Comments on: Quote of the Day: Alexi Lalas on the EPL’s Foreign Plans http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/quote-of-the-day-alexi-lalas-on-the-epls-foreign-plans.html League Football, Soccer News and Views from Around the World Thu, 26 Nov 2009 13:24:39 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Blue Devil Brad http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/quote-of-the-day-alexi-lalas-on-the-epls-foreign-plans.html#comment-102728 Blue Devil Brad Sat, 09 Feb 2008 07:34:33 +0000 http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/quote-of-the-day-alexi-lalas-on-the-epls-foreign-plans.html#comment-102728 :-P got it. :-P
got it.

]]> By: Mickey http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/quote-of-the-day-alexi-lalas-on-the-epls-foreign-plans.html#comment-102623 Mickey Sat, 09 Feb 2008 00:14:19 +0000 http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/quote-of-the-day-alexi-lalas-on-the-epls-foreign-plans.html#comment-102623 Man U and Bayern played at Cleveland Municpal Stadium (a/k/a "The Mistake On the Lake") in the late 80's - no idea about attendance stats but the lower seats were sold out. Man U and Bayern played at Cleveland Municpal Stadium (a/k/a “The Mistake On the Lake”) in the late 80’s – no idea about attendance stats but the lower seats were sold out.

]]> By: joejoejoe http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/quote-of-the-day-alexi-lalas-on-the-epls-foreign-plans.html#comment-102588 joejoejoe Fri, 08 Feb 2008 22:33:10 +0000 http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/quote-of-the-day-alexi-lalas-on-the-epls-foreign-plans.html#comment-102588 You missed the best part of the Lalas quote: "We do not have a monopoly on crap soccer — it’s played all over the world." You don't have a monopoly on crap Alexi but you're surely top of the table. You missed the best part of the Lalas quote: “We do not have a monopoly on crap soccer — it’s played all over the world.”

You don’t have a monopoly on crap Alexi but you’re surely top of the table.

]]> By: Laurie http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/quote-of-the-day-alexi-lalas-on-the-epls-foreign-plans.html#comment-102570 Laurie Fri, 08 Feb 2008 20:56:46 +0000 http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/quote-of-the-day-alexi-lalas-on-the-epls-foreign-plans.html#comment-102570 @Brad /sarcasm. There. Does that clarify? ;-) @Brad

/sarcasm.

There. Does that clarify? ;-)

]]> By: Blue Devil Brad http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/quote-of-the-day-alexi-lalas-on-the-epls-foreign-plans.html#comment-102569 Blue Devil Brad Fri, 08 Feb 2008 20:49:23 +0000 http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/quote-of-the-day-alexi-lalas-on-the-epls-foreign-plans.html#comment-102569 "Just because it is EPL does not mean it is going to sell." Sure, and just because it's in your starting lineup, doesn't mean you should pay it a 6 figure salary... I'm a fan from back in his Revolution days, but Laurie, I'm surprised that you would say Alexi knows all at this point. http://lagalaxy.theoffside.com/off-the-field/so-whats-wrong-with-the-galaxy-heres-one-possibility.html “Just because it is EPL does not mean it is going to sell.”
Sure, and just because it’s in your starting lineup, doesn’t mean you should pay it a 6 figure salary…

I’m a fan from back in his Revolution days, but Laurie, I’m surprised that you would say Alexi knows all at this point.
http://lagalaxy.theoffside.com/off-the-field/so-whats-wrong-with-the-galaxy-heres-one-possibility.html

]]> By: Shazback http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/quote-of-the-day-alexi-lalas-on-the-epls-foreign-plans.html#comment-102562 Shazback Fri, 08 Feb 2008 20:36:54 +0000 http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/quote-of-the-day-alexi-lalas-on-the-epls-foreign-plans.html#comment-102562 Sorry, bluemeanies, but you must be mistaken... Man U's only game against Bayern munich in the USA was in Soldier Field, Chicago, in front of a crowd of 58,181... (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/3925305.stm) So that's a sell-out in my books, not a "ghost town". So yes, the EPL might not be very successful if they hosted every year in the same 10 towns (or even the same 10 countries). But think about it. China have at least 4 towns that would fill any stadium should there be a EPL game. Japan has at least 2. Malasia and Indonesia have a few between them. The Gulf has loads of countries ready to pay lots of money for such a game. Australia, the US, Mexico, all the European countries, South Africa (after 2010, nice stadia), other African nations, South America... The EPL could play only once every 4 seasons in the USA. No problem. They won't oversell. And they can choose the teams that go to the USA so that there are enough American players on the pitch or enough "stars" to pull crowds. Sorry, bluemeanies, but you must be mistaken… Man U’s only game against Bayern munich in the USA was in Soldier Field, Chicago, in front of a crowd of 58,181… (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/3925305.stm)
So that’s a sell-out in my books, not a “ghost town”.

So yes, the EPL might not be very successful if they hosted every year in the same 10 towns (or even the same 10 countries). But think about it. China have at least 4 towns that would fill any stadium should there be a EPL game. Japan has at least 2. Malasia and Indonesia have a few between them. The Gulf has loads of countries ready to pay lots of money for such a game. Australia, the US, Mexico, all the European countries, South Africa (after 2010, nice stadia), other African nations, South America…

The EPL could play only once every 4 seasons in the USA. No problem. They won’t oversell. And they can choose the teams that go to the USA so that there are enough American players on the pitch or enough “stars” to pull crowds.

]]> By: bluemeanies http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/quote-of-the-day-alexi-lalas-on-the-epls-foreign-plans.html#comment-102556 bluemeanies Fri, 08 Feb 2008 20:01:40 +0000 http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/quote-of-the-day-alexi-lalas-on-the-epls-foreign-plans.html#comment-102556 Shazback- First year- maybe. Year two and on the evidence would suggest that it would start falling appart. For example Giorgio Chinalgia's Champions World. Apart from being run by a criminal showboat his exhibitions pulled well the first year and then petered out. I believe there are pictures of Man-U vs Real Madrid selling out Seattle?? one year then the next year same location Man-U vs Bayern Munich being a virtual ghost town. The big mexican teams have drawn traditionally well but attendance at these events are declining slightly as more and more exhibitions are scheduled. I think Chivas G even failed to fill the Rose Bowl in LA one time last year. And it is highly likely that the Mexican league is more popular in the states than the BPL just underground due to language. I think you'll also find that whatever popularity lower table teams find in the US is largely due to their yank contigents. Fulham would draw well if they were a) Still Fulhamerica and b) still in the premiereship, but Sunderland is a complete dud. Shazback- First year- maybe. Year two and on the evidence would suggest that it would start falling appart. For example Giorgio Chinalgia’s Champions World. Apart from being run by a criminal showboat his exhibitions pulled well the first year and then petered out. I believe there are pictures of Man-U vs Real Madrid selling out Seattle?? one year then the next year same location Man-U vs Bayern Munich being a virtual ghost town. The big mexican teams have drawn traditionally well but attendance at these events are declining slightly as more and more exhibitions are scheduled. I think Chivas G even failed to fill the Rose Bowl in LA one time last year. And it is highly likely that the Mexican league is more popular in the states than the BPL just underground due to language.

I think you’ll also find that whatever popularity lower table teams find in the US is largely due to their yank contigents. Fulham would draw well if they were a) Still Fulhamerica and b) still in the premiereship, but Sunderland is a complete dud.

]]> By: Shazback http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/quote-of-the-day-alexi-lalas-on-the-epls-foreign-plans.html#comment-102535 Shazback Fri, 08 Feb 2008 19:01:02 +0000 http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/quote-of-the-day-alexi-lalas-on-the-epls-foreign-plans.html#comment-102535 However stupid it sounds, I'd bet a Fulham-Reading match would get a better audience than any MLS regular season game. Perhaps even more than the playoff games. The idea's stupid, and I'm against it, but the EPL could very well make 10 games that would pull fans : Man U, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Everton, Man C, Tottenham, Aston Villa, Portsmouth, Newcastle... Give the "smaller" ones better opponents (Bolton for Portsmouth, Middlesbrough for Aston Villa, Blackburn for Newcastle) and you're set : 10 games that are able to pull crowds pretty much anywhere. Sure, Derby-Fulham isn't going to pull crowds. And that's why the EPL won't allow that to be one of the "international fixtures". I'm all for ditching the 39th game though. Useless, time-consuming, useless, boring, useless, exhibition matches, that could ruin the sporting purpose of the EPL. However stupid it sounds, I’d bet a Fulham-Reading match would get a better audience than any MLS regular season game. Perhaps even more than the playoff games.

The idea’s stupid, and I’m against it, but the EPL could very well make 10 games that would pull fans : Man U, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Everton, Man C, Tottenham, Aston Villa, Portsmouth, Newcastle… Give the “smaller” ones better opponents (Bolton for Portsmouth, Middlesbrough for Aston Villa, Blackburn for Newcastle) and you’re set : 10 games that are able to pull crowds pretty much anywhere.

Sure, Derby-Fulham isn’t going to pull crowds. And that’s why the EPL won’t allow that to be one of the “international fixtures”.

I’m all for ditching the 39th game though. Useless, time-consuming, useless, boring, useless, exhibition matches, that could ruin the sporting purpose of the EPL.

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