Post by epjr on Feb 1, 2011 17:59:51 GMT -6
Garber: Red Bull Arena a special place for All-Star
Smaller venue no deterrent as MLS seeks big-time opponent
NEW YORK – Very big team, very special stadium.
That’s the unquestionable appeal to the 2011 AT&T MLS All-Star Game on July 27 at Red Bull Arena, as the league looks to bring an opponent with global recognition to a stadium some consider one of the best in the world.
MLS Commissioner Don Garber addressed the media Tuesday afternoon on the heels of the league’s All-Star announcement earlier in the day, stressing the benefits of a prime time opportunity for the league’s superstars and the sparkling new 25,000-seat stadium which made its debut in Harrison, N.J., last year.
The league has not announced an opponent yet for the match, but Garber stressed that fans should expect a side with the caliber of previous teams who have ventured stateside for the summer showdown: Celtic, Chivas de Guadalajara and Manchester United, who suited up against the MLS All-Stars in front of more than 70,000 fans at Reliant Stadium in Houston.
The New York market will host the event for the first time since the now-defunct Giants Stadium played host in the league’s inaugural season in 1996 and then again in 1997.
“We were very focused on bringing an MLS event to the New York metropolitan area this year, whether it was MLS Cup or our All-Star game,” Garber said. “We always go through a process … but I’d have to say that we were very focused on New York. We didn’t spend much time thinking about another location.”
Added Garber: “Returning to New York makes a lot of sense for us. … [Red Bull Arena] is one of the great stadiums of its size in the world.”
www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/garber-red-bull-arena-special-place-all-star
Smaller venue no deterrent as MLS seeks big-time opponent
NEW YORK – Very big team, very special stadium.
That’s the unquestionable appeal to the 2011 AT&T MLS All-Star Game on July 27 at Red Bull Arena, as the league looks to bring an opponent with global recognition to a stadium some consider one of the best in the world.
MLS Commissioner Don Garber addressed the media Tuesday afternoon on the heels of the league’s All-Star announcement earlier in the day, stressing the benefits of a prime time opportunity for the league’s superstars and the sparkling new 25,000-seat stadium which made its debut in Harrison, N.J., last year.
The league has not announced an opponent yet for the match, but Garber stressed that fans should expect a side with the caliber of previous teams who have ventured stateside for the summer showdown: Celtic, Chivas de Guadalajara and Manchester United, who suited up against the MLS All-Stars in front of more than 70,000 fans at Reliant Stadium in Houston.
The New York market will host the event for the first time since the now-defunct Giants Stadium played host in the league’s inaugural season in 1996 and then again in 1997.
“We were very focused on bringing an MLS event to the New York metropolitan area this year, whether it was MLS Cup or our All-Star game,” Garber said. “We always go through a process … but I’d have to say that we were very focused on New York. We didn’t spend much time thinking about another location.”
Added Garber: “Returning to New York makes a lot of sense for us. … [Red Bull Arena] is one of the great stadiums of its size in the world.”
www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/garber-red-bull-arena-special-place-all-star
