ian1964 10,724 Posted June 25, 2016 Share Posted June 25, 2016 ...to stop rivalry from dying says American soccer chief RELEVENT Sports chairman Charlie Stillitano, responsible for arranging next month’s International Champions Cup clash between Celtic and Leicester City wants to take the iconic fixture abroad. AMERICAN soccer chief Charlie Stillitano fears the Old Firm derby must be taken outside Scotland to preserve its global appeal. The Relevent Sports chairman, responsible for arranging next month’s International Champions Cup clash between Celtic and Leicester City, is determined to showcase the Glasgow giants across the world and fears the rivalry is diminishing by the year. Stillitano believes the ageing generation of Old Firm supporting ex-pats across the world are vastly reduced and the appetite for Celtic and Rangers across the water is in terminal decline. He said: “There needs to be a rebalance. There needs to be recognition for the great clubs like Celtic and Rangers who have this incredible worldwide fan base. “You don’t want it to wither on the vine here. There’s only five million people in Scotland. You’re not going to have 50 million any time soon. There’s millions of Celtic and Rangers fans across the world and there has to be some recognition of that. “But these are the types of events we should do before this rivalry DIES or becomes so local people don’t understand the beauty of Celtic-Rangers. “We want to host it away from Scotland, whether that is Wembley, Asia or North America. “We did Manchester United-Liverpool in Miami. Great game and there was no trouble. “There was a lot of fun ribbing and that was it. We are also doing the Manchester derby in Beijing. “Why not export Celtic-Rangers? It makes perfect sense for me. I’d like to do it every year, or at least every couple of years. “It’s completely safe in North America but I also think that it could be managed at a place like Wembley.” Stillitano is determined to buck the trend of fans with an Old Firm heritage opting to follow football superpowers such as Barcelona and Bayern Munich and believes hosting the big two in the States shouldn’t pose safety concerns. He said: “They are used to the biggest events in the world. How could they not handle it? “One of the problems you have with clubs like Celtic and Napoli, who have fans all around the world, is that the support is dying in these places. “The diehard fans are getting older and older. “I know a Napoli fan who runs a pizzeria. He has photos of Maradona, Jesus and the Pope on the wall. “This guy is no longer on the frontline. He is now the owner. He has kids from a South American background working for him. “He now lives in Long Island and he tells me, ‘Bring Napoli to America and we’ll fill the biggest stadiums’. I say, ‘We won’t’. “It’s a challenge because the kids are all growing up supporting other teams. “If we don’t start taking Celtic-Rangers across the world, then the support is only going to be local for these teams. “Then, eventually, it will die out across the world because the kids of Celtic fans now follow Barcelona or Bayern Munich instead.” Read more at http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/celtic-v-rangers-fixture-should-8278719#qUAGUt3srTBKVmh6.99 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
buster. 5,199 Posted June 25, 2016 Share Posted June 25, 2016 Is there anyone who has been involved with or visited NARSA enough to give us a educated guess at the age demographic of members ? 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
der Berliner 3,747 Posted June 25, 2016 Share Posted June 25, 2016 AMERICAN soccer chief Charlie Stillitano fears the Old Firm derby must be taken outside Scotland to preserve its global appeal. I don't share his fears. The world watches the OF games, no matter where they are being played. For a start, it would be much better to import some quality and impartial referees ... preferrably from England. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
boabie 230 Posted June 25, 2016 Share Posted June 25, 2016 Why not go the whole hog and have Don King arrange the fixtures ? If the yanks want to see the match they can pay to watch it on tv. Why should I lose out on the most important game of the season after financing Scottish football ? 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uilleam 5,948 Posted June 25, 2016 Share Posted June 25, 2016 Great idea. WWE could promote the fixture. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
craig 5,199 Posted June 25, 2016 Share Posted June 25, 2016 Why not go the whole hog and have Don King arrange the fixtures ? If the yanks want to see the match they can pay to watch it on tv. Why should I lose out on the most important game of the season after financing Scottish football ? I suspect he's talking about this International Champions Cup, rather than a league fixture. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooponthewing 1,139 Posted June 25, 2016 Share Posted June 25, 2016 I suppose, hypothetically it's a reasonable money making exercise, the International champions cup would be a good start, but both the old firm can't be champions, so it may be the case his eyes are on a bigger prize? Alternative to the champions league perhaps? I don't particularly fancy it, however my feeling are unimportant, growing the brand is. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
aweebluesoandso 290 Posted June 25, 2016 Share Posted June 25, 2016 One game for a Charity Shield or cup, to be defended by the winner each year in the close season, held in a different city each year. Could work? 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
forlanssister 3,114 Posted June 25, 2016 Share Posted June 25, 2016 Is there anyone who has been involved with or visited NARSA enough to give us a educated guess at the age demographic of members ? Each year it gets older and older mainly first generation ex-pats, average age must be well over 50. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian1964 10,724 Posted June 25, 2016 Author Share Posted June 25, 2016 One game for a Charity Shield or cup, to be defended by the winner each year in the close season, held in a different city each year. Could work? I agree it should be looked at and certainly could be a bit of a cash earner!,maybe during the winter break? 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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