Philly and Salt Lake Gain Greater Exposure

Philly to Host MLS All-Star Game

On Monday, there was a lot of speculation that Philadelphia would be the host for the 2012 MLS All-Star game. Don Garber was in Philly and had scheduled a press conference where he would be joined by Philadelphia Union representatives along with the mayors of Philadelphia and Chester, Pa. The rumors were confirmed, and it was announced that Philly would host the match. Hosting this event will provided both national and international exposure, due to the intense star-power that this game usually contains.

Philadelphia is a good choice for host, considering the attendance figures that PPL Park had last year. It averaged over 19,000 fans per game, maintaining a 99% full capacity average throughout the season. The Sons of Ben are sure to be vocal in an All-Star setting, as they are one of the best supporters groups in the league. Besides the great attendance and supporters in Philadelphia, the location of the stadium is quite eye catching, with many seats boasting a view of the Delaware River. PPL Park also has a very European stadium feel, and is one of the best looking venues in MLS.

The opponent for the MLS All-Stars will be announced in the next few months, but we can expect another Manchester United caliber team. United beat the MLS squad 4-0 in last year's game.

MLS has released this promotional video to showcase both PPL Park and the MLS All-Star match.
(Philly Hosts) The Match will be played July 25.

U.S. Nationals on Scoring Frenzy

If you haven't heard about Clint Dempsey's Hat-Trick, the first American to do so in the EPL, or the USMNT victory this weekend, it is probably because the USWNT was eclipsing the US soccer world with two ten+ goal games. The weekend started off great with Dempsey's phenomenal display, but things just kept getting better. Included are highlights of each of the 4 games.

LA Unveil new Kit

The new LA Galaxy Home kit was unveiled today less than an hour ago. The most obvious change to the jersey is the addition of a blue sash to the front of the jersey. It is reminiscent of the old school Galaxy sash, and will most likely meet mixed reviews. I've included my Galaxy home kit from 2011 for comparison to the new kit. In addition to the sash being added, the coloring of the shoulders has been reversed. The previously white stripes are now blue, and the entire shoulder is now white. The yellow stripe across the chest and the singular yellow stripes along each side have also been modified.

It has truly been an exciting week for the Galaxy, having successfully resigned David Beckham and completed the draft process. Galaxy will look sharp as the head into a difficult 2012 season. They are charged with the task of defending both the Suporter's Shield and MLS Cup, while continuing their quest to become CONCACAF Champions.

What do you think of the new kit?


Photo obtained via @LAGalaxy Twitter

2012 Supplemental Draft: Success for Big West Conference

After the Big West conference saw two alumni picked fourth and sixth overall in the 2012 MLS Super Draft, many Big West Soccer fans were excited to see how the draft would play out.  However, Jacob Hustedt  (who played 3 years at Cal Poly before transferring to Washington)  was the only other player drafted with any Big West affiliation. The Super Draft concluded with Creighton and Louisville tied with 4 draftees apiece, double that of the Big West conference. With the Super Draft finished, the hopes of remaining players rested on the Supplemental Draft.


This year's Supplemental Draft consisted of 4 rounds for a total of 76 picks, and followed the format of the Super Draft. Teams aren't limited to combine players during the draft, and have the option to draft eligible college players during this time as well. This is what makes the Supplemental Draft more interesting to some, its unpredictability.