Real Madrid may play at Qualcomm in July

[AreliusII]

http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/20050513-9999-1s13real.html#


Real Madrid may play at Qualcomm in July

By Brent Schrotenboer and Mark Zeigler
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITERS
May 13, 2005

Qualcomm Stadium has begun preliminary negotiations to bring soccer superstar David Beckham and his team, Real Madrid, to San Diego in July against a yet-to-be-determined opponent, most likely a club from Mexico.

Qualcomm Stadium Marketing Manager Mike McSweeney told the Stadium Advisory Board of the possibility in yesterday's meeting. He said he was holding July 16-19 dates for the match and that he was told by the IMG sports agency – which he said is promoting the event – that San Antonio also is being considered.

McSweeney said that IMG "may be playing one market against the other" to obtain a better deal.

Spanish media reported recently that Real Madrid, arguably the world's second-most popular club after England's Manchester United, will come to the States for a two-match tour in mid-July, then go to China and one other Asian country for several more exhibition matches through the end of the month.

Real Madrid – with its superstar lineup (the "Galacticos") of Ronaldo of Brazil, Luis Figo of Portugal, Michael Owen of England, Zinedine Zidane of France, Raul of Spain and Roberto Carlos of Brazil – is a draw wherever it goes.

Spanish newspaper AS said the first U.S. match would be in Seattle on July 15 and a second would be played July 19, most likely in Los Angeles or Houston. All three cities, however, are hosts for the CONCACAF Gold Cup, the region's biennial championship for men's national teams, and CONCACAF rules forbid them from hosting another match two weeks before or after.

Seattle's Qwest Field is to host Gold Cup doubleheaders on July 7 and 9. The L.A. Coliseum hosts Mexico-Guatemala on July 10. Houston's Reliant Stadium has doubleheaders on July 13 and 17.

San Diego and San Antonio are logical alternatives if a Mexican club opponent is chosen. Soccer insiders say the leading candidate is Chivas of Guadalajara. But part of Chivas' wide appeal is its policy of fielding an exclusively Mexican-born roster, and a half-dozen of its top players could be gone on national team duty for the Gold Cup.

And given Real Madrid's lofty price tag – a reported $750,000 to $1 million per match – anything less than a near-sellout could be a financial disaster.

An IMG representative involved in the matter could not be reached for comment yesterday.

Groups wishing to host international matches on U.S. soil must first get approval from the U.S. Soccer Federation, and a federation spokesman said as of yesterday no such application had been filed on behalf of Real Madrid.

"It would be a nice piece of business," McSweeney said.

San Antonio Alamodome director Michael Abington said yesterday, "It's in a business (negotiation) right now, and I can't really discuss it."

[AreliusII]

How hard would it be for our big brothers to swing by SLC to play their new subsidiary?

[DadOf8]

Originally Posted by AreliusII

How hard would it be for our big brothers to swing by SLC to play their new subsidiary?

Could we guarantee a sell out? That seems to be the caveat. I know I would buy ducats but I can't say if 45,000 plus tickets would be sold. Also, don't Qualcomm and the Alamo Dome hold a lot more seats? The largest stadium in Utah is Cougar Stadium (70,000). Would that be enough to cover Real Madrid's price tag?

[Rover]

I'd rather see the Spanish CHAMPIONS any day.

That would be BARCELONA. 🙂