The high-profile friendly season was supposed to be over. Big European clubs had already come and gone, staging exhibitions in front of nearly-sold out stadiums across the country. Kansas City was one of few MLS markets that appeared to be left out.
News out of Kansas City is that this is about to change, with the Wizards announcing that Arrowhead stadium will play host to a friendly of Club America and Chivas de Guadalajara. Scheduled for September 16, it pits two of the most storied Mexican clubs against each other. Officials involved hope that it can draw the largest soccer crowd in Kansas City history, having to top the 37,319 for a U.S. game against Costa Rica.
What do you think of the news? Think that the friendly will make an impact even after the summer friendlies have come and gone? Will the game set a new record for KC? In the area and going to head out to the match?
Share your thoughts below.
Jorge, it’s not Kansas, it’s Missouri, and I really doubt they can sell out arrowhead.
i applaud this and encourage the KC Spanish radio stations to link up with the Wizards fan clubs. one thing is to host the event, another is to actually connect the event to MLS.
if ur a Wiz fan or any soccer fan just go to the parking lot to party! live music, dancing, cerveza, all that good stuff!
This isn’t the first time that 2 Mexican league teams have come into the USA during their seasons to play exhibition games. I remember a September, 2004 Fire vs DC at the new soldier field double-header with America vs “team that I can’t remember off the top of my head” as the nightcap game.
As beech says way up in the comments, the crowd for the WCQ was absolutely electric. One of the outstanding sporting events I’ve ever attended. This exhibition may outdraw that, but I seriously doubt the fever will be as pitch.
Club America is not doing that bad at all, but my feeling is Chivas will dump Paco “slapchap’ Ramirez after they lose yet again this weekend!
Anyway always good to watch a half a dozen MNT players playing against each other!
A full house for a soccer game.
Thats something Kansas City has never seen.
The Mexican national team and Mexican clubs should be banned from coming to the US to play friendlies and take advantage of the US economy until their fans can learn to stop throwing batteries, garbage and cups of puke, piss and beer at opposing players. Let them stay in Mexico until then. That is all.
Good idea, why not?
HC
Hooray! An international opponent is playing in KC… and not against the Wizards. When will we ever get a chance to pit our local club against a high profile opponent? (No need to call 911, I’m not holding my breathe).
Good for $UM and KC to get C.A. & Chivas, two of Mexico’s currently worst clubs. But the $$$ is good.
“I would be all for the US/Canada/Mexican superleague though if that ever happened. ”
You mean SuperLiga?
This seems really different from the other summer tours. This game just doesn’t make sense to me – the game is meaningless and the Mexican league has already started.
I would be all for the US/Canada/Mexican superleague though if that ever happened.
kudos to kc management for showing some initiative and ambition
quick money maker for all parties involved. KC, C.A. and chivas get their money and the mexicans of the area will see their teams. Everyone wins
well, it’s Mexican Independence day on the 16th so that’d be a great way to celebrate for us Mexicans.
Switching the Wizards game up to do a doubleheader would make a pretty intense stretch of games…they would have to play Saturday-Wednesday-Saturday-Wednesday if they switched the game. They probably weren’t willing to do that to their players.
The KC Star can thank Wizards blogger, Mike at Down the Byline for that story.
Ives:
I see ESPN’s games are being prominently advertised on your site. Very nice. Did they sign up for the entire year? (I realize you may not be able to answer that question)
Sounds like some of the cities on the list for World Cup games are trying to sell themselves to FIFA/USSF as being able to host games.
C @ 4:46pm
37,000 is still the record for USMNT in WCQ for a weekday event. Although I remember the number being more like 35k and change. The 37k was a HSG promo where they essentially gave tickets away at a local grocery store chain if you bought more than $40 worth of goods in a “Break the record night”. Another HSG tactic that the market is still trying to recover from. “Wizards game for how much? Those tickets used to be free or like $5”.
Anyway back on point, 35k+ is still a higher number than WCQ’s at Home Depot, Columbus and several others. And this was back prior to the WC02 successes and attention. Still one of the most electric atmospheres I’ve ever been in in a sporting event. The Costa Rican’s were a party and great to interact with.
cj,
I’ll take it one step further and be kind of cynical, if I may: Why Kansas?
FC Dallas at WIZ on Sept 19…
Potential for a reschedule on that one…move it up into a mid-week slot before the big match?
Yawn….
Sounds like a quick way to make cash. DC and LA need to play a friendly in South america. how many people would see that
It won’t be regular season game because neither of the teams are willing to give up the gate receipts for one of the biggest games of the season.
Why are two teams already in the middle of a season where they will play each other playing a completely separate friendly?
Why not make it a regular season game for each team?!
37,000 fans is a record for KC? why so few?
“Make it a double header with the Wizards and get them some more exposure.”
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Too good an idea to actually happen (unfortunately)
If this isnt a double header than it is pointless well beyond the whole lets make money by having a friendly between two teams in the middle of their season with each other. In context how crazy would it be that if during September Red Sox Yankees squared off in Japan for an exhibition game. Each city might start rioting with the possibility of either team having a player get hurt.
Make it a double header with the Wizards and get them some more exposure.