Houston to Host 2010 MLS All-Star Game

[Keith]

This makes me happy.

MLS Commissioner Don Garber announced that Houston has been chosen as the host city for the upcoming 2010 MLS All-Star Game, in a press conference at the Canyons Resort in Park City on Monday afternoon.

Garber said that the league has been pleasantly surprised by the passionate fanbase in the Houston area and the success of Dynamo organization since it put up roots in the city. Both factors make it an ideal location to host an all-star game.

"I don't think that people really expected that Houston, Texas would be a strong, powerful and successful MLS market," Garber said. "It's turned out to be one of our best." ...

"I can't offer you the mountains like Salt Lake City has nor I can I offer you nice, cool temperatures," Luck said. "But there's a great fanbase in Houston and our fanbase will be extraordinarily excited about the opportunity to have the MLS All-Stars and a world-class club coming into play."

Reliant Stadium and Robertson Stadium are both possibilities to serve as the host stadium for the game. Robertson Stadium is the usual home stadium for the Dynamo. Reliant Stadium -- the home stadium for the Houston Texans -- has hosted Gold Cup games and international exhibitions in the past.

Garber speculated the league might draw a team from Mexico to play the MLS All-Stars in 2010, given the close proximity of the country to Houston.

http://houston.mlsnet.com/news/team_....jsp&team=t200

I can understand and expect that a Mexican team would visit, but I would about bust if Liverpool somehow was named the opponent.

[papabear]

Originally Posted by Keith

I can understand and expect that a Mexican team would visit, but I would about bust if Liverpool somehow was named the opponent.

Glad to hear this as well. I'm going to have to try to go to it as well. A mexican side would make sense....but I think the MLS should maybe might shy away from it for the simple reason that they don't want to see 70% of the fans cheering on their opponent in their showcase event. It will likely come down to scheduling as much as anything, but the league gets much more exposure, and intrest, IMO if they play a top European club. We have a lot more opportunities to see the Mexican teams than we do the Euro's. It's not a new thing to have a Mexican team. There is a strong fan base for the Mexican clubs here, but they would be just as excited, if not more, to see Liverpool or someone like that.

[Keith]

I'm not so sure that the MLS won't just be a whore for the dollars here though. If they can sell 50k+ tickets with Club America on the bill at Reliant, versus say Tottenham Hotspur at Robertson... well, I guess I doubt MLS cares who's cheering for whom.

Of course, a double bill could be in order. They could host the ASG with some Euro team then have a couple Mexican teams (say, Chivas...) put on an exhibition afterward.

[papabear]

Originally Posted by Keith

I'm not so sure that the MLS won't just be a whore for the dollars here though. If they can sell 50k+ tickets with Club America on the bill at Reliant, versus say Tottenham Hotspur at Robertson... well, I guess I doubt MLS cares who's cheering for who.

Of course, a double bill could be in order. They could host the ASG with some Euro team then have a couple Mexican teams (say, Chivas...) put on an exhibition afterward.

My thinking is that if they bring in a big enough club, they will still be able to sell the 50K+ tickets...if it's a team with enough big names the mexican fans will want to see them too. Either way I'm definitely going to try and go.

[superbowlbound]

i'm there. period. We've already got a group of about 8 that want to go, and that was just the crowd at Pennison's at 2 am on a monday night. I might crap my pants if Liverpool is the side they bring in. Holy wow would that be awesome! It really is nice to see the growth soccer has experienced in just the last couple years in this country. I must've gotten text messages from at least 7 people that I couldn't pay to come watch the cup in 2006 when the US beat spain in the confed cup. Very nice for the city of Houston, to be sure. I say we have an ITB tailgate!