The U.S. is a long way from being a football nation, but it is already a football "destination," according to Kevin Baxter of the L.A. TIMES. In July, at least seven major European clubs will "visit the U.S. to sell jerseys, entice sponsors and pick up a few million dollars in guaranteed money to play meaningless games" in sold-out stadiums. Major League Soccer side L.A. Galaxy President Chris Klein said, "They want to expand their brand. Second, it's a great place to spend the preseason. The facilities are good, and the competition is good. They like to be in the market." Clubs such as Barcelona can earn more than $2M a game. The clubs said that the chance for fans and sponsors to see the teams in person is also important. Bayern Munich's U.S.-based representative Rudolf Vidal said, "New markets mean new opportunities for clubs, both in terms of expanding their fan base as well as revenue." Along with the U.S., China is "emerging as a vital market" for global football. Bayern Munich, which came to the U.S. last summer, will play games in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou this July. The team "opened a marketing office in New York City last year and is planning one in China" (L.A. TIMES, 5/2).
