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Here comes Barcelona

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Major League Soccer and FC Barcelona have established a new multi-year partnership, the league announced on Thursday. The most promising aspect of the announcement was this tidbit:

As part of the agreement, FCBarcelona and its heralded roster of international superstars including Carles Puyol, Thierry Henry, Ronaldinho, Lionel Messi, Samuel Eto’o, will play games this summer. Details for the tour will be announced in the near future.

Games in Chicago and at Giants Stadium (on Aug. 7) have long been rumored but this announcement is the first public step toward those matches becoming a reality.

If you are wondering why there isn’t more excitement about this announcement, it might have to do with Barcelona absolutely imploding this season. That aside, the club still has too much star power (Messi, Ronaldinho, Henry, etc.) to not draw the masses to games this summer.

What do you think of this announcement? Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. The fact that they have to play in the qualifying stages of the CL could work out to be a positive. The Red Bulls game would probably be their last before their first CL game so they should be a bit sharper than they’d usually be at that stage.

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  2. I totally agree with Brett. I live about an hour away from downtown Chicago and I am not even certain I could see myself making the trip. It’s great that this allows fans of European soccer to see great games that they enjoy, but how does Barcalona playing Chivas in Chicago help MLS?

    Again, I love the idea of Barca sponsored development camps, but I really can’t get up on the idea of paying $40 to see the team play Chivas. It just doesn’t interest me. But if they played the Fire, I would be there in a heartbeat.

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  3. “It’s been pretty difficult getting up in the morning. We’ll have a breathalyzer, and anyone with a [blood-alcohol] level below 0.2 gets to play.”

    Bayern Munich forward Alexander Zickler before the MetroStars friendly (2001)

    Effenberg, Bayern’s captain, was not alone in showing up drunk for the flight to New York.

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  4. “This is pretty much sweating out the beer.”

    Frankie Hejduk, Leverkusen midfielder, during their 2001 US tour

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  5. Adam M- while i agree that if Barca did in fact play MLS teams, that it would indeed help improve the MLS… but from what ive gathered, and viewing from last years visit, it’ll mainly be intl’ teams, not MLS teams…. while we may still end up getting one (rematch for you redbuller’s??)..

    and i would make the 3 hr trip to chicago if barca was facing the Fire (or the USMN for that matter)… but i cant be asked to make the drive if they are facing a team like Chivas (or another foreign team)…

    i stand by the fact that they are investing in the developement of US soccer is going to be the strongest impact this partnership will have

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  6. All I know is that the Barca-Red Bulls games in a packed, fully engaged Giants Stadium was a highly memorable experience, Ronny, Messi, and Eto’o (and other notables) played exciting football and scored goals, and it was the first time in many years that a live sporting event made me feel the way a kid feels about sports. I’d add that these and other games like them prove that Americans will come out in huge numbers to watch soccer when top stars play, and that MLS can only benefit in the long run from having Americans chose to spend their limited resources on live soccer games every year, even if those games are not MLS v. MLS games for now. Simply put, there is no downside to this agreement.

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  7. gerald- only if they are actually playing your club…. as i stated before, its been reported they’ll make a stop in chicago, but not to face the Fire…

    Homey Boehme- im guessing your SOL 😀

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  8. Alejandro Ruiz – ok, now im interested in the partnership… is that on the MLSnet.com article?? i must’ve read it 5 times and didnt see it if it is…

    that is the most exciting part of the partnership, not the games…

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  9. If I’m not mistaken if you are a full season ticket holder, this one is a freebie so why not. If not I’m guessing it will be discounted tickets

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  10. Really, the majority of money made by leagues and teams comes from T.V. revenue. Yes, a bunch of people pay to come to the stadium, drink beer, buy jerseys, but T.V. revenue is what really pumps the $$$.

    I’m personally saving my $$$ for World Cup 2010. A competition that really matters, where the best in the world show up for a full 90 minutes, and the atmosphere cannot be matched….Of course that is unless my wife decides a down payment on a house is a better investment. 🙂

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  11. “The club plans to open three camps in the U.S. this summer and academies in the future that will be designed to identify talent and expand the brand. SUM Exec VP/Int’l Business & Special Events Will Wilson: “The main thing to understand is this is not just a tour.”

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  12. Too many “debby downers” in here, pretty irritating, this is a good thing and I’m thinking about making the 6 hour drive to Chicago if they show up…

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  13. If Barca still have Messi, Marquez and Dos Santos. I don’t see them having trouble drawing in the Chicago.

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  14. I think that when Barca is finished with their USA tour and the head for the airport, they should just leave Henry behind. Welcome to MLS, Thierry! :]

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  15. FredMacMurray- is barca actually playing MLS sides?? from what Luis reported awhile ago, Barca is coming to Chicago but wont be playing the Fire (nor the USMN)…

    most likely it’ll be held at Soldier Field…

    how is this helping the MLS to grow?? have i missed an obvious aspect (if i have then i may get excited at the prospect of it)?? b/c by the looks of it, the MLS will be getting $$$ and barca looks to possible develope a larger fan base in the US….

    i dont mind that they are coming here to play, and i appriciate the partnership.. i really appriciate the $$ our league will get from it, but lets not get to carried away… i just find it funny how everyone gets up in arms when someone doesnt get as giddy as a school girl when they hear Barca is coming to town…

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  16. Dominghosa, Jerry, Tony in Quakeland-

    chicago is a 3 hr drive north for me… i have no invested interest in seeing them play (ie. if a young american prospect was playing for them)… i do not follow the team (in any form cept recreational)… there is no reason for me to pay an overpriced ticket and drive the 3 hrs to watch teams i have no interest in seeing live…

    if they were playing the USMN or the Fire, then id have some interest in making the trip and paying the $$$…

    i stand by what others have said… i would rather have seen actual hands on with barca, as in sending a few top prospects abroad to train with the reserves… or perhaps able to send some coaching staff to barca during the offseason so that they can learn from one of the best….

    Jerry- culprits have been punished, and the team (ie. the players) despite the fact of not having a hand in it, were punished and served their time…. been a long-time Juve fan… only team in europe i truely follow… but ill root for any team that houses a Yank… but i support only 2 teams: Fire and USMN….

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  17. I’m w you Tony. There is nothing negative about this announcement. To be able to take my kids to see barca is a hell of an opportunity.

    How bout this quote “this is all about making money for the organizers…”. NO? YaThink?

    The reason the quality of professional leagues is so hi in europe is because there is so much money to be made there! Which is driven by a large passionate fan base. Same as MLB or NFL.

    This can only help mls grow and raise more money, which is what is needed to raise the salary cap.

    Plus we get to whatch some legends play.

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  18. Even if some current superstars leave, Barcelona will still be loaded with talent (especially young talent) and will bring in new superstars.

    They are going to be a draw no matter what.

    Johnson, let me guess, you’ve never watched a soccer game, ever. That’s the only way I can excuse such stupid, just plain ignorant statement. Why would anyone want to see one of the biggest clubs on the planet live? Why would they want to see some of the biggest stars? Gee, I don’t know. You colossal moron.

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  19. who cares about games that dont count and where the players from barca wont care? its boring and doesn’t mean anything.

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  20. The stunning ability of US soccer fans to pull negatives out of any development never ceases to amaze me.

    If I get to see Henry and/or Messi to trout out for a half, that’s exactly one half more than I have ever seen them play before. It’s a multi-year relationship, too, meaning that the current rebuilding year is only one part of it.

    As for the business side of it, this is yet another smart move by MLS. Instead letting outside teams scoop up our soccer dollars, they form a partnership that can profit the league.

    But let’s piss and moan instead…

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  21. These games are stupid, and no longer have purpose, players always get hurt, the league is what counts, in-season exhibitions need to go away or be played by the reserve teams.

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  22. Brett,

    Cheating calciopoli Juventus over Barca? wow never heard of that before! lol anyways It doesnt matter who stays or go i will be at the front row if this match heck I might even go to chi town !

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  23. wow. zero interest in watching the Blaugrana play. So….do you even like soccer?

    Anyway, I guess I can see the reasons but that’s just mind-blowing.

    Saw Barca in 2006 at the Coliseum vs. Chivas de Guadalajara. And I’ll never forget it. Everything about the match was electric. Even Kobe was there in attendance. Ronaldinho at the time was still Ronaldinho. He put on a show.

    Before that match was an MLS game pitting Chivas USA and New England when Clint Dempsey put on a show for the masses there waiting for the second match of the doubleheader.

    As for this summer….

    let’s see, last year’s CL qualifying rounds were from July 17-25, July 31-Aug. 8, and Aug. 13-15 and Aug. 28, Sept. 3.

    Not sure when they’ll be able to fit in matches in the summer unless it’s a reserve side, which I don’t see happening and would be very unfortunate.

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  24. I would like to get excited about it, but I think this is all about making money for the organizers, without any real benefit to the game in the U.S. or the fans.

    In the long-term, a better idea out of this partneshp would be to send some of the younger players (heck, try most of the Galaxy roster:) and coaches to train with the Barca reserves. It would not be as flashy, but it would seem to be a lot more effective.

    Plus, who are they going to play? Doesn’t MLS have the Superliga and Concaaf Champions League at about the same time? I would gladly trade in both for a spot in Copa Libertadores for one of the MLS teams. But if MLS is going to take part in these tournamets, what is the point of overloading their teams’ schedules? We do not have enough quality players in the league to shoulder this burden.

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  25. Barcelona is one of a half dozen clubs that are great to have an opportunity to see play ANYTIME. I’m glad MLS is doing this.

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  26. unless things have changed with their rumored trip to chicago, i wont be attending….

    cant be asked to make the drive if they are playing in chicago and not playing the Fire or the USMN… Barca holds ZERO appeal for me… id make the trip to chicago for any of these three teams: Fire, USMN, Juventus

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  27. I would be much more impressed by this arrangement if it included some real and substantial training opportunities for players and coaches. That will yield much more benefit than watching a couple of exhibition games on TV.

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  28. Yeah, “Be the First to see the New Barca” is about right. The sad part is, I don’t know how Barca is going to get anyone to pay big money for these players considering the reason they are being let go is for indiscipline and lack of training. Perhaps Barca are hoping for some sort of bidding war? Yes, good players, but for all the clubs claiming to have the financial clout to equal the 30 Million Euro price tag on Ronaldinho, none of them have made an offer for that amount.

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  29. Sorry…but what a load of crap. This team is going to go through such an overhaul that they have no idea who will even be on the squad.

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  30. Even if their older, bigger name stars leave, I still wouldn’t mind seeing Barca play, because they have some young stars a la Mess, Krcic, and Dos Santos that are brilliant.

    They have quality all over the pitch and on the bench, so even if a few players leave or don’t come we will still get to see some very good players.

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  31. Very Robert… Ronaldinho will be done very soon. And very possibly Etoo and Henry. Barca is a mess right now and they need to rebuild the team.

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  32. YES !!!!!!!! this is awesome ! hopefully they do come and I will have a chance to go see them ! will def be in giants stadium for this game

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  33. Dinho will be at Inter with Mourinho by the middle of the summer.

    There is no way that Nike is going to allow one of their biggest global stars to defect to an adidas club.

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  34. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Barca back out on some of these commitments.

    That said, if you are in the states, take advantage of seeing them if you can.

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  35. It will be interesting to see how much of that star power will still be around come the matches in the US. Probably big changes in the personel on the pitch. About the only people I see Barca lableing as untouchable is Messi (who I don’t see as ever wanting to leave as they took care of him for so long, back when he was 11 with medical conditions he had at the time). However Messi might not make the appearences for these matches because supposedly he’s going to be with Argentina at the Olympics just a couple of days later. Still, whoever Barca have, they’re gonna be big name players. They can promote the match as “be the first to see the new Barca”.

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  36. how are barca going to come over here in aug when they need to play champions league qualifying rounds because they finished in 3rd place this season?

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  37. Games in which — like the Galaxy in Yellowknife, or Celtic in Denver — the main objective of the players will be to avoid injury.

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