Guadalajara Chivas is the most popular team in the Mexican Premier Division, a nationwide Grupo Reforma poll has revealed.
The rojiblancos topped the poll with 30 percent, with America, of Mexico City, in second place on 26 percent.
The biannual poll done by Reforma shows Chivas at their highest ebb since the polling began in July 2001.
In the first half of the decade, more people voted for America, but since February 2007 there has been a shift towards the Chivas.
Cruz Azul and Pumas, both from Mexico City, sit in third and fourth on 12 and 7 percent respectively.
The increase for Chivas should not be a surprise.
Recently, the team finished second in the prestigious Copa Libertadores competition, the joint best performance by a Mexican team.
The boom has also been enhanced by the club opening the Estadio Omnilife and the inaugural game against Manchester United.
An extra boost has undoubtedly been caused by Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez’ move to Manchester United earlier this summer off the back of some excellent performances for Chivas.
Interestingly, and partly due to the geographical location of the clubs, America were more popular than Chivas in the center and south of Mexico.
Monday 30 August 2010
New, modern stadium for Chivas but who's going to go?
There wasn’t much to shout about on the field during Chivas’ game against Pumas (it finished 0-0) in the Estadio Omnilife. So much so that it became impossible to miss the rows upon rows of empty red seats glaring from the screen.
The official attendance was 22,000 but in a stadium of over 45,000 and against one of the country’s best-supported teams, it must be a major cause of concern for Chivas owner Jorge Vergara.
To put it in perspective, the last game against Pumas in the Estadio Jalisco was a sell out. The capacity in that stadium is over 60,000.
Presumably to offset the decrease in ticket sales, Vergara is negotiating with the Office of Visitors and Conventions (Ofvc) to offer tourist packages for Chivas games.
Tours of the stadium and the pitch are planned, combined with tickets for games and one night in a hotel.
Ofvc believe that some 14,000 people would pay for a ticket and a room for the big clasico game when Chivas play America in Guadalajara and between 800-1,000 when Chivas play Atlas in the local clasico.
In the inauguration of the Estadio Omnilife when Chivas played Manchester United, around 20,000 of the 45,000 crowd were made up of people from outside Jalisco. Hotels in the city were at 98 percent of their overall capacity.
Two problems remain though.
Ticket prices started at 150 pesos and went up to 800 pesos for Saturday’s game against Pumas. Although lower than expected, it appeared the lower end tickets sold out with the more expensive ones nearer the pitch sparsely populated. The obvious problem is who is going to regularly buy tickets that cost 500 or 600 pesos (40-45 US dollars)? Especially if Chivas are playing Nexaca and not Pumas or Manchester United.
Secondly, the location of the stadium doesn’t help. Outside of the periferico (ringroad, beltway) to the west of the city centre, it’s extremely difficult for those that live in the centre or east of the city, where the Esatdio Jalisco is located, to get to the new stadium. Much of Chivas' traditional working class support, which let's face it create the atmosphere, comes from nearer the city centre and not the 'suburbs.'
The lack of transport infrastructure makes getting in and out of the stadium a headache.
The official attendance was 22,000 but in a stadium of over 45,000 and against one of the country’s best-supported teams, it must be a major cause of concern for Chivas owner Jorge Vergara.
To put it in perspective, the last game against Pumas in the Estadio Jalisco was a sell out. The capacity in that stadium is over 60,000.
Presumably to offset the decrease in ticket sales, Vergara is negotiating with the Office of Visitors and Conventions (Ofvc) to offer tourist packages for Chivas games.
Tours of the stadium and the pitch are planned, combined with tickets for games and one night in a hotel.
Ofvc believe that some 14,000 people would pay for a ticket and a room for the big clasico game when Chivas play America in Guadalajara and between 800-1,000 when Chivas play Atlas in the local clasico.
In the inauguration of the Estadio Omnilife when Chivas played Manchester United, around 20,000 of the 45,000 crowd were made up of people from outside Jalisco. Hotels in the city were at 98 percent of their overall capacity.
Two problems remain though.
Ticket prices started at 150 pesos and went up to 800 pesos for Saturday’s game against Pumas. Although lower than expected, it appeared the lower end tickets sold out with the more expensive ones nearer the pitch sparsely populated. The obvious problem is who is going to regularly buy tickets that cost 500 or 600 pesos (40-45 US dollars)? Especially if Chivas are playing Nexaca and not Pumas or Manchester United.
Secondly, the location of the stadium doesn’t help. Outside of the periferico (ringroad, beltway) to the west of the city centre, it’s extremely difficult for those that live in the centre or east of the city, where the Esatdio Jalisco is located, to get to the new stadium. Much of Chivas' traditional working class support, which let's face it create the atmosphere, comes from nearer the city centre and not the 'suburbs.'
The lack of transport infrastructure makes getting in and out of the stadium a headache.
Tuesday 10 August 2010
Chicharito steals headlines, again
He may be miles away across the Atlantic Ocean but Guadalajara-born soccer star Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez is still hogging the headlines in the local sports pages.
"Little Pea," as the British press seem to be calling Chicharito, scored a bizarre goal for Manchester United in his first competitive game for his new club as the Red Devils came out 3-1 winners against Chelsea and lifted the Community Shield.
"It's like a movie," reads the headline in local sports' daily Cancha and although the young striker is not yet a "Champion" as the headline in La Aficion pronounces, his story does have the beginnings of a blockbuster.
After agreeing to sign for Manchester United in April, everything has gone right for the former Chivas star.
In the World Cup playing for Mexico "Chicha" broke the deadlock against France with a sublime finish and added to his tally with a rocket of a goal to give el Tri a flicker of hope in the game against Argentina.
After a break back in Guadalajara, Chicharito joined up with his new Manchester United teammates in Houston for the game against the MLS Allstars. Coming on as a sub in the 62nd minute, it wasn't long before he put the ball in the back of the net to the delight of the Mexican-Americans present.
The next stop for the 22-year-old was the inauguration of the Estadio Omnilife in Guadalajara. Playing for his former team Chivas in the first half against Manchester United, it was Chicharito who scored the first goal in the impressive stadium within ten minutes.
The furor surrounding Chicharito's visit seemed more suited to Enrique Iglesias or David Beckham but shows the popularity the youngster has garnered in Guadalajara and around Mexico. Around 1,000 mainly young girls screamed his named at a signing session and his boyish face seems to be in every commercial and billboard around.
For someone who prefers to stay in with his family than go out and doesn't drink alcohol, the sudden fame must be hard to deal with but perhaps his private school education, English language skills and the gap of an ocean from the Mexican press may help.
The fame certainly doesn't seem to be affecting the Little Pea thus far. In a friendly in Ireland last week, the wonderkid continued his run of goals, netting a goal Machester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson described as "fantastic."
As if further evidence was required that everything is going right for the Tapatio, Chicharito's goal against Chelsea on Sunday at Wembley Stadium, London is the icing on the cake.
Manchester United were winning 1-0 deep into the second half but were coming under increasing pressure from English champions Chelsea.
On a quick break, Ecuadorian Antonio Valencia swept a fast, low cross beyond the Chelsea defense. Chicharito had the goal at his mercy but seemed to run past the ball in his enthusiasm to get there. Whilst slipping, Chicharito connected with his right foot and the ball bounced up, smacked him in the face and ricocheted into the empty net. A jublilant Chicharito celebrated by kissing the badge on his shirt and pointing wildly at his head.
Blessed with natural athletism, speed and the knack of being in the right place at the right time, it seems the devout Catholic can do nothing wrong.
The long English season and cruel winters mean that it would be wise to err on the side of caution though, at least for now.
"Little Pea," as the British press seem to be calling Chicharito, scored a bizarre goal for Manchester United in his first competitive game for his new club as the Red Devils came out 3-1 winners against Chelsea and lifted the Community Shield.
"It's like a movie," reads the headline in local sports' daily Cancha and although the young striker is not yet a "Champion" as the headline in La Aficion pronounces, his story does have the beginnings of a blockbuster.
After agreeing to sign for Manchester United in April, everything has gone right for the former Chivas star.
In the World Cup playing for Mexico "Chicha" broke the deadlock against France with a sublime finish and added to his tally with a rocket of a goal to give el Tri a flicker of hope in the game against Argentina.
After a break back in Guadalajara, Chicharito joined up with his new Manchester United teammates in Houston for the game against the MLS Allstars. Coming on as a sub in the 62nd minute, it wasn't long before he put the ball in the back of the net to the delight of the Mexican-Americans present.
The next stop for the 22-year-old was the inauguration of the Estadio Omnilife in Guadalajara. Playing for his former team Chivas in the first half against Manchester United, it was Chicharito who scored the first goal in the impressive stadium within ten minutes.
The furor surrounding Chicharito's visit seemed more suited to Enrique Iglesias or David Beckham but shows the popularity the youngster has garnered in Guadalajara and around Mexico. Around 1,000 mainly young girls screamed his named at a signing session and his boyish face seems to be in every commercial and billboard around.
For someone who prefers to stay in with his family than go out and doesn't drink alcohol, the sudden fame must be hard to deal with but perhaps his private school education, English language skills and the gap of an ocean from the Mexican press may help.
The fame certainly doesn't seem to be affecting the Little Pea thus far. In a friendly in Ireland last week, the wonderkid continued his run of goals, netting a goal Machester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson described as "fantastic."
As if further evidence was required that everything is going right for the Tapatio, Chicharito's goal against Chelsea on Sunday at Wembley Stadium, London is the icing on the cake.
Manchester United were winning 1-0 deep into the second half but were coming under increasing pressure from English champions Chelsea.
On a quick break, Ecuadorian Antonio Valencia swept a fast, low cross beyond the Chelsea defense. Chicharito had the goal at his mercy but seemed to run past the ball in his enthusiasm to get there. Whilst slipping, Chicharito connected with his right foot and the ball bounced up, smacked him in the face and ricocheted into the empty net. A jublilant Chicharito celebrated by kissing the badge on his shirt and pointing wildly at his head.
Blessed with natural athletism, speed and the knack of being in the right place at the right time, it seems the devout Catholic can do nothing wrong.
The long English season and cruel winters mean that it would be wise to err on the side of caution though, at least for now.
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