From the New York Times, Thursday 6/18: David Beckham will not be coming to the United States on Manchester United's four-game tour this summer after his transfer to Real Madrid, but he and his new teammates will almost certainly play a series of games in the United States next year. "They are one team from a pool of teams that we have spoken to," said Charlie Stillitano, chief executive of ChampionsWorld, the company that is promoting Manchester United's tour. The company also put on last summer's Real Madrid-AS Roma match, which was a sellout at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. "We have had a healthy discussion with Real Madrid," Stillitano said. "Nothing is certain right now, but it seems like a natural, especially because Real is going to Japan in August." Beckham, who is now on a promotional tour of four Asian countries, was transferred to Real Madrid on Tuesday for $41 million after reaching agreement on contract terms. The Spanish news media reported that part of Beckham's transfer fee would be paid by Adidas, the sporting goods manufacturer that now has its top three endorsers--Beckham, Zinedine Zidane, and Raul--playing for the same club.
Seen at the top of this message forum: "BigSoccer > Boards > USA > Major League Soccer" Key words: Major League Soccer Last I knew, neither ManU or Real were in MLS.
Fine. Let's make it MLS oriented. What does anyone think the chances are that Real Madrid will waste their time playing one of our world-class clubs?
More to the point, Charlie S is not about to engage in ANY promotion that advances the interests of MLS. I don't care who he brings over or when they play, they wont engage the MLS teams if Charlie is doing it.
Okay, let's forget about Charlie for a minute. Why can't MLS bring a big club or two over from Europe for a series of exhibitions against MLS squads?
Because they are in the middle of their season maybe? And when the MLS is over then the other clubs are in their season. And its really bull-shite anyways look at what Metro have bought here since 96: Sampdoria Fiorentina(Bastituta days) Bayern Munich AC Milan Benfica Alianza Lima Boca Juniors Sporting Lisbon Galastassaray CD FAS And thats not mentioning the double headers that other teams like RIver Plate, Celtic, AS Roma, Colombian Nats, Toluca(then Mex champs), etc played in. And also thats ONLY METRO, theres 9 other teams who have bought in other teams. So you either beleive what you want to or making shite up. The only reason MLS can't hype up these games is because of lack of funds. Champios World doesnt have a league to run so it has more money to spend. They also have more money to outbid MLS everytime theres rumors of teams coming to play over here.
Re: Re: Real tour in '04 To your point - I do agree that the quality of teams that Metro have played is real good. However, when they did play them, Metro did not ensure that those clubs would field A-teams. Too often, reserve players would take the field, and the first-stringers would be on their 5th drink at Lot 61 by the time the game was over. Also, there's a big difference in promotoion - both in scope and target. Metro tended to promote to Metro fans and little else, while ChampionsWorld have really tried to reach out to the broader soccer community and, in fact overall sports community. So, same team names - yes. Actual players on the field - no. Advertising campaign - much smaller by Metros.
Anschutz is worth billions and Hunt isn't exactly poor. They have plenty of cash to promote matches. Money shouldn't be the issue. They either have idiots working for them on marketing or they're trying to do it on the cheap. The question remains: Why does ChampionsWorld clean up and MLS doesn't on these exhibitions?
I had to laugh at this statement. So both men are billionaires, yet because they choose to not have their MLS clubs play "world powers" right in the middle of their seasons they have idiots working for them? Money is the exact issue, how do you think they acquired so much of it, by throwing it around freely all the time? I think Anschutz, Hunt and MLS are more concerned becoming profitable than having their MLS sides play a friendly against Real Madrid. And I'm not convinced, as it appears neither are the owners, that such a friendly would help the bottom line.
Yeah jackass, but they arent in the business of making International tours they are in the business of MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER. If they were going to be in the business of making International games then they would be in MLS. They are already bringing you top quality teams to play against MLS sides or as double headers. If someone is a REAL fan of the team then they would know that Bayern is coming to town or River Plate is coming to town. Now you want them to go all out and spend money to promote a game that means squat when they are alrady loosing millions on MLS, and probably a few houndred thousand in bringing the foreign team over. PLUS since they are in the business of MLS they dont have the man power to promote and have someone oversee this operation. Sure they can put MORE money into it but Champions World will bring up the bidding price and it wouldnt be cost effective for MLS to bid that high. Champions WOrld whole existence is to promote these games they dont have to worry about running a league or having to pay player salaries. Its like asking Coke why they dont make beer. So do you want MLS to become a promoter or a league? Its easy to say that AEG are Billionaires and can spend money, but they didnt become Billionaires by over stretching themselves.
Re: Re: Real tour in '04 But the REALITY is that they DO bring "world powers" to play MLS teams, is just that jackasses like riverplate like to live in their own little realities. Sure they may not spend the MiLLIONS to promote the actual game but then again if REAL MADRID came to play Metro it wont draw the same as REAL vs MANU no matter how much you promote it. So in knowing that MLS is not going to spend MILLIONS of dollars promoting Bayern vs Metro when they arent going to get their money back. They much rather have 30K people there and have minimal advertising. Not to mention they have a payroll. The same MILLIONS Champions World has to spend on advertising, team bidding etc, MLS has to give to player salaries and cost running a league.
Perhaps "BenC1357" or "metrocorozon" can explain to me why, when the recent tour of Manchester United was announced, there was general outrage on these boards because they weren't going to be playing an MLS club. Man U was accused of "dissing" MLS. I'm sure the same accusations will be made next year against Real Madrid. What gives? If all of you only care about MLS, then don't worry about the European or South American tours. And don't worry about the dough Charlie and ChampionsWorld are making. Go play in your own little sandbox and don't gripe about it. Why is there even a thread like this if you people aren't obsessed about this guy and his company?
Charlie & Champions World stands to make several MILLIONS of dollars on the MAnchester United games and ancillary games on this tour. MLS (SUM) should be doing this and integrating it into the American professional soccer scene. That money should be staying within the league. Riverplate is right: Anschutz, Hunt, the Krafts and the league as a whole can easily afford to bring these clubs in. In the end it's millions upon millions in profits from the attendance, major tv $ and leverage, great association (notice how much the MLS uses their WC association), and more reason to become a season ticket holder. MLS could use all this. Either MLS should do a better job of doing what ChampionsWorld is doing and compete (promotion of themselves and foreign clubs in the USA) or see if ChampionsWorld wants to partner with them. As it stands they stand not only to not gain, but lose.
Because you started the thread jackass. You really are a moron arent you? I never said there wasnt money to be made in bringing these teams over for summer tours. As metrocorazon stated, AEG and Hunt just arent in that business. Your generalization that theres money to be made in a business why don't these guys use their millions and get in on it is absurd. Hunt, for example, made his money in oil and now runs a sports group. Theres money to be made in many other industries, why doesnt Hunt try to get into them as well??? They are the businessmen, don't you think they'd have done this if they thought it was a smart business adventure for them? Keep in mind, they have been smart enough to earn billions, you or I on the other hand have not. Most importantly, neither AEG or Hunt Sports are promoters. They run sporting organizations, its a whole different business.
I know I started the thread. I wanted to relate a news item which would be of interest to real soccer/futbol fans. Of course, the "what's this got to do with MLS" inferiority-complex crap started right away. My thread was hijacked and turned into an anti-ChampionsWorld rant. I don't give a damn about their so-called "sporting organizations." They run a professional sports league in the United States called Major League Soccer. They should promote it and the sport in as many ways as possible. If they can't, then they should use their fat wallets to hire somebody that can.
I would pay good money to watch you say that to Lamar Hunt's face and watch him eat you alive with his response. Now that would be entertaining, and worth of promotion.
Re: Re: Real tour in '04 Sorry, but you don't have to hammer the guy and call him a "jackass" or "moron" just because you do not agree with his point of view. I think that he has brought up several worthwhile points and if you disagree ...fine, but you need to exercise more self control in your responses.