AS Roma finds loyal fans in Philadelphia
When Jeffrey Bussmann began following AS Roma more than a decade ago, finding their games on television was nearly impossible. If he was lucky, he might catch an early morning broadcast on a public station.
When Jeffrey Bussmann began following AS Roma more than a decade ago, finding their games on television was nearly impossible. If he was lucky, he might catch an early morning broadcast on a public station.
Thursday, Bussmann stood at the edge of Rhodes Field at Penn, a Roma Club Philadelphia banner draped across the railing. A few feet away, Roma stars Daniele De Rossi and Miralem Pjanic glided across the turf. Italian national team legend Francesco Totti lay face down in the grass, a trainer pulling on the veteran's legs.
European powerhouses such as Roma no longer exist as myths to their North American fans. Roma's game against Inter Milan at Lincoln Financial Field on Saturday is part of the Giallorossi's third straight summer tour of the United States in preparation for their season in Italy's Serie A.
Roma and Inter Milan are vying to move on in the International Champions Cup, which also includes Real Madrid, Liverpool FC, Manchester United, Manchester City, AC Milan and Olympiacos.
"This tour is critical for us as part of our major international branding efforts," Roma CEO Italo Zanzi said after training. "We're playing some of the best teams in the world in some of the world's best stadiums, in front of the some of the world's best fans."
Zanzi, like Roma's owner, James Pallotta, is American. They have made a major push to compete for market share in the states, where the more accessible English Premier League has surged in popularity.
It appears to be catching on in Philadelphia. Bussmann fell in love with Roma when he spent a semester studying in Rome through Temple in 2002. In the last few years, social media has helped join about 50 fans into Roma Club Philadelphia, one of just a handful of officially recognized Roma supporter groups in North America.
Bussmann, the club's vice president, said the group planned to welcome Roma fans from around the country at Fado Irish Pub on Friday night and at a pregame tailgate Saturday.
Roma's training sessions at Penn were not made public, but many of the club's members found their way in anyway. Zanzi was not shocked to see them there.
"I'm not surprised, I'm very grateful," Zanzi said. "It's really important to . . . bring a personal touch to the experience for the fans . . . in Philadelphia, which is a city with a tremendous, tremendous soccer pedigree and history."
AS Roma vs. Inter Milan
What: International Champions Cup,
AS Roma (1-1-0) vs. Inter Milan (1-1-0).
When: Saturday at 1 p.m.
Where: Lincoln Financial Field.
TV: Fox Sports 2.
At stake: Winner remains alive for a spot in tournament final on Aug. 4, likely against Liverpool FC or Manchester City at Sun Life Stadium in Miami.
- Tim McManus
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