Soccer Franchise Notes: Real Madrid Backs Out Of RSL Exhibition
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Real Madrid Heading To Colombia Instead Of
Playing Exhibition Match Against Real Salt Lake |
MLS Real Salt Lake (RSL) GM Garth Lagerwey Friday said that La Liga club Real Madrid has canceled an August 9 exhibition game at RSL, and instead will "make more money by playing in Colombia." In Salt Lake City, Michael Lewis noted the decision comes "despite a 10-year agreement between RSL and Real Madrid that calls for biennial games in Utah." Lagerwey said that he "expects the teams will play in the future, but that the current combination of the slumping economy ... and record oil prices" makes it "impossible for RSL to pay Real Madrid as much as it can make elsewhere and still profit from the game." Lagerwey added that RSL is "committed to giving its season-ticket holders their money's worth, and is talking with four teams -- two Mexican, two European -- as potential replacements" (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 5/17).
EH, B.C.? MLS Commissioner Don Garber said that Vancouver is a "potential market for expansion but wants more information on renovations" to BC Place, and he also "reiterated the league's longstanding desire for teams to have soccer-specific stadiums." In the wake of the news Friday that BC Place is "getting a facelift that includes a retractable roof," Garber in a statement said, "We understand the newly renovated B.C. Place Stadium will be a world-class facility. We look forward to learning more about the proposed renovations so that we may determine whether B.C. Place can serve as an interim venue for an MLS team pending the construction of a soccer-specific stadium" (CP, 5/17).
MEET ME IN ...: St. Louis Soccer United Chair Jeff Cooper said of the city hoping to land an MLS team, "We're not in competition with any other city. There's never going to be an instance where we'll miss out to another team or another city and we won't be a part of MLS." MLS officials have said that they will cap the number of teams in the league at 18, but Cooper said, "as long as there are soccer stadiums in good soccer cities, they'll continue to expand until there aren't any more of those opportunities." Cooper said that he has "no time line to complete his investors group but that he plans to be ready to meet with them and MLS officials this summer" (COLLINSVILLE HERALD, 5/18).
NO FUN IN GAMES: In L.A., Grahame Jones reported Serie A club AC Milan will not allow F Kaka to play for Brazil in this summer's Beijing Olympics. Each country's team for the Olympics is allowed three players over the age of 23 on its roster, and Kaka, 26, said that he "wants to go to China." Jones writes it was a "petty and totally unnecessary move" by AC Milan (L.A. TIMES, 5/19).
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