Chelsea FC: Blues Set to Take on PSG at Yankee Stadium This Summer
Timothy Rapp@@TRappaRT
Featured ColumnistMay 7, 2012
The current Yankee Stadium will get its first taste of European soccer in July, and Chelsea of the Premier League will be headlining the event.
America's soccer revolution is coming whether your like it or not. From the press release (via ESPN):
Today it was announced that Chelsea of the English Premier League and Paris Saint-Germain of France’s Ligue 1 will meet on Sunday, July 22 at 7:00 p.m., in the first-ever soccer match at the current Yankee Stadium.
Tickets for the match will go on sale to the general public beginning on Wednesday, May 16. For updates and further details, please visit www.yankees.com/soccer or follow @yankeestadiumsoccer on Twitter.
Chelsea is already one of the more popular Premier League teams here in the States, and they are currently at the center of the soccer world given the team's berth in the Champions League final against Germany's Bayern Munich.
Add a trip to Yankees Stadium to an already eventful year for the squad.
The added-exposure for the team—and really, for the Premier League and soccer in general—is fantastic. The EPL is gaining popularity, sure, but it's still only a small niche in the larger sporting landscape in America.
But bringing it to the home of the prominent sports team in this country, and one of the most recognizable franchises in the world in general, is a great move for the league.
The symbolism isn't lost on me. And while the event isn't primarily about that symbolism—like everything else, it's about the money—it's proof that a very real effort to increase the popularity of soccer in this country is not only in full force, but is actually working.
Sure, the quality of play in the MLS or the fact that the United States team failed to qualify for this year's Olympics hasn't helped, but that doesn't mean that a soccer revolution isn't coming.
This offers Chelsea the opportunity to be a part of that movement, and make some new fans along the way.
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