Dan Bowden: To grace the States?
London Irish revealed on Tuesday that they are looking into the possibility of playing one of their fixtures in Boston.
The Madejski Stadium outfit are keen to break new ground by being the first Aviva Premiership side to set-up a spectacle in the United States.
Saracens have already announced they will face Biarritz in Cape Town early next year while Wasps and Quins have also turned out in Abu Dhabi.
"It would be massive news over there and a great coup for the club to be involved in," Exiles chief executive Andy Martin told BBC Radio Berkshire.
"You can imagine the scene. Fenway Park in Boston full of Irish people, hopefully with some of the fans from here going across to watch us playing an Italian side in the Heineken Cup."
Several Saracens fans were left upset when the news broke that they would need to travel to South Africa to watch their charges in the Heineken Cup. But the Exiles are keen to avoid such unrest, with Martin highlighting they'd consider their followers.
"If we did do something, and let me reiterate we are just playing with ideas, we would have to make sure they [the supporters] were on board," he said.
"There are more supporters for this club around the world than any other club in England.
"If we are going to grow this club and be innovative like we are trying to be - and [if] there is an audience for us of 40,000 or 50,000 in Boston, then it would be worth trying to look at it and do something with.
"Ourselves and Saracens are pushing the boundaries on this sort of stuff and we are sharing ideas. We want to make sure we get it right."
Comments
Storm says...
@5Lock4Ward
In retrospect you are quite right. Stephen Jones from the Times touted the Heineken Cup away games as trips not to be missed for the average fan. Boston is quite an easy hop and FX rates favor the Europeans. So, huge potential economic and exposure upside.
Posted 15:17 03rd November 2011
5Lock4ward says...
@Storm, I see I could have saved myself some background info explaining there, haha! I wasn't looking at it in terms of benefiting the London Irish to be honest. I was only looking at the USA rugby side of the coin. I think the London Irish are espousing the traditional European view of the US rugby fan (right or wrong) which is that they have to focus on the stereo-typical Irish-pride in order to sell a ticket to the casual (or even the uninitiated) fan. I think that's why they're going to Boston and playing an Italian team; to get the Boston Irish person and hoping that the NY Italian will make the trip. I think they're taking a shot in the dark at a wide open market and hoping for the best. As a rugby fan I'm glad they're willing to do it simply so I can go watch and hope it does something for the American game. All that said I could not possibly agree with you more that a pro-league in this country is needed and long overdue.
Posted 12:46 03rd November 2011
Storm says...
@5lock4ward
So, is that tacit agreement with me that if they can't make Red Bull Stadium work, Boston will fare little better.
Met NY union probably has far bigger catchment in terms of players et al than the New England union does.
I don't have a horse in this race, just don't think the concept is viable nor do I see long term benefits for London Irish.
BTW - my club the Gentlemen of Aspen were a charter member and won the very first Super League championship in 1997 @ Balboa Stadium in San Francisco. That league was supposed to be self funding in year five. We quit in year ten because we were still paying $120K per season to compete with no funds from the governing body. Subsequently Belmont Shore and OMBAC who were also charter members quit the SL due to cost. Point being, a fully professional league in the US is long overdue and no easy task.
Posted 02:40 03rd November 2011
rugby_rockstar says...
Hope they lay on a good value package to the States for their die hard fans. If they do it right then it would a wonderful trip, so come on guys, do it well.
Posted 16:11 02nd November 2011
5Lock4ward says...
@Storm, there are at least 3 rugby clubs in Boston I could name off the top of my head. They also have a team in the USA Super League (highest level rugby in the States) called the Boston Irish Wolfhounds. I was at the Churchill Cup finals at Red Bull Stadium 2 years ago and folks were able to openly switch sides of the arena to get out of the sun w/out taking someone else's seat, that's how empty it was. And that was an international triple header with all the USA's traditional rivals; Canada, France (A), England (Saxons) and Russia.
Posted 11:39 02nd November 2011
J_HDK says...
And include a US club xv and a Canada club xv.
Posted 08:58 02nd November 2011
J_HDK says...
I don't understand how the organisers of the erc allow this sort if non sense if teams are going to tour don't do it with competitive matches. Maybe there needs to be an off season mini tournament as a showpiece in us and canada but not like this
Posted 08:54 02nd November 2011
quietbrit says...
I would go...
Would go to see Munster if they came...
Posted 02:10 02nd November 2011
Storm says...
Questionable move. Rugby is not big in Boston at all. New York at Red Bulls stadium may be more viable.
Posted 01:33 02nd November 2011
jakedamuss says...
oh please dont do that, if the americans get the idea that rugby is played like it is in the premiership theyl never want to start playing
Posted 19:31 01st November 2011
5Lock4ward says...
I'd be there, you can count on it. There are numerous RFC's in the New England and upstate New York areas that would turn out for this event. Like the article said the Boston Irish would be out in full affect if this game takes place. I think it's a fantastic idea and could be the first step towards helping the US get a team in the RPD 12 and eventually a pro league of its' own.
Posted 17:46 01st November 2011
papachinzo says...
I doubt the Irish people in Boston would follow an English side... The majority of Rugby people over there support Munster anyhow.
Posted 17:40 01st November 2011