The Chelsea squad touched down in Seattle yesterday afternoon after a long flight from London. After getting transferred to the team hotel in downtown Seattle, there was a traditional team stroll before some free time.
Today, Chelsea players will begin training. In fact, if you live in or near Seattle, their training session is open to the public at 4pm today at Qwest Field. The first 500 fans who queue up at training will receive a free Chelsea scarf. Plus you can enter to win tickets to tomorrow’s game against Seattle Sounders (3pm ET, ESPN2). Fans may enter the stadium through gates on the north end of Qwest Field.
As far as ticket news regarding Chelsea’s tour of the United States, 68,000 tickets have already been sold for the game against Seattle Sounders. As of press time, 1,000 tickets remained so hurry and order your tickets through Ticketmaster as soon as you can if you don’t already have one.
Tickets still remain for their Tuesday, July 21 game against Inter Milan at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA, and their Sunday July 26 game against Club America at the new Dallas Cowboys stadium in Arlington, TX.
However, the Friday, July 24 game against AC Milan in Baltimore is a 70,000 sell-out.
Tickets are available via http://www.worldfootballchallenge.com
In comparison, when Chelsea have visited the States in the past, they sold 47,329 tickets when they played against Club America in Stanford, CA in 2007. In 2004, they drew 30,504 when they played against Celtic in Seattle. And, in their games against AC Milan over the years, they had crowds of 39,123 in Philadelphia in 2004, 26,208 in Foxborough in 2005, and 35,444 in New Jersey in 2005.
With several days remaining to sell more tickets in Arlington and Pasadena, Chelsea’s summer tour can be called a success in terms of ticket sales.
Be sure to follow EPL Talk over the coming 10 days as we bring you news and insights into Chelsea’s US tour.
{ 22 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks to the Chelsea Management. My greatest interest was to see D Drogba in the team.Am glad he is there.
regards
Abdii Arab
Mombasa Kenya
UP THE CHELS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My greatest joy wil com d day,we wil play against inter milan…the blueeeeezzzzzz!
Chelsea also played D.C. United at FedEx Field in 2005, drawing 31,473.
YEAH YEAH…. Finally i going to the trainning session and spend time with the best football club in the world….. Let’s go Drogba. GOD i can’t Wait….. CHELSEA vs AC MILAN here we come……(this is a previous of the 2010 final Champions League)
No wonder you’re a chelski. “…previous of the 2010 final Champions League.” All the money in the world, still garbage.
I hope the crowd in Arlington is large… all set and eager to go now.
I will be glad to see my almighty blues in a good form this season
Go SOUNDERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Time to put a whoooopin on the Blues!!!
the best team in all the world is chelsea and we heate united i have my tickets and i fly from brazil to seattle only for the best team let’s go chelseaaaaaa
Go chelsea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
… SHEVA is one of the best strikers EVER.
A living legend.
World class …permanent !
SHEVA 4 EVA
Chelsea may be surprised how good the Sounders are. Although we are a new club, we have top notch management who brought in very good players from all over the globe, despite the very restrictive salary cap in MLS. Chelsea are in preseason and the Sounders are in the middle of theirs, so I wouldn’t be surprised if we get the ‘upset’ tomorrow.
The stadium atmosphere won’t be like most of the others in the USA. It will be a sea of green, not blue. The fans in Seattle don’t idolize the superclubs of Europe, but are ardent supporters of their local club. The club already has a following all over the USA, prominent among them are the SoCal Sound of Los Angeles who organize 100+ supporters when the Sounders play the Galaxy or Chivas USA.
If you want to know what the future of football in the US will look like in about 10 years, just take a look at Seattle.
Some quick facts about Sounders FC:
Official Name: Seattle Sounders FC. The term “Sounders” refers to the people of Puget Sound.
Average attendance: 29.980. (It should be closer to 32,000, but the stadium capacity was downgraded to 27,000 for half of the season)
Players to Watch: Kasey Keller-GK, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado-D, Osvaldo Alonso-M, Freddie Ljungberg-M, Steve Zakuani-M, Fredy Montero-F.
You are foolish if you think Chelsea is not prepared for this Friendly w/ the Sounders. The EPL really does not have a “Pre-Season”. They play 10+ months a year of league matches + Champions League + FA Cup competitions and most players are also playing for their respective countries in World Cup Competition. So, if they get any off time, it is literally just a few weeks before they are back to routine practices to get ready for the new EPL season. Chelsea’s final match of the ‘08/09 season was May 30th as they won the FA Cup, less than 8 weeks ago.
Furthermore, have you ever watched the style of play of the EPL compared to MLS? MLS games tend to be slower paced, much less precision in passing and tend to be more defensive matches than offensive contests. EPL is much more precision, faster paced and mostly offensive games. The next step beyond that in my opinion is the style and quality of the Mexican and So. American leagues. They have amazing footwork, speed and often unthinkable passing/scoring.
Is Chelsea ready for Seattle FC??? You betcha!!! I’m just very happy to see Chelsea come to Seattle and give the Sounders some great experience from a truly International powerhouse.
Go Blues!!!!!!
From Stamford Bridge to Wembely…. We’ll keep the Blue Flag Flyin’ High!!!!!
I got your Chelsea right here.
2-ni, SEATTLE
2-nil
Welcome to Seattle boys. Thank you to Chelsea FO for coming to town, many of us follow EPL closely so this is a dream come true… a chance for our hometown team to play the best, even if it’s just a friendly.
Can’t wait for the match.
Attention Chelsea Fans,
IF you went to the training session, you probably saw me there. I was working for Adidas. I am selling my entire kit. Brand new Large Shirt, Adidas shorts, socks and personalized Chelsea Trainers, sz 12.
Drop me a line if you’re interested.
I still have got the tag for the shirt, which itself costs $70. Ill sell everything for 100. Let me know if you want it.
its the only team to cheer
anybody knows where chelsea players stay in seattle?
Anyone know where and when Chelsea is training in LA on the 20th. The day before the Inter game?