Arsenal Fans Around the World: Arsenal America

For quite a long time now I have been fascinated by the development of football in the States. In a country of 250 million people, it is surprising how difficult it has been for the beautiful game to make an impact. The NASL tried and failed in the 80s, but a rejuvenated MLS appears to be growing. Whether or not football will become a major sport in the US is something that only time will tell, but the signs are that it is starting to make an impression on the US public thanks to the Beckham affect. Anyway, the important fact that we do know is that there is a hardcore following of Arsenal fans all over the States. With over 500 members of Arsenal America and counting, it is the biggest official international fan group of the club in the world. I got in touch with Mike Kavanagh, who is president of Arsenal America, to get inside information on the group, and his answers provide a fascinating insight into the following of Arsenal and football in the US.

AI: Thanks for agreeing to the interview Mike. So when did you start supporting Arsenal and how did this come about?

AA: When I was growing up in the early 80s, the North American Soccer League, or NASL, was winding down. I grew up in New York City, where the dominant sports played both in school and out on the street were baseball and basketball. There were no organized teams, therefore the only exposure I had to soccer/football was during summer vacations at my cousins’ in Pennsylvania. When I did see a game on TV, it was either the World Cup, or the occasional Italian league game on the Italian-language channel that my friend’s grandfather would watch. My first exposure to the English league was an article I read about Michael Owen in Sports Illustrated sometime in the mid-Nineties. That was also around the time that I read “High Fidelity” by Nick Hornby. I loved it, so after finishing, I sought out other books by Hornby. The only other one out at the time was “Fever Pitch”, so I picked that up, not knowing that it would ultimately change my life. It was my first exposure to Arsenal, and I was hooked. In a strange case of synchronicity, a friend of mine was studying abroad in London, and came home on his break raving about Arsenal. This was right after the first double under Wenger. I began to follow online, and in 1999, once my cable-tv system began carrying “Fox Sports World” (later renamed “Fox Soccer Channel”); I was able to watch my first live Arsenal match. The rest as they say is history.

AI: How did Arsenal America first start out and how has it developed? It surprises me that in a country where football is still growing that you have managed to get over 500 paying members into your group.

AA: Arsenal America was founded in 2001 by Rick Liebling, a Gooner from northern New Jersey. Several of us would frequent the Arsenal message boards on BigSoccer.com, and it had surprised us that Arsenal had no supporters club in the United States or in Canada. Rick formed the club and chose the name Arsenal America as a way of covering both the US and Canada. At first, Rick developed a mailing list to which members could subscribe, but within a few months, a website was up and articles, match previews and reports, editorials and more - all submitted by members became regular features. In 2005, Arsenal America was granted official status by Arsenal FC. Later, as numbers grew, Arsenal Canada was formed, allowing our neighbours to the north to forge an identity that was completely their own.

It pleases me immensely to see how our membership has grown in just over five years. However, I know that 500 members is just the tip of the iceberg. There are thousands of Gooners here in the US, and I look forward to the day when Arsenal America is as active and respected as many of the other great Arsenal supporters groups throughout the world.

AI:How strong is the interest in English football in the States?

AA: Interest in the English game has exploded in the last ten years. The biggest reason for this is increased access to live games on television. In fact, there are more games televised here than there are in the UK. Last season, every single Arsenal match was televised live here in the US, or on a delay of no longer than 24 hours. So far this season, only one match has gone un-televised. It’s a huge difference to even only a few years ago. That being said, it’s still very much something that takes places on the fringes of the sports community. The average American sports fan’s awareness has increased somewhat due to mentions on programs like ESPN’s “SportsCenter”, but with the sports landscape dominated by the NFL, NBA, NHL, NASCAR and Major League Baseball, not to mention college sports, domestic football/soccer (MLS) is always going to have an uphill climb, let alone a sport and a league that takes place overseas.

AI:Have Arsenal America trips to London been a success?

AA: Arsenal America trips to London have been a smashing success. We tend to have one official road-trip a season in which 30-40 members go over to see a game or two together. The club helps organize seating so that the majority can sit together during the match, and tours of Highbury, and now the Emirates are always a highlight of the trips. Arsenal has never lost during any of the official road trips going back at least five or six seasons now. In addition to the official trip, Arsenal America members are an ever-present force at the Emirates. There has been at least one Arsenal America member at every game for the past several seasons, and that trend is set to continue this season. Our ticket officer is as busy this season as he’s ever been!

AI:It is often clear on message boards that people question Americans’ knowledge of football. What kind of reception does Arsenal America get from English fans?

AA: Well, from the English fans that I’ve met, I’ve gotten nothing but an instant sense of camaraderie and friendship. I’m sure there are those who look down their noses, but I’ve not met one yet. One of the best things about being president of a supporters club is all of the amazing friends I’ve made, and that includes all of the English Gooners as well.

AI: Stan Kroenke is well known in the States for his success with the various franchises that he owns. What is the opinion of Arsenal America on his involvement with the club? Having seen his success firsthand, do you think he could help the club?

AA: Hmm… I think the opinions of Arsenal America are as diverse as our membership. There are those who think he may have something to offer. Then there are those who want nothing to do with him. Personally, I have to admit to some relief when I read the recent comments indicating that Kroenke is looking to be a long-term investor, and not necessarily the owner. The latest financial statements released by the club show that things are moving in the right direction. Where I think Kroenke can help is to provide some guidance to the club in terms of better marketing and fan interaction in places outside the UK. I hope to someday get the chance to talk to Mr. Kroenke about his vision for Arsenal in the United States. That said, one of the things that attracted me to Arsenal was the sense of tradition and how everything is done conforming to a high standard of ethics and morals. I’d be against anyone who attempted to change that.

AI: Much has been written about David Beckham and his coming over to play in the MLS. Do you think this will increase the popularity of the MLS in the long term, or do you think the league will always struggle to take off?

AA: Honestly, I think the MLS has improved greatly in recent years, and the potential for growth is definitely there. MLS will always be competing for attention with the other sports in this country, but there is a core audience here for football/soccer. If the league focuses their efforts on that group, MLS can and will thrive for years to come. Players like David Beckham and Juan Pablo Angel have leant some credibility to the league, but you can’t underestimate the power of seeing the stands full on television. Moving to “soccer-specific” stadiums, instead of playing in huge NFL stadiums makes a big psychological difference. Packing 12,000 people into a 15,000 or 18,000 seat stadium is going to create a much better atmosphere than the same number of people sitting in a 80,000 seat stadium.

In a time where it seems to be one of the main priorities of major football clubs to break the American market (yes Peter Kenyon you big prick, I am talking about you and your 'club') it is great that there is a hardcore following of Arsenal in the US which has been formed by true supporters who were exposed to the team not through merchandising but an evident love for the sport, despite the little coverage it used to receive on American TV. I officially salute Arsenal America!

My thanks go to Mike and Arsenal America, and don't forget to check out their site at http://www.arsenalamerica.com/.