MLS and europe soccer

For the media outlets that do not cover soccer as wholeheartedly as the Big Four (NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL), you are bound to get this question frequently: Will the sport ever reach the level of European football?

The latest questioner was Comcast SportsNet's David Kaplan in Chicago during a Monday interview with Chicago Fire head coach Denis Hamlett.

First off, you will never get an answer from a Major League Soccer head coach or anyone affiliated with the league saying that it will not reach that point. Come on! Secondly, it's a complete trap because there are no numbers or data that you can pull out of a hat to support an enthusiastic "yes" answer.

Yet we keep hearing this question like a skipping record, probably because many other "Major" or "National" sports in the U.S. contain a global superiority image. Some people can't help but fish for the assurance that MLS is joining that group.

Hamlett utilized the best available answer - the Fire's recent scoreless draw at Qwest Field against Seattle Sounders FC. The typical 30,000 crowd in Seattle is far and away the best in MLS. So Hamlett gets a good grade for choosing the best tie-in.

But then the panel talked its way out of the argument. Kaplan brought up his friend heading to see Manchester United, which by the way is one of five European teams that average more than 70,000 per game. Many MLS stadiums are not even designed for a third of that crowd. And Hamlett recognizes the huge atmospheric difference in the European game.

"I tell you, it's impressive," Hamlett said. "Just from the whole process as far as getting up and going to the games. People looking forward to the game. They talk about the game. If their team wins, then the next week is great. If they lose, it's like they go on depression, and they've got to wait for the next week for their game."

I don't mean to pick on Kaplan because he is only one of a long line of people who bring up the topic in this manner. But until MLS teams graduate from their soccer-specific stadiums and show they can easily sell out their 20,000-seat parks, let's not even touch this comparison. So far in 2009, only the Seattle Sounders and Toronto FC qualify, and the Los Angeles Galaxy will probably eclipse the 20,000 average soon with David Beckham back.

Enjoy the international matchups and the World Cup qualifiers. Open up another deck at Qwest Field if you think you can fill it. Pack the soccer-specific stadiums and show your support for MLS, United Soccer Leagues, Women's Professional Soccer and any other league out there. Keep up the grassroots growth that we go on and on about in the hope that new generations of soccer fans will embrace the sport for the long-term.

Just stop trying to convince me that U.S. soccer is on the cusp of drawing as well as Europe. Their support is in a completely different stratosphere.

South Africa 2010 - tickets, tickets...

The dedicated football fans are already enjoying the qualification matches for one of the most significant sporting events of 2010 - the World Cup Championship. This time the world-wide popular event will be hosted by South Africa which is already advanced with its preparations and renewals of the sporting facilities. Those who will visit the country next year and watch the matches will also have the great opportunity to get to know the variety of tourist attractions of this impressive continent.

South Africa has been lucky to get the opportunity for hosting the World Cup 2010, which will be held during June and July 2010. The matches will be played across ten recently upgraded stadiums in some of the most attractive cities of South Africa. In fact the football fans can now not only enjoy some of the best football on the planet, while watching the qualifications matches, but also get  tickets for the finals of World Cup 2010, which are already on sale.

The soccer championship is not so far and all football lovers are waiting to perceive all the great moments during the contest. Apart from the famous football event, the country attracts a number of nature lovers and tourists each year and many of the visitors will be also able to enjoy top-class accommodation and fantastic tourist attractions. Some of the tickets for the World Cup include not only accommodation and transportation, but also travel packages with sightseeing tours. While more and more country teams now pass the qualifications, the interest for World Cup 2010 tickets increases…event this for tickets of the final match, which are already on sale
Apart from the huge interest in the World Football Championship 2010, due to the fact that the event is happening in South Africa which is already an established tourist destination, vacation packages are on the move to satisfy the visitors from a travel point of view as well as the sport lovers. A trip to South Africa is well animated, liberal and boosted up, that is why the event is also very attractive for whole families… event for the family members who are not that much interested in the popular sporting game. The sightseeing tours of Africa put together incredible wild life, lively cities and villages, outstanding tune-up, astonishing populace and unusual items for consumption.

A great advantage of the fact that South Africa will be seat of the World Cup 2010 is also that lots of the visitor’s funds will hopefully be used for preservation of the wild life in the country - something which South Africa takes very seriously, hence the deserved world-wide tourist popularity of this destination

In addition, the South African seashores put forward crystal clear waters, fair shores and security nets. The country is also reputed for its excellent wines and great diversity of foods and cuisine from around the globe. A trip to South Africa can also include some fantastic tours in the beautiful mountainous areas, which themselves attract a number of tourists.
Of course the unspoiled and varied nature of the country is also of incredible interest for the visitors of the World Football Championship in 2010 and will have the opportunity to combine the excitement of the best football on the planet with some fantastic trips across this unique continent.

There is lot more that one can enjoy even after the World Cup days, so get your tickets and prepare for exciting football matches and a diverse holiday trip in South Africa!