Chelsea Arrives In Seattle: Day One

The Chelsea squad touched down in Seattle yesterday afternoon after a long flight from London. After getting transferred to the team hotel in downtown Seattle, there was a traditional team stroll before some free time.

Today, Chelsea players will begin training. In fact, if you live in or near Seattle, their training session is open to the public at 4pm today at Qwest Field. The first 500 fans who queue up at training will receive a free Chelsea scarf. Plus you can enter to win tickets to tomorrow’s game against Seattle Sounders (3pm ET, ESPN2). Fans may enter the stadium through gates on the north end of Qwest Field.

As far as ticket news regarding Chelsea’s tour of the United States, 68,000 tickets have already been sold for the game against Seattle Sounders. As of press time, 1,000 tickets remained so hurry and order your tickets through Ticketmaster as soon as you can if you don’t already have one.

Tickets still remain for their Tuesday, July 21 game against Inter Milan at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA, and their Sunday July 26 game against Club America at the new Dallas Cowboys stadium in Arlington, TX.

However, the Friday, July 24 game against AC Milan in Baltimore is a 70,000 sell-out.

Tickets are available via http://www.worldfootballchallenge.com

In comparison, when Chelsea have visited the States in the past, they sold 47,329 tickets when they played against Club America in Stanford, CA in 2007. In 2004, they drew 30,504 when they played against Celtic in Seattle. And, in their games against AC Milan over the years, they had crowds of 39,123 in Philadelphia in 2004, 26,208 in Foxborough in 2005, and 35,444 in New Jersey in 2005.

With several days remaining to sell more tickets in Arlington and Pasadena, Chelsea’s summer tour can be called a success in terms of ticket sales.

Be sure to follow EPL Talk over the coming 10 days as we bring you news and insights into Chelsea’s US tour.