Rangers and Celtic to make history with Boston friendly clash?

[Frankie 8,836]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1267614/Old-Firm-Tea-Party-Rangers-Celtic-make-history-Boston-friendly-clash.html

 

Celtic and Rangers are ready to take the Old Firm experience overseas with a money-spinning pre-season clash in North America.

 

Sportsmail can reveal that the Glasgow giants are currently considering a lucrative proposal to go head to head in Boston in July, in what would be the first time the bitter rivals have met outside Scotland.

 

As yet, no contracts have been signed and neither club is keen to confirm details, with sources insisting the proposition is still at the 'idea' stage.

 

Celtic, however, are already pencilled in to face Manchester United in Toronto on July 16 or 17, while Rangers are considering games in Miami and New York. And with both clubs making the trip across the Atlantic to finalise their preparations for next season, the notion of an Old Firm match-up in July has come from a Stateside promotions company.

 

The proposed venue for a match is the Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. That ground will be familiar to Celtic, who played out a 1-1 draw against New England Revolution in July 2006.

 

That day, a crowd of just 16,312 watched - but organisers believe the Old Firm rivalry would go some way to filling a stadium with a capacity close to 70,000.

 

Details have yet to be confirmed but, as both clubs seek to bolster their resources in the midst of a savage economic downturn, the project already has tentative support on both sides of the great Glasgow divide.

 

Celtic's clash with Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United in Canada has been all but confirmed for the Rogers Centre in Toronto, where a 50,000 full house is expected to attend.

 

The last idea for Scottish clubs to meet on foreign soil came in 2004, when a proposal for an SPL clash between Celtic and Hearts in Australia failed to make it past the drawing board.

 

North American friendlies have been a lucrative sideline for the Parkhead club in recent seasons, with their last trip ending in a 3-1defeat to Benfica in Canada just last September.

 

 

No thanks... The Old Firm game has already lost some of its prestige with being played so often in Scotland live on TV, never mind making it a friendly in a country that couldn't care less about football.

 

[Guest Flying Hippo]

Pre season is about fitness, not playing your biggest rivals in front of 70,000

[Gers4Life 0]

Thanks but no thanks.

[Danny 0]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1267614/Old-Firm-Tea-Party-Rangers-Celtic-make-history-Boston-friendly-clash.html

 

 

 

No thanks... The Old Firm game has already lost some of its prestige with being played so often in Scotland live on TV, never mind making it a friendly in a country that couldn't care less about football.

 

 

Couldn't disagree more.

 

Celtic and Rangers have a pretty robust fanbase in North America, and with our finances the way they are, this opportunity to make some major mullah cannot be ignored.

 

For the health of Rangers, this is a goer imo.

[Super_Ally 0]

North American friendlies have been a lucrative sideline for the Parkhead club in recent seasons

 

Any evidence of this?

[mainstandbear 0]

I think it's a good idea and maybe a nice little earner if done on a regular basis....the OF brand is something both teams should exploit and at a time when money is tight, it may be something they could take around the world...Dubai, Australia, etc

[Guest Flying Hippo]

Any evidence of this?

 

They haven't needed to sign an Asian player in all of 4 months...

[Super_Ally 0]

They haven't needed to sign an Asian player in all of 4 months...

 

 

I'm positive it's all in their heads.

[metlika 0]

I'm not really for this and Boston isn't a good place for a start with Boston celtics being there.

[Norris Cole 0]

I'm not sure I understand - are we not playing a friendly against them next month?