Colorado Rapids - Arsenal, July 15th

The long rumored (and even longer deserved) is official now.  Before their International Champions Cup matches in LA, Charlotte, and DC Arsenal will be coming to Commerce City to play the Rapids on July 15th.  Despite Kroenke owning shares in Arsenal since 2007, being the largest shareholder since 2009, and owning a majority of the shares since 2011 this is the first time the teams have played a friendly in the U.S.  The Rapids did travel to London a couple of times in preseason to train and played closed-door scrimmages against Arsenal there but that was many years ago.  The last time the Rapids played a European team in a friendly was Swansea City in 2012 and the only friendly they've played in Colorado since then was Boa Juniors last year (they played Santos Laguna in Albuquerque a few years ago).

Now, honestly, this is probably going to be Arsenal scrubs against Rapids scrubs.  Two days before this match the Rapids have a MLS game in Portland and two days after this match Arsenal is playing Bayern Munich in LA.  Neither team is likely to save any of their starters from those games to play in this match.  But, if you're an Arsenal fan, this is the first game they've played in the U.S. off the East Coast that wasn't in California.  Its going to allow a number of their fans who don't usually get to see them in person a chance to do so.  Tickets are on sale already for season ticket holders, with prices already reported from $50-$95.  General public can buy tickets in mid-April.

In case you're wondering, for a number of reasons I am not planning on attending this one.  My family is already planning to visit that weekend is the main reason but also because I have no real interest in seeing either team's scrubs.  Plus I'm going to spend $45 on a ticket to see QPR-Blackburn at Loftus Road in London next month so that's where my extra soccer budget is going this year.