Many European football clubs, in “an effort to extend their fan bases in
the emerging soccer market of the U.S., are doing so with
summer tours of the country," with exhibitions such as Wednesday's
Liverpool-AS Roma game at Fenway Park, according to Amalie Benjamin of
the BOSTON GLOBE. Int'l soccer is “promoted and encouraged” by MLS,
which in recent years has “made strides … but still lags far behind
international soccer in terms of passion, talent, and financial
resources.” MLS Commissioner Don Garber said, “There’s certainly
enormous overlap today between the international soccer market and the
MLS soccer market. Our goal is to continue to convert those people who
begin their soccer fan experience through a connection to an
international, whether that be through the EA (video) game or watching
the Premier League on television. Then we work hard to convert those
fans into being a passionate supporter of a local team.” From July 18 to
Aug. 15, 35 games are scheduled in the U.S. and Canada involving
international teams, the "most in recent history.” That includes the MLS
All-Star game, in which "the best of the U.S. league will take on EPL
club Chelsea.” Garber said, “People are curious to see how we do fare
against a world-class competitor.” He admitted that even the “best of
MLS is not close to on par with the best of Europe.” Still, MLS
“believes it’s a win-win, that by bringing European teams into the fold,
that the soccer audience increases, helping international clubs looking
to expand market share and domestic clubs looking to increase interest
in soccer.” MLS average attendance “has grown from 14,862 in '01 to
18,626 in '12” (BOSTON GLOBE, 7/23).
ON SALE: BILD reported that the sponsor-less jersey of Bundesliga club Werder Bremen "has been sold out." The club's Marketing Dir Klaus Filby said, "We have sold four-times as many jerseys as at the same point last season." Despite the jersey's success, the club is still looking for a title sponsor (BILD, 7/22).
