Man. United could make U.S. summer tour
- by Paul Kennedy @pkedit, Mar 30, 2010
[ENGLAND] Manchester United could be headed to the United States for its first summer tour since 2004. The deal isn't final. Several parties are involved in the
negotiations. But if finalized, it could mean United will be the opponent for the MLS all-stars July 29 or Aug. 5 at Houston's Reliant Stadium.
According to several reports, Soccer United
Marketing, MLS’s marketing arm that promoted Barcelona's 2009 tour, and Creative Artists Agency, which organized the 2009 World Football Challenge, are working together to organize what would be
a four- or five-game tour.
MLS's commitment to play game at the 71,500-seat Reliant Stadium -- date TBA -- means that it needs a high-profile team to fill the stadium. (Houston, a
potential 2022 World Cup venue, has an interest in seeing that the event does well.)
One issue: the tour would take place only weeks after the end of the World Cup. Depending on how far
England goes, Wayne Rooney might or might not be not ready for the preseason game.
What makes United attractive, though, is that is one of the few
big clubs whose name is as much of a draw as the players it brings.
Other English teams that have played the MLS all-stars are Chelsea (2006), West Ham (2008) and Everton (2009).
