Champions League Team Summit baptizes new teams, reviews for returnees

June 17, 2009

MIAMI – Some clubs made the trip last year; others were making the excursion for the first time.

The returnees to the CONCACAF Champions League Team Summit were there to refine their procedures; the newcomers were in Miami to get up to speed.

“With having done it before, this year we were able to include the Champions League in our season ticket packages and it improved branding to get fans interested,” said Jonathan Yardley, Houston’s communications manager and one of three representatives from the Dynamo, who advanced the quarterfinals of last season’s event.

“The team did well last year and we’re looking to do better this year. We have some off weekends this year so the schedule should not be as intense.”

The summit, held Monday and Tuesday at the Intercontinental West Miami hotel, was staged to give officials of teams making their debut — and remind the returnees — of the protocols, procedures, requirements and general plans for the tournament, which will begin its second season after replacing the Champions Cup on July 28.

After general welcomes by CONCACAF General Secretary Chuck Blazer and Deputy General Secretary for Marketing and Television Italo Zanzi, Deputy General Secretary for Operations Ted Howard spent Tuesday morning outlining areas ranging from television production to financial reporting to game operations.

Press officer Ben Spencer laid out media guidelines while Manager of Business Partnerships Pamela Galvis briefed the team representatives on sponsorship and the various programs surrounding the tournament. Director of Television and Production Broadcast Services Dario Boronat explained how the international television feed will be generated and maintained, with control monitored from CONCACAF’s television studio at its headquarters in Trump Tower in New York City.

Representatives from the 24 qualified teams were introduced to the various CONCACAF staff members, from the New York headquarters to the satellite offices in Miami and Guatemala City, who will interact with them throughout the season.

“This meeting served to answer the questions and doubts that we had,” Cruz Azul team manager Carlos Villar said. “As Chuck said, the tournament has improved a lot from the first year and will continue to do so as it progresses. It will continue to become more relevant, especially in Mexico.”

Blazer finished the session encouraging the teams not to be pre-occupied with all the rules, regulations and requirements swamping them in less than 24 hours.

“We’ve taken the initiative to show you the way to make it better,” Blazer said in remarks to teams to close the summit. “It’s so you will be able to say, ‘I was there in the beginning, and I remember the early days, and it makes a difference now.”

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