SEATTLE (AP) The world's biggest sports team can go anywhere and still get plenty of vocal support.
That's true even in the United States, where soccer isn't the top choice of many sports fans, but Manchester United is sure to be welcomed as it opens a four-game U.S. exhibition tour Tuesday night against Scotland's Glasgow Celtic.
''It's going to be a fantastic night for the fans who don't get the chance to see Manchester United and Celtic all the time,'' Manchester United coach Alex Ferguson said Monday. ''It should be a good game.''
Soccer, of course, isn't as popular in America as the NFL, baseball or the NBA. The game at Seahawks Stadium is Manchester United's first in the United States since a 1982 exhibition at the Kingdome.
Imagine a team with the tradition and finances of the New York Yankees, the Hollywood flash of the Los Angeles Lakers and the love-hate following of the Dallas Cowboys during their ''America's Team'' heyday.
That's Manchester United, the champion of England's Premier League. The boys in red, playing their first game since England captain David Beckham was sent to Real Madrid, are hoping to win the hearts and wallets of American sports fans.
Manchester United recently signed a 13-year marketing partnership with Nike, along with the team's four-year run with Pepsi and a one-year deal with brewing giant Anheuser Busch.
The teams last week finalized a deal with Major League Soccer's MetroStars to acquire American goalkeeper Tim Howard.
''We're starting to see a growing relationship with U.S. businesses, part of aligning ourselves with top global brands,'' said Peter Keyon, Manchester United's chief executive.
After arriving in Seattle, Kenyon noticed some schoolchildren wearing his team's jerseys.
''We'd sure like to see some more,'' he said.
Manchester United also has games against Club America in Los Angeles on Sunday; Juventus in East Rutherford, N.J., on July 31; and Barcelona in Philadelphia on Aug. 3.
Celtic will play Boca Juniors on Friday in Cleveland. The only other U.S. game in the Champions World tour has European champion AC Milan facing Barcelona in Washington, D.C., on July 30.
''We are definitely going to try to win,'' said Celtic coach Martin O'Neill, whose team lost the Scottish Premier League title last season to crosstown rivals Rangers on goal difference. ''There's no point in coming this far and doing otherwise, considering the number of people who are coming to enjoy the game.''
Both teams are preparing for the start to their seasons in mid-August.
''It's an unusual game for Manchester United and Celtic to play this far away from their home countries, but nothing changes,'' Ferguson said. ''Celtic plays to win, and it makes a fantastic prospect from their point of view.''
Kenyon sees the U.S. tour not only as an opportunity to expand Manchester United's fan base and market reach, but also as a way to reward the 4 million devoted fans in America who watch their games via satellite.
''As a percentage of the total population, it's rather small,'' he said. ''But there's no business that can ignore a block of 4 million customers. Part of this tour is to connect with them. They are very, very loyal and knowledgeable.''
http://www.boston.com/dailynews/202/sports/Europe_s_biggest_soccer_team_h:.shtml
That's true even in the United States, where soccer isn't the top choice of many sports fans, but Manchester United is sure to be welcomed as it opens a four-game U.S. exhibition tour Tuesday night against Scotland's Glasgow Celtic.
''It's going to be a fantastic night for the fans who don't get the chance to see Manchester United and Celtic all the time,'' Manchester United coach Alex Ferguson said Monday. ''It should be a good game.''
Soccer, of course, isn't as popular in America as the NFL, baseball or the NBA. The game at Seahawks Stadium is Manchester United's first in the United States since a 1982 exhibition at the Kingdome.
Imagine a team with the tradition and finances of the New York Yankees, the Hollywood flash of the Los Angeles Lakers and the love-hate following of the Dallas Cowboys during their ''America's Team'' heyday.
That's Manchester United, the champion of England's Premier League. The boys in red, playing their first game since England captain David Beckham was sent to Real Madrid, are hoping to win the hearts and wallets of American sports fans.
Manchester United recently signed a 13-year marketing partnership with Nike, along with the team's four-year run with Pepsi and a one-year deal with brewing giant Anheuser Busch.
The teams last week finalized a deal with Major League Soccer's MetroStars to acquire American goalkeeper Tim Howard.
''We're starting to see a growing relationship with U.S. businesses, part of aligning ourselves with top global brands,'' said Peter Keyon, Manchester United's chief executive.
After arriving in Seattle, Kenyon noticed some schoolchildren wearing his team's jerseys.
''We'd sure like to see some more,'' he said.
Manchester United also has games against Club America in Los Angeles on Sunday; Juventus in East Rutherford, N.J., on July 31; and Barcelona in Philadelphia on Aug. 3.
Celtic will play Boca Juniors on Friday in Cleveland. The only other U.S. game in the Champions World tour has European champion AC Milan facing Barcelona in Washington, D.C., on July 30.
''We are definitely going to try to win,'' said Celtic coach Martin O'Neill, whose team lost the Scottish Premier League title last season to crosstown rivals Rangers on goal difference. ''There's no point in coming this far and doing otherwise, considering the number of people who are coming to enjoy the game.''
Both teams are preparing for the start to their seasons in mid-August.
''It's an unusual game for Manchester United and Celtic to play this far away from their home countries, but nothing changes,'' Ferguson said. ''Celtic plays to win, and it makes a fantastic prospect from their point of view.''
Kenyon sees the U.S. tour not only as an opportunity to expand Manchester United's fan base and market reach, but also as a way to reward the 4 million devoted fans in America who watch their games via satellite.
''As a percentage of the total population, it's rather small,'' he said. ''But there's no business that can ignore a block of 4 million customers. Part of this tour is to connect with them. They are very, very loyal and knowledgeable.''
http://www.boston.com/dailynews/202/sports/Europe_s_biggest_soccer_team_h:.shtml
