You hear this phrase everywhere you go in Indiana: from a bartender, a cab driver or even someone waiting in line at one of five billion fast food restaurants.
“Are you here for Saka?”
“Well, I came here for a 5,000 calorie breakfast taco…oh, football?”
Apparently, a lot of people are here for Saka, and a lot of people are interested in Saka.
The Celtics have spent the past two days practicing at the University of Notre Dame, a town next door to quiet South Bend that’s actually a town of sorts in and of itself.
Although it was perhaps the quietest period of the US tour, the trip overall was a huge success for the Hoops.
The Celtic Foundation has made five-figure donations to local charities wherever they have visited and have been featured on the news.
Fans came from all over the United States to watch these games, but there were also some die-hard fans who traveled from home.
They have been on a roll here and there is clearly a lot of interest in the club.
But there is also a new entrant: the English Premier League, which has made big inroads on Celtic’s former club.
That is why the Parkhead club, along with Rangers and other clubs in Scotland, need to be proactive.
Celtic have an American market, with around 70 supporter clubs and fans who get up early in the morning to watch games and buy the new shirts as soon as they hit the shelves.
But then there was the explosion of English teams like Manchester City, teams that nobody here had heard of a few years ago.
It’s unclear how much these people actually know about English clubs, but they buy their equipment and watch the games.
The important thing is that their fan base is expanding. Celtic have a strong fanbase here but the big question is how to grow it.
They include expatriates, second generation, third generation, fourth generation, etc. But will there be more?
Same with Rangers, Aberdeen, Dundee United and Albion Rovers – there’s a huge market here that needs to be properly exploited.
A few years ago, Dundee American owner Tim Keys floated the idea of playing a league game here against Celtic.
It generated some headlines, the idea was panned, and it was ultimately killed off, but it might not be a bad idea to revisit.
Getting bodies like the SPFL, UEFA and FIFA to approve this sort of thing is risky, but it might at least be worth a try.
Scottish football is shown on TV here, but they also show plenty of games from other leagues.
American soccer fans are turning to the Premier League and watching soccer from Spain, Germany and Italy.
There are men wearing Borussia Dortmund and AC Milan shirts, and South American taxi drivers are crazy about Barcelona and Real Madrid.
It’s a competitive market, but it’s growing, MLS is on the rise, soccer is here to stay, and the 2026 World Cup will change things even more.
Scottish soccer needs to get on board or it will be left behind. Friendlies against English teams are just the start, and hosting official matches here would be a nightmare, but there’s nothing stopping them from bringing the big games to America.
The ill-fated Sydney Cup may have caused upset at the time, but there’s nothing to stop the Old Firm fixture being played in the US.
It’s about time. American fans are aware of the pre-season hustle and bustle. They enjoy attending games and cheering on their team, but the fans I talk to here have no interest in watching Chelsea’s youth teams.
They want the real thing. It’s Celtic v Rangers in Scotland. There may be some frustration but our big two need to team up and get here for a real Saka match.