Beckham and Manchester Utd. in US updates.

[ColtCrazy]

This is a link to a soccernet article about Beckham's future and a bit about Manchester Utd's tour of the US. here (http://soccernet.espn.go.com/headlinenews?id=265705&cc=5739)


On the tour, it states
"United are hoping to break into the American market by travelling to the US for their pre-season tour this summer and Kenyon told the Daily Mail: 'The contract we have this summer in America is not to take the one or two people but the whole team. "

Which is good news for those thinking Utd's reserves would be coming.

At one point, Manchester Utd. were worth over a billion dollars, probably the most expensive franchise in the world. But this will be a hard market to crack. Other than die hard soccer fans like myself.

[Bee]

I'd be more interested in seeing the Barnet Bees since that's the team I always take in CM.

[condors]

they sold out the eagles stadium in less than 2 hours so in philadelphia they "cracked" the market

[Franklinnoble]

Is there someplace where their tour schedule is posted?

[Karim]

A billion? Is ManU owned by one person/family/company?

I thought the Yankees was where it's at...

[henry296]

At one time Rupuert Murdoch owned ManU. Yes that Rupert Murdoch. I think he still does, but I am not sure.

Todd

[sterlingice]

I'd love to go if they come to KC, provided tickets aren't too expensive. I loved the Wizards game I went to.

SI

[Cards4ever]

The reason they are coming is, the joint agreement they have with the YES network. I wish they were coming to the Midwest, I'd love to see soccer at that level, I still regret not being into soccer enough in 94, I could've went to a WC game.

[Cards4ever]

dola-here's the schedule of the US tour

ManU v Celtic
Seattle 7/22
ManU v Club America LA 7/27
ManU v Juventus NY 7/31
ManU v Barcelona Philly 8/3

This comes from the US Man U fan site.

http://www.muscusa.com/home.html

[MIJB#19]

Man U has dozens of co-owners, including Rupert Murdoch having (I think) the biggest share of shares.

What I didn't get the hype around Manchester United, it's not like they're part of the top 10 European club teams in European football/soccer history (http://www.geocities.com/jfaugeras/uefaallt.html)...

Then I saw the link on the link I gave to the rankings of the last 5 seasons, which is topped by ManU.
Not to mention ManU is amongst the 10 teams that won more then 1 European club championship (only counting European Cup I and UEFA Champions' League victories.)

I guess the Red Devils are 'hotter' then ever before.
Looking to the people amongst the shareholders, the Devil is getting his people together... :rolleyes:

[Cards4ever]

They are looking for new markets to sell gear too, it's awfully funny how European soccer wants to be just like American sports, huh MIJB?! :D

[Tekneek]

Rupert Murdoch tried to get control of Manchester United sometime over the past several years, and I can't recall why the deal broke down.

Any chance YES will be broadcasting any of these games?

[Cards4ever]

Originally posted by Tekneek
Rupert Murdoch tried to get control of Manchester United sometime over the past several years, and I can't recall why the deal broke down.

Any chance YES will be broadcasting any of these games?

I wouldn't be surprised, I believe they show some games now.

[Tekneek]

YES shows some classic matches from time to time, and shows each week's MU match once the Fox exclusivity on it expires.

[ice4277]

I got tix for the game in Philly and am looking forward to going. My friend I am going with is a huge Barcelona fan so we should have a great time. I think one reason the Philly game sold out so quick is because it is also the first event at their new football stadium. Also, from what I have heard, the Man U tour will be shown live on Fox Sports World. As an aside, a great website for soccer fans to check out is www.soccertv.com. There's a mailing list you can sign up to, the guy who runs it updates it a couple times a week, and it has every soccer game viewable in the U.S. listed. Essential stuff if you are into watching soccer on tv.

[Franklinnoble]

Good article about ManU here... (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A62307-2003Apr30.html)

[Ryan S]

I don't think Rupert Murdoch has any involvement with Manchester United.

He tried to buy them a few years ago, but was turned down.

[Franklinnoble]

Read the article I posted above... he was prevented from buying the team outright by Britain's monopoly laws... but now owns 9.9% of the team.

[ColtCrazy]

Yeah, I remember all the arguments over Murdoch buying the team. He owns SkySports...so him buying ManUtd and owning the cable sports network over there would be a big no-no.

I got tix to the Phily game too, it's the closest to me. I couldn't believe how fast they sold. I had to refresh once and in that time, the whole second level of ticketing had sold out.

Interesting list MIJB. Manchester had great teams 30-40 years ago, but it looks as if they are progressively growing. They rank 7th in the last 20 years, 5th in the last 10. They've managed to explode as technology brings the game around the world. In the 80s, the powerhouses in England were Everton and Liverpool, or at least the richest clubs. While Liverpool is still strong, they play little brother to Arsenal and United and Everton is typically a struggling mid-table team these days.

[ColtCrazy]

dola...

and you are right, the last list they are top. I guess Real is trying to take a page from their book now with their all star lineup

[daedalus]

I recall reading what Ryan S said, Murdoch *tried* but could not buy Manchester United. They would not allow it for some reason. Last I read, he was trying to get into Lazio. Don't know how much progress he made with that.

[GoldenEagle]

If only they had Freddy Adu....

[MIJB#19]

Originally posted by Cards4ever
They are looking for new markets to sell gear too, it's awfully funny how European soccer wants to be just like American sports, huh MIJB?! :D
Well, about 10 years ago there was this Anaheim Mighty Ducks Logo hype around here (with 11 out of 10 people not knowing what they wore) and now their caps and jackets finally get some value!
A job well done I'd say!

Regarding Murdoch, I somewhere read SkyB(?) owns 41% of the ManU shares, but can't get any bigger.
So basically, Murdoch doesn't own ManU, but he and his foreign tv friends do have over 50% I think...

[MIJB#19]

is this a dola?

ColtsCrazy, the lists are made of official UEFA list based on performance of clubs in European Cup competitions.

Did you manage to see how far Ajax (once a top 5 team) dropped to 41st in the last 5 years, to return back to the European elite this season?

[MIJB#19]

double dola
ColtCrazy, in case it wasn't clear, the articles are not mine, I just linked because I know/knew they exist.

I got there through www.rsssf.com, a site of soccer fans around the globe (of which I am not part.)
I guess that site well belongs in the Bookmarks section of soccer fans...

[ColtCrazy]

Yeah, I saw that. I actually own an Ajax kit. When they came to play in the states a few years ago my father and I talked about how much they had fallen since being one of the top teams in Europe not long ago. It's nice to see them back in form.