COMMERCE CITY, Colo. — When it’s the coldest day in Colorado for many years, it's tempting to look forward to warmer — and overseas — venues during preseason.
Rapids players awoke on Tuesday morning to exceptionally frigid temperatures: The high in Denver is not expected to climb above zero. The preseason six-day trip to Arizona starting at the end of next week must be looking pretty good right now.
However, there does not appear to be a trip to London in the works before the March 19 home opener against Portland. In recent years, the Rapids have made a transatlantic trip to play at sister club Arsenal’s facilities and enjoy the hospitality of the big London club.
Rapids head coach Gary Smith had said earlier this year that he was confident such a trip would take place, but some competitive games in Los Angeles rather than London now look the more likely scenario.
“At this point, it’s probably not going to take place,” Smith told MLSsoccer.com.
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“Arsenal were very keen to accommodate us but, due to some planning problems and some issues internally, we’ve just not been able to get it nailed down quick enough. It’s tough to get games at short notice in England. We are looking at probably a West Coast trip to get two to three competitive games.”
Smith said he was excited by recent reports that Arsenal could make the trip in reverse and enjoy their own preseason tour of the US.
“That sounded extremely encouraging,” he said. “I would hope that we are one of the first stops if they are planning to make the trip. The altitude would be good for them. We would like to reciprocate and do some things for them as they have done for us.”
The Rapids leave for the Phoenix area on Feb. 11. They are currently due to play Columbus and Sporting Kansas City in exhibition games there.
