Arsenal Kicks Off Premier League US Campaign in Denver
The Premier League launched its Coast to Coast activation series in Denver on Friday, Aug. 21 with an Arsenal watch party for the defending champions' season opener against newly-promoted Coventry City.
Fans of all ages attended the watch party, including families, lifelong Gooners, and newcomers. David Pritchard, a 20-year Arsenal supporter, said winning the Premier League last season meant "the world." He attended the watch party with his family and was excited to show his support.
The Premier League had 182 players participate in this summer's World Cup, the most of any league. The tournament, held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, broke viewership and attendance records. Manchester City's Erling Haaland captured hearts across the globe with his friendly antics.
Akash Jain, Premier League U.S. Managing Director, said in a media roundtable ahead of the watch party, "As we go into next season, we want to showcase all of these amazing players and stars that we have to our fans." The Premier League is celebrating all 20 clubs across the United States on opening weekend.
Kevin Rowe, a lifelong Arsenal supporter who moved to Colorado five years ago, said being able to engage with his childhood club where he's living now is "incredible." He has a tattoo of Arsenal's cannon badge on the side of his leg and was excited to attend the watch party.
Ashley Cole, Premier League Hall of Famer and member of Arsenal's "Invincibles" team that went undefeated in 2003-04, was part of the celebration. He took photos with fans and shared some words with the crowd about the difficulty of defending a championship.
The unifying power of soccer was on full display at the World Cup. The Premier League hopes fans continue to connect with each other through their love of the sport. "During the World Cup, you saw that football brings people together in such a unique way to be able to showcase their fandom," Jain said in the media roundtable.
The Premier League announced it is returning to Denver on October 10 and 11 for the 13th edition of its "Premier League Mornings Live" event. The free fan fest has seen 120,000 total fans attend its previous stops in the United States.
Stan Kroenke's success in assisting in Arsenal support was a major draw for fans at the watch party. The group also owns the NBA's Denver Nuggets, MLS's Colorado Rapids, NHL's Colorado Avalanche, and NFL's Los Angeles Rams. The Rapids mascot, RapidMan, and Arsenal's mascot, Gunnersaurus Rex, mingled with fans.
Jayden Jackson, a Denver native, said that seeing Kroenke's success with his other teams convinced him to be an Arsenal supporter. He was wearing the club's red home kit and was excited to show his support.
The Premier League's activation series in Denver is a significant event for the league and its fans in the United States. The watch party marked the start of a new season and a new chapter in the Premier League's relationship with American fans.
Source: Yahoo Sports