Reigning European Champions League winners FC Barcelona will be heading to the Bay Area this summer as Lionel Messi, Thierry Henry and Co. converge on San Francisco for a friendly sure to excite northern California soccer fans.
Barcelona will take on Chivas de Guadalajara at Candlestick Park on Aug. 8 in the club's first visit to the Bay Area. The match will be part of a doubleheader with an MLS match between the San Jose Earthquakes and defending MLS Cup champions Columbus Crew.
Tickets will go on sale on June 22nd. Tickets can be purchased through the San Jose Earthquakes website, or by calling (800) 225-2277.
Barcelona's match vs. Chivas is the third of three in the United States. Barca faces the Los Angeles Galaxy at the Rose Bowl on Aug. 1st, and also will play the Seattle Sounders at Qwest Field on Aug. 5th.
What do you think of Barcelona heading to Northern California? Excited? Ready to buy your tickets immediately? Are you an Earthquakes fan who is relieved to finally hear some good news?
Share your thoughts below.
wow. i just got my front row tix near the sidelines. i was bummed that i couldnt go to the galaxy game since i couldnt take the day off work but to my luck they announced the game vs chivas in my city!!!!time for a fat tailgate at the parking lot:)
That’s great. Always been a fan of Barca football. Viva la Barca!
AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!
Sucka free, what!
Would love to make it to these games. Add another memorable moment to the many experienced at the Stick over the years.
San Francisco is such a great city too. that would be awesome to see them there…although, candlestick is a piece.
CapeCodFutbol et al,
yup, they hate me. i saw a chelsea game @stanford and it was great!
*sigh* y’all are right. candlestick may not be so bad. i can’t wait til that a’s owner builds a soccer-specific stadium
i just wanna high-5 Messi, is that too much to ask?
Too bad they aren’t coming to Chicago. A total West Coast trip doesn’t help all the soccer fans east of the Rockies. Maybe next time…
Posted by: Mark | June 17, 2009 at 01:57 PM
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Mark, while I agree I’m disappointed I won’t be able to see Barcelona, in particular, Messi, we soccer fans east of the Rockies only have ALL of the home World Cup Qualifiers!
SJ is going to double their average attendance.
CACuzcatlan,
No, the organizers clearly hate Leonardo.
The match was supposed to be in Oakland (cross-promotion for Lew Wolff owns both the A’s and Quakes). I’d prefer Stanford, but even the Stick is better than playing soccer on a dirt baseball infield!
That’s less exciting than Seattle @ Portland July 1, but only because that particular US Open Cup game is really exciting.
Leonardo, I think the organizers chose Candlestick b/c it holds 25k more than AT&T Park, not because they hate you.
hey Pico, la mar is WAY overpriced. very small portions. check out Fresca, much better peruvian spot w/ great ceviche and other dishes. i’m glad my ‘quakes are doing something, ‘cuase we sure suck this year. i’m not sure the front office really would want to scare away any potential mls fans, w/ the way the ‘quakes play and then showing them how real futbol is supposed to be played w/ Barca. it’ll be fun regardless.
Leonardo, the Giants have a home stand that weekend. So Gavin had nothing to do with it.
yay for the Quakes FO for doing this. Should have been at Stanford though. a MUCH better venue
and yay for them completely shafting the supporters and not giving them their own section for their own game.
I’m from the Central Coast (2 hours away) and this could be worth the trip but i’m not so sure about the venue. Candlestick park sucks. it’s horrible. you are so far away from the field it ain’t even funny. Maybe if the game was at AT&T Park… but no, Mr. Populist Gavin Newsom (SF Mayor) won’t give away his most prized possession…
Ives,
If you are going to the game, you must stop by an try the new La Mar Cebicheria restaurant by Gaston Acurio. It has a nice wraparound bar featuring a big variety of premium Piscos.
http://www.lamarcebicheria.com/web/index.php
I might just try to make the trip and kill two birds with one stone.
Cheers
Too bad they aren’t coming to Chicago. A total West Coast trip doesn’t help all the soccer fans east of the Rockies. Maybe next time…
Posted by: Mark | June 17, 2009 at 01:57 PM
Get serious..
@ rossi de judas
hey better Chivas than Real playing TFC or Barca playing Red Bull.
I called this months back! Yoo HOO!
I like Chivas ok, but I wish they could have played against a Boca Juniors or Sao Paulo. The opportunities to see top teams from South America go up against their European counterparts are few and far between.
I was at the friendly in Giants Stadium last summer and I can tell you was well worth the price of admission. Barca play beautiful, exciting soccer as most know, and you shouldn’t miss an opportunity to see them if they come to your area. The only player I missed was Messi who I think was competing in the Olympics.
Too bad they aren’t coming to Chicago. A total West Coast trip doesn’t help all the soccer fans east of the Rockies. Maybe next time…