I made mention of this here, but I figured it’s worth going a bit more in-depth with this idea.
After the NFL’s experiment in London, tons of people are talking about the possibility of a Premier League game in America. It’s an idea that’s guaranteed to make one club’s fans in England really pissed off, because they want to lose a “regular season” game even less than any NFL team. Though some people talk about it, the Premier League has no playoffs. The cup competitions supplant the need for a playoff system to determine the league champ.
So why not bring a cup match to America? Specifically, how about the Carling Cup Final?
After all, English fans view the Football League Cup as a secondary trophy. Sure, it comes with a UEFA Cup bid, but it’s nowhere near as prestigious as the FA Cup or the European Cup, so they might not mind as much if that game moved to America. Nobody loses a Premier League home fixture, and chances are good that two quality clubs from the top flight will play in the Final.
Plus, clubs that want to establish a stronger foothold in America might take the Carling Cup more seriously, because the reward would be coming to the States and selling lots of extra apparel to new fans who want to feel like they’re part of the “most exciting league on the planet.” That has to be enticing to a few club owners — especially the American owners.
So what do you guys think? Would bringing the Carling Cup Final to America make more sense than a regular season Premier League game? Or does the uncertainty of who might play in that final make it less appealing than, say, a West Ham v. Chelsea fixture set months in advance? Feel free to post a comment with your thoughts.
9 responses so far ↓
1 Alan // Nov 1, 2007 at 2:02 pm
If English fans are dismissive towards the tournament, then why not host some of it here in the States? I’m not sure about the finals, but it would be fun to see some of the big time clubs come over for a match that means something, but won’t be missed on the other side of the pond.
However, I think the thing that really needs to happen is MLS needs to play up the Superleige it plays with Mexican clubs. We have soccer clubs, and while the level of play isn’t as high, I think that the game’s expansion lies with the exsisting structure.
Lets saw Newcastle United (my club) takes on Chelsea at the Home Deopt Center. Are people going to become major fans of those clubs and are they going to follow the sport more? I think its a huge gamble that probably won’t neccessarily help soccer in America (Premiership clubs have come over here in the past. In fact, a Chelsea v D.C. United match practically sold out Qwest Field in Seattle) but we still have this conversation. I think until fans latch on to their hometown clubs more, bringing in the Carling Cup might do more harm to the American game then help.
2 B.A. // Nov 1, 2007 at 4:20 pm
The match is Seattle you’re referring to was United vs. Real Madrid. United vs. Chelsea was in Raljon, MD.
That said, Carling Cup Finals traditionally take place in February. While still being a minor logistical situation for the playing clubs, hosting the finals in the US wouldn’t interfere with MLS’ season.
If the FA took precautions to avoid additional fatigue on the players or additional fixture congestion for those clubs playing, then I’d enjoy seeing the match over here.
Though if I had to choose between the Carling Cup Final and DC United’s CONCACAF Champions’ Cup fixtures (around the same time of year), I’d choose United.
3 a different Dave // Nov 1, 2007 at 10:29 pm
Someone on Fox Football Fone-In made an interesting suggestion this past Tues: play one or more of the FA Cup semi-final games in the USA, as these games have to be at a neutral site in any case. So once in a blue moon, make that “neutral site” NYC or somewhere else outside of England.
4 joejoejoe // Nov 2, 2007 at 3:49 am
I think the moving the FA Cup (otherwise known as the Cup of England) to the U.S. is a non-starter but a U.S. Carling Cup final is a very good idea. Moving the Carling Cup game is not disrespecting English fans, it’s not purely about greed (it’s not just individual owners that benefit, it’s an entire tourney and all eligible teams), and purists would have a hard time stoking the fires of a campaign to block the move of a game that is no higher than the 4th most important club competition in England behind the EPL table, Champions League, and FA Cup.
5 Dave // Nov 2, 2007 at 7:58 am
There are a few who would suggest the Carling Cup is also 5th, just behind the Coca-Cola Championship…
6 a different dave // Nov 2, 2007 at 8:54 am
No one suggested moving the FA Cup final, just one of the semifinal games.
Fans of clubs who play overseas aren’t going to like it no matter what game it is, if it is a meaningful game.
I really don’t think it will happen. Not sure why it should happen, either.
7 Daily Dose 11.02.07 - World Football - The Offside - Soccer News and Opinion from leagues around the world // Nov 2, 2007 at 11:30 am
[...] Why not play the Carling Cup Final in the US? (Dave’s Football Blog) [...]
8 mlmintampa // Nov 2, 2007 at 9:24 pm
Speaking as someone who never played soccer but loves the passion the English have, I’d love to see a meaningful English game in the states. Living in Tampa, we keep hoping the Glazers will bring over Man U for training and ask an English or Champions League club to join them.
I understand the notion that it could hurt the American game, but the most important thing for the MLS to do is not spread the MLS, but spread soccer in any form.
9 a different Dave // Nov 2, 2007 at 11:01 pm
I could not disagree more. Only a successful division one league is ultimately going to make soccer a serious sport in the USA.
Soccer promoters spent most of the 20th century trying to jump start the game in the USA by importing overseas clubs for exhibition matches (going back to the early 1920′s IIRC). Ex-pats watching clubs from the Old Country are not going to make soccer an established and accepted major spectator sport in the USA. This approach has never worked.
If you want the Glazers to do something for soccer in the USA, tell them to buy an MLS franchise and bring back the Tampa Bay Rowdies already, gorramit!