mad_mac Posted February 9, 2007 Share Posted February 9, 2007 Seems like the MLS are taking further steps to solidify soccer as a sport out here in the good ol' US of A. Man Utd, as we know, formed an agreement with the NY Yankees. Now Arsenal have an agreement with MLS team Colorado Rapids. Oh and Becks is heading for the Galaxy incase you didn't know....(unfortunately not the one far far away) Don't know much about the Rapids, but here is the link and full story Scott http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/footbal ... 348067.stm Arsenal have announced a new business partnership with Major League Soccer club Colorado Rapids. The deal is designed to build Arsenal's brand in the United States, while also helping to develop the MLS club. "This is a very important step for Arsenal as this becomes our first venture into the US marketplace," said managing director Keith Edelman. Colorado Rapids are owned by American billionaire Stan Kroenke's company Kroenke Sports Enterprises. Arsenal already have a similar tie-up with Belgian side Beveren as well as an academy in the Ivory Coast. The arrangement between the two clubs includes the development of a Centre of Excellence in Colorado, the transfer of coaching ideas and the launch of the Arsenal Cup, a club tournament open to teams from all over the US. The deal comes just days after Liverpool's takeover by American tycoons George Gillet and Tom Hicks, and represents an increasing trend of American businessmen linking up with English clubs. Manchester United and Aston Villa are also owned by American business tycoons, but Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said the deal was completely different to those takeovers. "Unless I'm completely naive it's not a takeover," said Wenger. "I've never heard about a possible takeover and I don't think that is at all behind our partnership." "We develop a few partnerships sometimes with football schools and sometimes with clubs. "We're trying to extend our brand and we're are also trying to extend our technical cooperation because the Americans might produce some players at some stage and that's why we're doing it. "We're always trying to develop young players." The Rapids will come to London to use Arsenal's facilities for six days while they continue training ahead of the MLS season which starts in April. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joel Posted February 9, 2007 Share Posted February 9, 2007 Very interesting. Perhaps the ultra long term benefit to all these developments will be to increase our national team's success on the world stage. It certainly won't be to grow the game here....until proven otherwise it will be small but stable. Anything to further that stability is good I guess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Posted February 9, 2007 Share Posted February 9, 2007 And ZZ to New York? Zin?dine Zidane has long said he would retire after the World Cup. Maybe yes, maybe no.He could soon join his fellow Frenchman Youri Djorkaeff in the midfield for the New York Red Bulls of Major League Soccer, according to several people involved in soccer in the New York area who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of their unofficial relationship with the club. Zidane's contract with Real Madrid has expired, so the Americans would not have to pay Madrid for his rights. At age 34, Zidane could easily play several more years in a less stressful environment in the United States with the Red Bulls. Eric Tosi, a Red Bulls spokesman, said by telephone from Texas that the club had no comment. Red Bull, the Austrian-based maker of a popular energy http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/07/09/sports/wcbrief.php Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jayhawk Posted February 10, 2007 Share Posted February 10, 2007 ah for head butting practice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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