Comments on: The 39th Game: Maybe They Can Play It In Space

By: Darius

Darius — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 14:30:33 +0000

I would kiss Malcolm Glazer’s feet if he can pull off a Man U vs Blackburn match in Tampa FL. Thanks to matches abroad, I watched players like Zidane,Bebeto, Roberto Carlos, and Mattaus when they came to Giants Stadium in NY. Don’t be greedy Englishmen.

By: Paul Scanling

Paul Scanling — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 16:27:20 +0000

This destroys the integrity of the league. You play every other team home and away now. Under this proposal somebody plays ManU three times and someone else plays Derby three times. Fair? No way. With so much at stake financially on your league standing, Champions League Spots, UEFA Cup Spots, Relegation spots, three points can easily change your league standing.

If you ask two teams to fly to Sydney (24 hours) and two teams to fly to New York (6 hours), that is not the same.

Local teams may not want the competition unless it helps them. MLS shouldn’t want English teams to come over. It will only show the local fans how much of a crap league MLS still is.

Play Up Pompey!

By: Will

Will — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 13:42:04 +0000

I think Dave is probably on the right track, especially with the well-known mutual admiration between the EPL and the NFL. I think you’re going to see a couple of newly promoted clubs with old and/or small stadiums pressured into giving up a big home game “for the good of the sport” (or somesuch nonsense). I wouldn’t worry though, as I’m sure said clubs will make a very reasonable number of tickets available for their season ticket holders who will just happen to be in LA or Riyadh that weekend, you know, what with the ease and convenience of international travel and all.

By: Arnold

Arnold — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 13:41:22 +0000

On Thursday, the 20 Premier League clubs agreed to look into the possibility of playing an extra round of matches every season - abroad. I’m totally against this decision, and am trying to show that there’s a critical mass of fans who don’t want their teams going to play an English Premiere League game somewhere outside of England. So I made this poll - and I want to invite people to go and vote and maybe if we get enough votes we can send it to the people in charge. Here’s the link:
http://www.pollsb.com/polls/poll/6334/do-you-support-the-english-premier-league-s-intent-to-go-global-and-stage-one-round-of-league-matches-per-year-overseas

By: historyman

historyman — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 07:29:40 +0000

I live in Ireland, where saturation coverage of the Premiership has already played a role in eroding support for local football. In fact, there is a social grouping over here referred to as the ‘Easyjet Supporter’. This is an individual who avails himself of budget airline travel and will think nothing of jetting over to England for the day to watch his Premiership team. His local club, meanwhile, is overlooked or ignored.

Obviously if Premiership matches do get played in other countries it won’t be a week in, week out arrangement. However, it has to be said that many of the ‘neo fans’ are notoriously fickle, and quickly turn their backs on the local game because of the inferior quality that’s often served up. Many of them would trade the visceral experience of watching your local side for the sterile, artificial atmosphere of watching a band of visiting mercenaries fulfilling their contract and then carrying off their war chest.

By the way, why has nobody mentioned Antartica as a possible venue? Just the place for many of the modern generation of footballers!

By: Tom Dunmore

Tom Dunmore — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 00:13:22 +0000

Is there some kind of clause in his Galaxy contract that means he has to force ’super club’ into every sentence he utters?

By: Brian

Brian — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 23:54:20 +0000

Here’s his other quote (via the Offside), where he sounds much more skeptical of the proposal:

“English teams have been coming here for years, although not for competitive games, so yes, it’s great that the games could help to decide championships or who goes down. But I caution you folks, because there are a handful of ‘super clubs’ in the EPL, but when you get into the mid and lower tier, those brands — as strong as they may be domestically in the UK — have much less value here. Just because it is EPL does not mean it is going to sell.”

Not that I’d ever suggest that Alexi Lalas wasn’t completely consistent…

By: Tom Dunmore

Tom Dunmore — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 22:59:01 +0000

I thought Lalas’ response was more along the lines of great idea, but obviously pushing for L.A. to get the big clubs to turn out there. Anyway, here’s what he said rather than splitting hairs on the interpretation:

“I look on this as an opportunity for our fans to get first-hand experience of what the level is in England,” Lalas told Sky Sports News.

“I see it as a great way to pit our level against what is perceived as the greatest league in the world.

“Teams have come here on tours for years, America is recognised as an emerging market, but the competition wasn’t there so to see teams in meaningful games is great for the spectators.”

Lalas did cast doubt on the level of interest in matches not involving the high-profile sides.

“There has to be a realistic approach in relation to the economics,” he said.

“Just because it’s an English Premier League team doesn’t mean thousands of people will come out and watch it.”

Los Angeles has been suggested as a possible venue following David Beckham’s move to Galaxy, and Lalas believes it would be a success

“Obviously, LA would be a huge pull and we would certainly want to partner up with teams we thought would be appropriate,” he said.

By: Dave's Football Blog

Dave's Football Blog — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 22:54:17 +0000

I wouldn’t say Lalas “embraced” the idea. He seemed to think only the Big Four clubs could pull it off. I got the sense that he thought the PL should cool its heels on this.

Personally, I’m still waiting for the PL to come back and say, “Okay, we’ll scuttle this and just put one game in the U.S. and one in China each year. Would that make the rest of you leave us alone?” And everyone will buy that, because it’s not nearly as ridiculous as the initial proposal, and besides, it works for the NFL.

By: Davyd Trunyov

Davyd Trunyov — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 22:05:42 +0000

Ok Tom i have booked my seat on Virgin Galactic, can you let me know where in space they are playing. I hope Virgin can drop me off in a walking distance to the venue.

Gulati is saying all the right things for now, let’s hope he will continue to do so. And as for spreading the word about soccer, if you don’t know about soccer by now it is time to crawl from under that rock.