausible. But neither will happen. Just too tight with the ManUtd-Juve match Thursday at Giants stadium.
I have to agree with riverplate . MLS stadia is good for the league and it's teams, but not so good when it comes to big competitions. I love the fact that each team will have their own stadiums, but there will also be a loss when they max out because of limited sitting. Gone will be the days of 60 k for july 4 th and the 40-50 k for doubleheaders. It was a bit silly of MLS to hold so many competitions in the new Home Depot Stadium the same year, what is it left for next year, nada. A team of Man U caliber will demand a good paycheck and the All-Star game just won't do. expect to see maybe Emelec or something on those lines. Dream low and hope high. my most memorable All_star game was yes East vs West followed by a young brazilian team in a sold out Giants stadium. Why can't we repeat that or (similar) and make it a true celebration
Re: Re: Man U and the MLS All-Star game soccerfan -- i was there as well, and that was a great day. By the way, the young brazilian team played the FIFA World All-Stars, and I can still see Klinsmann volleying a goal off a cross from Redondo. But I'd like to see the average attendances for the subsequent All-Star games, something tells me they don't approach 60,000. And remember, for every Man U match or Real - Roma match which sells out GS, there is the AC Milan, Bayern Munich or Rangers exhibition which draws considerably less. The HDC has 27,000 seats (I think); maybe the demand for tickets for this year's ASG will exceed capacity. Maybe the game could draw 40K at the Rose Bowl. But I don't think it's such a bad thing that (1) MLS will showcase its new stadium in a high profile, nationally televised event; and (2) AEG will reap significant profits from holding this game in its own facility and (3) a ticket to the ASG might actually become a "hot" ticket. I'd rather have stadiums that are too small 2 or 3 times a year rather than stadiums that are too big 27 or 28 times a year. Especially when the guy who is writing most of the checks for MLS is profiting off of those smaller stadiums.
This has probably been said before but.... I got an idea, a ryder cup of soccer. In golf its a massive success why not here, heres how i would implement it Have it USA V Great Britan (like the original Ryder Cup) Games played over a weekend at the start of June and the event gets hyped like the ryder cup, sky and murdocs empire could take care of that. The tournament could be played every 2 years (when the WC or Euro championship isnt happening) Here are the games i propose Friday am Bottom of MLS V Bottom of EPL Friday PM English division 1 winners V A-League winners Saturday am League cup winners V somebody Saturday pm EPL Runners up V MLS Runners up Sunday am Open cup winners (runners up if they win mls aswell) V FA Cup winners Sunday PM EPL Champions V MLS Winners every year the event switches (ie one year england hosts it, the next USA Hosts it). each game is worth 3 points to the winner and 0 to the loser, the winner at the end is the overall winner (england or US) This may seem an incredibly stupid idea (which it does) however it could be an idea to get the USA behind soccer, they all want to beat the british at the game they invented, this gives it a chance. It also proves the strength of the MLS. I believe the idea in some form or another will happen one day as the MLS gets more popular and because the relationship between the US and UK.