Chelsea partners with MLS

AreliusIV · 03-29-2006, 08:55 AM

Not only will Chelsea be coming for the All Star game, but Chelsea has entered into a partnership of sorts with MLS, allowing some of Chelsea's reserves to come play here.

As well as being able to exchange coaching and medical experience, the clubs will stage a tournament every two years, starting next year, involving Chelsea and a host MLS club.

"This is a unique, ground-breaking relationship that not only demonstrates our commitment to the development of US soccer, but will also help Chelsea work towards its aim of becoming the most popular European club in the US, one of our key target markets," said Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon.

"Chelsea is one of the most ambitious, forward-thinking and recognisable clubs in world football and is prepared to make a long-term pledge to US soccer," said AEG president Timothy J Leiweke. "This alliance will clearly help to continue soccer's tremendous growth in North America through our joint promotional efforts as well as the staging of meaningful competitions between Chelsea and the best of the MLS."

http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,1742281,00.html

fuegote · 03-29-2006, 08:55 AM

http://www.chelseafc.com/article.asp?hlid=375060&title=Chelsea+announce+US+alliance+with+AEG&nav=news

AreliusIV · 03-29-2006, 08:58 AM

This bodes very well for soccer in the U.S. If we get a few other of the world's soccer powers to do this we could see soccer really take off here.

fuegote · 03-29-2006, 09:01 AM

Dear Real Madrid.......

fuegote · 03-29-2006, 09:02 AM

Dear Manchester United....

Rover · 03-29-2006, 10:05 AM

Interesting.

Overall I think this is a good thing and I also hope it starts the stampede of Europowers to partner with MLS.

But this isn't a partnership with MLS. It's with AEG. This is what Tim Lieweke said about it:

This alliance will clearly help to continue soccer's tremendous growth in North America through our joint promotional efforts as well as the staging of meaningful competitions between Chelsea and the best of the
MLS

"Best of MLS" is AEG code for "Best of AEG."

That means the LA Galaxy.

The rich get richer.

prk166 · 03-29-2006, 10:18 AM

Let the Landon Donovan to Chelsea rumors begin! :toot:

Aero · 03-29-2006, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rover

The rich get richer.

Couldn't have said it better myself. In fact, I think this was the very thing I said when reading the article. It seems that once again, exceptions to the MLS rules will be made on behalf of the Galaxy.

Merrill · 03-29-2006, 02:19 PM

I guess now we know how the other teams in England feel. If you're not Aresenal, Chelsea, ManU or possibly Liverpool, then you're nothing.

It's how soccer works in most countries, now it's how it works here too.

SoccerPrime · 03-30-2006, 01:20 PM

Of course Chelsea cancelled the MLS All-Star announcement, so who knows who the MLS All-Stars will play this year.