Going to an enormous soccer match sounds like the last thing in the world I would want to do with my free time, even with family. The heat, noise, crowds, travel time...yuck. People are different. Was she a sports nut?
Also they had a dog and possibly other pets. They have a million dollar home. I wouldn't want to ask anyone to housesit or pet sit in that situation. Not even neighbors--who were perhaps odd or older with health problems. Suppose neighbors had their own guests to deal with. I certainly wouldn't want to petsit on my vacay for my neighbor-- big dogs scare me, for one, and I would want to come and go as I pleased. Sleep in, etc. Maybe they had no trustworthy sitters and didn't want to impose on neighbors. And boarding pets is a hassle and perhaps traumatic for all involved. We have a bird and fish, so I have stayed home on holidays while hubby took our kids 4 hrs away to see his parents. I love the alone time, frankly.