MLS All-Star Game with EFC?

drinehart72 · April 24, 2009

coolblue007 said:
Wasn't it West Ham who came over last year?

It was West Ham that came over, MLS won, but you could tell that the players were nowhere near in form.

I can't tell you how excited I would be if Everton came over again. I was trying to get to Chicago last year (live in PA) but couldn't swing it. Great oppty to get more U.S. fans into a non sky 4 team.

Goat · April 24, 2009

Surely the terms MLS and All Star should never be used in the same sentence? I reckon I could play in the MLS, I would be drafted all over the show.

toffeestillidie · April 24, 2009

where is the all-star game going to be? if its at RFK i will be very very happy, anywhere else and it might not be possible for me to go. new york is probably the only other place i could really do

Jondi10 · April 24, 2009

toffeestillidie said:
where is the all-star game going to be? if its at RFK i will be very very happy, anywhere else and it might not be possible for me to go. new york is probably the only other place i could really do

Salt Lake City, Utah I believe. It's a long dive for me but I might just make it if I can find a job.

Tennessee Blue Mike · April 24, 2009

MLS all stars have played Chelsea, West Ham, Fulham, Celtic and Barcelona. It's a annual thing.

TX Bill · April 24, 2009

coolblue007 said:
Wasn't it West Ham who came over last year? I think it was. I remember watching to match, and MLS won ... but Hammers played mostly reserves if I remember right.

What it'll mean to Everton (or any PL team who comes) is it's just a pre-season friendly that just happens to be on TV in the U.S.

The Hammers played many of their starters. I remember Ashton, Faubert, & I believe Carlton Cole just to name a few. Most clubs probably as a matter of the contract have to play many of their top eleven for at least a half or else the attendees might get a bit ticked.

drinehart72 · April 27, 2009

"where is the all-star game going to be? if its at RFK i will be very very happy, anywhere else and it might not be possible for me to go. new york is probably the only other place i could really do"

Are you going to the Chelsea-AC Milan game in July at Ravens Stadium in Baltimore? I live in York, PA and was thinking about going, I am just not that excited to pay $100 for a game against reserves (I hope I am wrong).

alexander · April 27, 2009

would be cool if it was in CA, otherwise i'll probably have to watch it on the tv.

ForeverEverton · April 27, 2009

Might be good financially to try and tap into the US market

TX Bill · April 27, 2009

drinehart72 said:
"where is the all-star game going to be? if its at RFK i will be very very happy, anywhere else and it might not be possible for me to go. new york is probably the only other place i could really do"

Are you going to the Chelsea-AC Milan game in July at Ravens Stadium in Baltimore? I live in York, PA and was thinking about going, I am just not that excited to pay $100 for a game against reserves (I hope I am wrong).

When those teams come over here, I can guarantee that they're contractually obligated to play their "star players" (which in Chelsea's or Milan's case would be most all of them) for at least a half to sixty minutes.

You'll see a few reserves here and there but every time I've seen one of these teams over here, the big names have played.

I believe the All Star game is in Seattle but I'm not for sure on that. Don't know why I think that. Perhaps I thought I heard it somewhere.

drinehart72 · April 28, 2009

MLS All Star game is absolutely in Salt Lake City this year, I just checked the web site.

Earlier comment about tapping into U.S. market is spot on (especially for Everton, I can never get any merchandise here). There has been talk about ESPN getting rights to the BPL. Think about it, most games would air on Sat and Sun mornings before college and NFL games even get started. The U.S. is an untapped market and once you get the average American sports fan into the idea of relegation, European football, and all the other great things about the game (MLS just doesn't cut it, ask Beckham). Bloody Confused is a great book for Americans just getting into soccer. I have been follwowing the league for about 3 years now and there really isn't anything to compare it with here in America, it really is the beautiful game.

Tennessee Blue Mike · April 28, 2009

Will Nani be joining us on this excursion?

TX Bill · April 29, 2009

drinehart72 said:
MLS All Star game is absolutely in Salt Lake City this year, I just checked the web site.

Earlier comment about tapping into U.S. market is spot on (especially for Everton, I can never get any merchandise here). There has been talk about ESPN getting rights to the BPL. Think about it, most games would air on Sat and Sun mornings before college and NFL games even get started. The U.S. is an untapped market and once you get the average American sports fan into the idea of relegation, European football, and all the other great things about the game (MLS just doesn't cut it, ask Beckham). Bloody Confused is a great book for Americans just getting into soccer. I have been follwowing the league for about 3 years now and there really isn't anything to compare it with here in America, it really is the beautiful game.

I don't see it happening but if it does, it'll be fantastic as the matches would be shown in HD then.

I'm hoping the FSC gets around to HD broadcasts at some point but I think that's wishful thinking.

Onslow · April 29, 2009

TX Bill said:
I don't see it happening but if it does, it'll be fantastic as the matches would be shown in HD then.

I'm hoping the FSC gets around to HD broadcasts at some point but I think that's wishful thinking.

ESPN lost the Champions League rights to Fox. I'll bet the huge contract they just signed with the Collegiate SEC had something to do with it. They are pretty much tied to that American football conference for a good portion of the Premier League season now.

Still, it wouldn't surprise me to see them show up with a bid in the not-too-distant future. If FSC continues to make progress, then they may well try to set up a competitor channel.

How does Everton tap into this market? Difficult question because the U.S. is a sprawling and diverse nation. There is no single American market; what works in New York may not play in Denver, San Diego, or Nashville. I would focus on a market with relatively easy access to Liverpool and concentrate resources in that particular region.

Orlando would seem to be a good place to concentrate efforts. Perhaps an agreement could be set up between Disney and Everton to use the sport training facilities and the club could spend a certain amount of time there in the off-season. Then you not only have a connection with Disney and their strong public relations abilities, but you also have potential access to ESPN (Disney is the parent company.). This would be a good connection to have should ESPN decide to get back into the football business in the future. Something, however, would have to be done about all that red in the shops at EPCOT.

Ajax used to have some sort of arrangement with a club in the Orlando area, but that was half-hearted in effort and approach and it failed quickly. If Everton were to take this on with an eye towards finding the right partners, then they can carve a niche for themselves in Orlando with the chance for even bigger things considering the Disney/ESPN relationship.