Expansion News: Chivas Spreads To Europe – A potential Disaster
By: David | March 30th, 2007Jorge Vergara has decided to jump in on the Euro team purchasing spree, that has become quite a fad in recent years. It would seem that Mr. Vergara will try to purchase a team in either Germany or Spain.
“We are looking for something in Europe,” he said. “Various countries have been analyzed, and that led us to settle on Germany or Spain. Obviously, there are more options in Spain. There is an agent who is researching the teams.”
Looks like a good deal, right?? A potential to spread the Chivas brand to Europe, just as some of the European teams have begun spreading in other places around the world. But that is not the intention, or at least the central point of this purchase.
“This new team will allow us to send our players to Europe and not wait for Europe to call them,” he said.
An interesting idea that will allow Vergara to send his players to Europe so as to help them out, while at the same time make a name for himself in a “larger” soccer market. But what will this do to the other soccer teams that Vergara owns? Will Chivas USA and Saprissa (Vergara’s Costa Rican team) become a farm system for Vergara? Are we, as fans of ChivasUSA, going to watch as our beloved squad evolves into a mess that is comparable to College Basketball? Where top players (or those with a bit of talent) come in for one season and then jet off to better positions in Europe, leaving the team in shambles?
I understand the necessity to expand, however, if the ultimate goal is to own a team in Europe so as to send players there, then let us hope that he does not forget about his other teams. ChivasUSA has come so far in its first two seasons of the MLS; we cannot afford to be pushed aside and turned into a “development” team. Maybe I am just paranoid, but there still is a potential for this to occur.
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Comments
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Meh. Vergara was talking about buying Atletico Madrid a few years ago, so it’s not like this is anything new.
But he’s a smart businessman. I don’t think he’d take on anything that wouldn’t make him money.
Posted from
United States
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Chris,
Yea you’re most likely right. It was just that quote kind of bothered me; maybe it was more of me reading into it to much than anything else. And I have to keep on reminding myself why Vergara got himself into the MLS in the first place. I think what is more interesting is the fact that this was on the front page of SI’s website and that no other new source has picked up on it.Whatever the case, it will definitely be interesting to see what will happen. If nothing else, all that means is that more people will have access to free omnilife vitamin packages!!
David.
Posted from
United States -
Actually, I like this idea. Originally a big fan of Chivas Guadalajara, I was ecstatic to hear that Vergara would creat Chivas USA so that I could have some connection to the club in my own city. Now with the possibility of a European club, it allows Chivas fans to root for their team against the world’s elite. You make a good point that USA, and Guadalajara for that matter, could potentially turn into some developmental team (or B squad). I disagree with this theory. Its important to remember that in order to create a successful European side, Vergara must field elite players. In other words, if anyone on Chivas USA was capable of playing in europe, they’d be there anyway. but then again, the MLS is still young (and Chivas USA is even younger for that matter) and we have yet to see what types of players will be drawn to us in the future. (also most top sides already have feeder squads)
(i think its rad that vergara would bring a sense of nationalism in that the team would consist of spanish and mexican players)
big ups on the blog.
Posted from
United States -
Thanks Eric. You do bring up a good point that in order to create a good European team they will need to have “elite” players, without that they would not be able to compete. What would be interesting to see is the impact purchasing numerous international teams could have upon the owner and the overall operations. The difference between the MLS and Europe is the strength and tradition of the league, and how much would that play into the overall plan.
I think Vergara has done a good job thus far with both Saprissa and Chivas USA and it would be great to see him grow the Chivas brand just at ManU and Real Madrid have done. But what I am more worried about is will the lack of attendance to Chivas USA games (the attendance fluctuated a lot and was quite thin last season even during the winning streaks) and the lack of attention to the team by the media, cause Vergara to loose interest and sell off Chivas USA in the near future. I understand that the team is still very young, but soccer is still a business.
Although this might be just a fear, it is definitely something to think about.
Well with the negative thoughts out of the way, I think we can look at some of the positives and see that there is a tremendous amount of potential for the team and for Vergara. If he does succeed it will be quite a feat. If nothing else, at least with a Euro team you will have a base of soccer fans to work with, instead of having to bring in old soccer stars to fill the stands…..Yes it was my try at comedy again.
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