The MLS All Star game is coming to Houston this summer and Reliant Stadium. Fresh on the heels of the World Cup the soccer celebration will continue in the Bayou City and will be an opportunity to showcase the sport and the city. Many felt a Mexican club like America might be the opponent for the MLS All Stars and were less than thrilled.
Not that we don’t like Mexican clubs but they will be here anyway participating in the Superliga, besides they are regular visitors to our city.
SportsBusiness Journal is reporting that CAA Sports and Soccer United Marketing are working on a deal to bring Manchester United in as the opponent for the MLS All Stars.
United last toured in 2004 which incidentally was the tour that then United goalkeeper Tim Howard formerly of the MLS Metrostars debuted.
The club could tour without stars like Wayne Rooney and Brazilian Anderson who will be coming off commitments from the World Cup.
Manchester United is arguably the biggest brand on the planet when it comes to sporting properties.
Are you excited that Man U might just be coming to Houston?
If you are interested in attending the Dallas Cup let me know tonight at the live show as I have passes courtesy of FIESTA.
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Would be great news for Houston to get Man U as the MLS opponent. I think we would be looking most certainly at a sellout were that to happen.
Man U would exceed all expectations! I really hope it comes to pass, and I REALLY hope that we don’t face off against a Mexican team. If we want a Latin-American opponent, we should at least get a team from Brazil or Argentina. But a team from the EPL or La Liga would be great, and Man U, arguably the most iconic team in the soccer world, would be just awesome!
Reliant Stadium just held the rodeo so why not fill it w/more ManUre? Forget cattle and farm animals, it will take decades to get the foul stench of United out of the home of the Houston Texans. As a native Houstonian (and Chelsea fan), I’m utterly appalled at the thought of Manchester United besmirching the good name of my home town and soiling our home soil. I would, however, definitely pay good money to see Sir Alex melt like the wicked witch of the west in the sweltering summer heat.
Wren – so why not use your distaste for ManU to root FOR the MLS All-Stars?! As for the summer heat, I can’t imagine the roof NOT being closed at Reliant for anything in July or August.
@GKDad – I’m just avin’ a laff. I will GLADLY pull for (almost) ANYONE against ManU! Obviously I would prefer to see Chelsea in Htown but United would be good for MLS and for Houston football.
I have also heard that Man City is a possibility as they might be doing a tour in the US round abouts that time. Would it be as big as Man U, ehh maybe not. We will just have to wait and see who gets thrown into the mix for an opponent.
Am I excited? I practically screamed like a girl at an Enrique Iglesias concert! Ok, I actually did. Chelsea fans, Chelsea already played an All-Star game here in 2006 so it’s just fair to be Man United’s turn. GLORY GLORY MAN UNITED AS THE RED COME MARCHING IN!!! come on soccer gods, let the deal go through.
Man Utd brings back images of a small sum of money disappearing from a table in front of me in remarkably short time at the end of the 1999 Champions League final. So I\’m not a big fan. But, like everyone else here, it would be a fantastic get!
May city? Less so.
Alot of people disappeared from the face of the earth after the 99 result to never be heard from again Jon……I still see images of Lothar Mattheus swinging a white towel in celebration to the crowd!!
My order of preference for EPL teams visiting Reliant Stadium would be:
1. Man U
2. Man City
3. Tottenham
But why can’t Liverpool make a visit?
Well Glenn, my pain was more of a financial loss than one of rooting interest from the ‘99 final. Living in Bratislava (that’s in Slovakia) at the time, I knew that the Bayern team was extremely talented (they blew everyone away in the Bundesliga and could have easily been the first German team to win the treble- though the lost the German Cup final to Bremen 3 days after losing to Man Utd in a match that they just didn’t seem like themselves).
Anyway, back to that night in Bratislava that I was watching the match in a local Irish pub with a bunch of other English language expats from various places. Me, just gotten a paycheck from my employer, saw the odds for a United victory, but liked the odds for Bayern much better. Bayern’s defense for the most part had been spectacular that season and their offense was technically sound as well. It is also worth noting that United captain Roy Keane and Paul Scholes were suspended due to yellow card accumulation in the semi-final leg at Juventus. So, of course, I put my wager on the German champions, to the boos and catcalls of just about everyone in the bar. “One more case of the ignorant American” said most of the bar. But I had really done my homework and seen both of these teams play in a few matches against opponents of varying quality. And with the odds so off-balance towards the English champions, I thought that betting on Bayern was the way to go.
Shortly after the match began, Mario Dasler converts a brilliant freekick from just outside the box. Beckham himself had a great view of it blowing my his head and by Danish goalkeeper Peter Schmeical into the corner of the goal. Brilliance!!! 1-0 to the Germans.
80th minute: after back and forth action, Alex Ferguson brings on Ole Gunner Solskjaer on for some last-minute magic. About a minute later, Carsten Jancker of Bayern headed one off the cross-bar that would have sealed everything. As Glenn notes often, Mattheus comes off at the same time for Fink for defensive purposes. Then, the manager of the bar who was running bets then did something unforgiveable. He put my projected gambling winnings on the table in front of me, taunting me for the last few minutes. And then, I got caught up thinking about going for drinks somewhere else, hitting a club, or doing something else extremely lavish.
Both sides had enough chances in the 2nd half that either team could score once in the last few minutes. Of course, I could bring myself to actually/physically touch the money. I did not want to risk something awful happening on my wager. The 4th official displays 3 minutes of injury time. The moment of truth was at hand. United earns a corner.
Well, you know how it ends. Beckham lifts the corner, off of Solskjaer and Sheringham (I think). Me, ever positive, thinking I just had to wait 30 more minutes. With one of the calmest, most talented, most professional Bayern teams in memory, I could wait 30 more minutes. United supporters had gone to the bathroom to prepare for 30 minutes of stoppage time. Gotta take care of business.
But alas, I was talking myself into this, United had earned another corner and even as Beckham was lining this one up, I knew it was over. Solskjaer, with the dagger in the far corner.
My fellow bar mates throwing my “winnings” into the air while I sat their in disbelief. Me, looking at my watch, realizing that I could forget about the late night of partying and not feeling the mood for a taxi. The last bus to my sleeping quarters was leaving in 10 minutes. I best be on my way to the stop. I pay my bill, slump out of there, and shake my head while going home. Its amazing how one long night can stay with you forever. Bayern winning this tie won’t erase those memories (we got them back in 2001 on the way to getting the Champions League trophy over Valencia in penalties). But I’ll always remember that ‘99 loss and that long walk back to the bus stop.
Hoping Bayern wins today.
I feel you Jon.
Sans the table full of cash, I had a similar “Man United are the seed of the devil” Champions League night of horror, or rather afternoon (Houston time) at The Richmond Arms on Wednesday, May 21, 2008.
A date that will live…in infamy.
Outnumbered by ManUre fans by AT LEAST 20-1, most of whom couldn’t spell, or worse, even sing a single United song, myself and a handful of Chelsea supporters fell victim to the cruelest of cruel defeats snatched deep from the jaws of victory, care of a missed John Terry penalty on a soggy Russian pitch at the Luzhniki Stadium, in Moscow.
No, I’m not bitter.
COME ON YOU BAYERN!!!
Don’t worry Wren, you’re time will come. I really thought it was going to happen for you this year.
You’ll need to change the roster quite a bit (too many players who seem to be a bit older than one would like), but there’s still enough of a base to build on for a few years. A bit of housecleaning is in order. But your time will come. Be patient.