Real Salt Lake opened the doors today for the supporter group open house, and I have to say I am a bit surprised at the attendance. The event didn’t get any real press announcements and still a couple hundred people showed up to find out more about the supporter groups and get a chance to purchase season tickets.
It provided me the chance to rollout the newest membership perk for RCB members, the official RCB membership card
Nice to see the Cup in the right hands
and still with the right colors
It was a good time as we got some great personality pics for the new membership cards:
Reed
Judge
Sparky
Sam
Sara officially joined up
and Chelsey pondered what to do for the opening match tailgate
So the question is, does any stadium in the world have a better view?
looking West
and I love the view from the RCB sections
and it appears that even at RSL the cash is a bit tighter than usual
But 50% off at the store made for some good shopping
Anyhow it was a great afternoon and I can’t wait for the season to start. Remember a couple of upcoming dates; March 14th is Season ticket pickup (the RCB will be setting up again) and March 21st will be a RSL exhibition with an opponent yet to be named(I also believe this match will be free to the public), as soon as the details are released we will post them.
Do you handball?
So I exchanged a couple emails with former RSL GM Steve Pastorino this week and he is looking for anyone interested in playing team handball, they are launching programs in Provo, Salt Lake, Park City, and up at Hill AFB. I hope that under Steve’s guidance that the USA can qualify for the 2012 Olympics in Team Handball which is an exciting sport to watch, check out the Official USA Team Handball page on facebook or their official website. If you’re interested in playing you can contact Steve at steve@usateamhandball.org
2009 MLS All Star Match update
So my thoughts that MLS would try to do this year’s All Star match on the cheap by inviting a team from Mexico were right on target, but rumors are that RSL’s leadership is saying no way. I understand the economics of bringing in a team from Europe, but we know that Chelsea is going to be in the States in July, I believe Barca will be in country as well. I know a lot of rumors have been making the rounds about Inter Milan, but I think we will probably have to wait until the final 6 2009 Peace Cup teams are announced to really know what clubs are available and I expect that we will know a lot more before the MLS season kicks off in just 26 days. Like I told some RSL staff, if it is a team from Mexico I will be selling all my tickets for that event, I don’t have anything against teams from Mexico but RSL had two friendly matches with team from Mexico last year and both struggled to draw big numbers. I want a top level team from Europe, which has been the tradition over the last few years, I really think if the Miami FC deal is announced, that it would be a great PR move for the league and that franchise to have Barcelona be the team to play in what is often the most watched match that MLS is involved in all year.
RSL scrimmage
So Behind the Shield just posted what will be the starting 11 for tonight’s match against USF:
Wow that lineup looks a lot like what we say at the end of last year, the exception is Horst getting the start. The BtS crew will be live blogging the match tonight be sure to stop by and check it out. OK that is all from me for today.
It doesn’t take going out on a limb, but I am going to list some clubs that I think you can cross of the list as the other half of the MLS All Star match that Real Salt Lake will host at Rio Tinto Stadium on July 29th:
Real Madrid
Sevilla
Juventus
Olympique Lyonnais
F.C. Porto
and Liga de Quito
All have been announced at clubs taking part in the 2009 Peace Cup this summer (July 24th-August 2nd) in Spain. There are still 6 more clubs to be announced and rumor is that two will come from the EPL and this tournament and the two million Euro first price (one million for second, and 500K for 3rd and 4th) offer a richer payday than what the MLS can put forward for the All Star match. This does open the door for Barca, which it would appear isn’t going to be in the tournament. With the announcement of Juventus, you have to wonder if this puts more credit behind the rumors of Inter Milan or AC Milan. I am really starting to get a bad feeling that we might just get to see Chivas or Club America as the opponent, it save MLS a lot of travel money, gets them bigger ratings with hispanic fans and would explain why after months of telling season ticket holders that the All Star match wouldn’t be part of the 2009 RSL season ticket package, all of a sudden it was added back in.
Things could get interesting in the next couple weeks as we get closer to the announcement of the international opponent, I am now switching my bet from Real Madrid (which looks to stiff the “RSL” connection for a second year in a row) to Barcelona, clearly one of the top clubs in the world with lots of big international names, a relationship with MLS, soon to be partner in the FC Miami franchise, and a team that would get decent ratings both in the US and international market. If the economy is the main player in the decision, look for one of the teams from Mexico to be announced. But if the announcement of a Chelsea summer tour are true would MLS risk using the same opponent as just 3 years ago? Stranger things have happened.
So one thing that has been an interest of mine since the beginning of the league has been how the business end is run. I believe that the strong governance of Don Garber and the MLS HQ folks was vital to the league survival for the first 10 years of the league but I know believe that much of the control needs to be turned over to the teams and that the league should loosen the reigns. Here are a couple articles I found recently that I thought were interesting (they all come from Street & Smith’s Sports Business Journal):
MLS Ticket renewals bucking the economy
Less than two months before the start of the MLS season, the league’s clubs are reporting that ticket sales are keeping pace despite the economic downturn.
Business executives at 10 of the league’s 15 clubs who could be reached for comment reported that season-ticket renewals were flat or ahead of last year. Only the Houston Dynamo reported being behind compared with renewals at the same time in 2008, while several clubs reported being ahead, including the Colorado Rapids and Real Salt Lake.
I find this interesting that RSL has a renewal rate of 83% which is great and that they are ahead of last year’s new business. This article was released before it was announced that RSL would be including the MLS All Star match as part of their season tickets package, and the announcement of the US vs. El Salvador World Cup qualifying match which isn’t part of the 18 match package, but season ticket holders will get first access to their seats as well as an early purchase option for other seats to the match. Both of which should increase interest in season ticket packages.
MLS renews Panasonic for 3 years
At a time when renewing corporate sponsors is no guarantee, Major League Soccer has completed a three-year extension with Panasonic to remain the league’s official consumer electronics partner.
The extension, like its predecessor, is valued at just shy of eight figures over three years. With it, Panasonic ensures it will continue to receive rights to MLS league and team marks, in-stadium signage, player appearances and on-site promotion rights at MLS games. It also will remain a presenting partner of MLS Futbolito, a four-on-four grassroots soccer tournament.
“We looked very closely at our sponsorship list as the way most companies are looking at marketing activities and we felt the MLS sponsorship has worked well for us,” said Christine Amirian, vice president of marketing. “We saw strong response from consumers and retail outlets.”
My interest point on this one is do you let MLS sponsorships influence your purchasing choices? Here is the list of RSL sponsors and here is the list of league sponsors. It is clear that these companies are spending money to support MLS and our team, we should be doing our best to support them. That means everyone should drink more Budweiser, eat some KFC and wash it down with Pepsi while wearing Adidas and watching Fox Soccer Channel.
Bidders line up for the U.S. rights to Premiership
At least three networks have emerged as serious bidders for the U.S. media rights to the English Premier League, the world’s most popular soccer league.
ESPN, Fox Soccer Channel and Setanta Sports are lining up to acquire the rights when the bidding process officially opens this spring or early summer. The EPL is making a three-year package available, from the 2010-11 season through the 2012-13 season.
The U.S. media rights will be awarded after the league decides what to do with the six British packages that it is selling. The EPL has set aside Feb. 3 as the day it will hold an auction for those packages, sources said. Fox Soccer parent News Corp., Setanta and ESPN all plan to bid on those U.K. rights.
I have been looking for the announcement of who won the US rights but haven’t been able to find much online. I know that Setanta got hammered by Sky (part of News Corp) in the UK. Here is the rest of the article. I know that Sky got 5 of the 6 UK packages for a price tag of 1.62 billion pounds, but it will be interesting given ESPN’s cold shoulder to MLS to see how much the EPL rights go for in the US. Proof that the networks understand the value of footy, but MLS simply isn’t pulling in the ratings it needs to in order to get more or better coverage. If you know any Nielsen families, please urge them to watch some MLS.
While it is still a month until the MLS season kicks off, and 6 weeks until RSL will host a league match at Rio Tinto Stadium, this weekend will feature RSL hosting an open house for people interested in joining one of the RSL supporter groups. Saturday the 21st from 10am-2pm the exclusive King’s Terrace club will be opened and the supporter groups will be set up to provide more information to interested parties.
Ever felt like you’re the only fan standing?
Tired of trying to get others around you excited?
Want to feel the true environment of a soccer/futbol game?
Want to drink beer with other fellow “crazies”?
Real Salt Lake
Invites you to be a part of a
2009 Supporters Group
at Rio Tinto Stadium
We are hosting your first look at the ever growing 2009 Fan Clubs on February 21st from 10 am to 2 pm.
The event will be held in the King’s Terrace club on the second floor of the stadium.
Come visit with each group and learn what their philosophies and beliefs are, and what their brew of choice is.
Get a tour of the stadium and select your seats by sitting in them rather than simply looking at a computer screen.
Refreshments will be provided
Anyone to purchase Season tickets at the event will receive 40% off merchandise at the team store that day only.
For more information,
call Brent @ 801-727-2850 or Spencer @ 801-727-2852
