Comments on: Time for MLS and ESPN to Make Changes Together http://www.majorleaguesoccertalk.com/time-for-mls-and-espn-to-build-together/593 Daily Analysis of Major League Soccer Sun, 21 Mar 2010 14:13:55 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: FOX Steals UEFA C.L. Rights from ESPN | Football Parade! http://www.majorleaguesoccertalk.com/time-for-mls-and-espn-to-build-together/593#comment-8253 FOX Steals UEFA C.L. Rights from ESPN | Football Parade! Thu, 19 Mar 2009 17:41:03 +0000 http://www.majorleaguesoccertalk.com/time-for-mls-and-espn-to-build-together/593#comment-8253 [...] Time for MLS and ESPN to Make Changes Together In early August of 2006, it was announced that ESPN… [...] [...] Time for MLS and ESPN to Make Changes Together In early August of 2006, it was announced that ESPN… [...]

]]> By: DCCavalier http://www.majorleaguesoccertalk.com/time-for-mls-and-espn-to-build-together/593#comment-1579 DCCavalier Sun, 07 Dec 2008 22:54:57 +0000 http://www.majorleaguesoccertalk.com/time-for-mls-and-espn-to-build-together/593#comment-1579 I like the article, but I think a point that is missed is ESPN really didn't pay for MLS rights because they were interested in in MLS. They were interested in US rights for the 2010 and 2014 World Cup and those rights are in essence owned by the people who own MLS and ABC/ESPN took MLS as part of those rights.<br><br>Watch what happens in 2010 in how the networks advertise World Cup in contrast to MLS.<br><br>If MLS is to gain importance with the larger American sporting public, hence the American media, they need to be open to doing some American type of things to package itself better.<br><br>To have the game played like they do in the rest of the world may make the "traditional soccer fans" that are ok with 0-0 ties, or yearn for the referee to be the only one that knows the true time, or even want to see a system of relegation, but if the league truly wants to appeal to Joe Six-Pack, they need to tweaks some of the things of the field. <br><br>I see no problem with playing overtime, or having a shootout of PK's to decide ties, having a scoreboard in the stadium be the official clock of the game like in US sports. Also consideration should be given to shortening the calender of the season to include more mid week games but end the season before it gets too cold or there is a competition with more sports. <br><br>Its interesting that since Don Garber came in and decided to make the game look like it does elsewhere by getting rid of the scoreboard clock and shootout, the attendance , and coverage in the media from those first four seasons has never gotten back to that point. I like the article, but I think a point that is missed is ESPN really didn't pay for MLS rights because they were interested in in MLS. They were interested in US rights for the 2010 and 2014 World Cup and those rights are in essence owned by the people who own MLS and ABC/ESPN took MLS as part of those rights.

Watch what happens in 2010 in how the networks advertise World Cup in contrast to MLS.

If MLS is to gain importance with the larger American sporting public, hence the American media, they need to be open to doing some American type of things to package itself better.

To have the game played like they do in the rest of the world may make the “traditional soccer fans” that are ok with 0-0 ties, or yearn for the referee to be the only one that knows the true time, or even want to see a system of relegation, but if the league truly wants to appeal to Joe Six-Pack, they need to tweaks some of the things of the field.

I see no problem with playing overtime, or having a shootout of PK's to decide ties, having a scoreboard in the stadium be the official clock of the game like in US sports. Also consideration should be given to shortening the calender of the season to include more mid week games but end the season before it gets too cold or there is a competition with more sports.

Its interesting that since Don Garber came in and decided to make the game look like it does elsewhere by getting rid of the scoreboard clock and shootout, the attendance , and coverage in the media from those first four seasons has never gotten back to that point.

]]> By: eplnfl http://www.majorleaguesoccertalk.com/time-for-mls-and-espn-to-build-together/593#comment-1550 eplnfl Mon, 01 Dec 2008 01:01:19 +0000 http://www.majorleaguesoccertalk.com/time-for-mls-and-espn-to-build-together/593#comment-1550 ESPN like the MLS has to resolve how to align the MLS. Will the league and it's coverage adopt a English model to attract the EPL fans out there or will the league and MLS adopt a Latin/Mexican model to attract the vast and growing fans of the Mexican league. While it maybe be tempting and easier to make the coverage and the league a EPL clone in the long the Latin style of football will win out. American's are attracted to a fast pace wider open game. While those of who admire the hard hitting English game, it is the movement and the up tempo that American's want to see in it's sporting action. The 4 corner offense is not to suited to the North American viewer.<br><br>Once the league has decided how to structure itself ESPN will follow and it would love to steal some of the audience that the Mexican league has. ESPN like the MLS has to resolve how to align the MLS. Will the league and it's coverage adopt a English model to attract the EPL fans out there or will the league and MLS adopt a Latin/Mexican model to attract the vast and growing fans of the Mexican league. While it maybe be tempting and easier to make the coverage and the league a EPL clone in the long the Latin style of football will win out. American's are attracted to a fast pace wider open game. While those of who admire the hard hitting English game, it is the movement and the up tempo that American's want to see in it's sporting action. The 4 corner offense is not to suited to the North American viewer.

Once the league has decided how to structure itself ESPN will follow and it would love to steal some of the audience that the Mexican league has.

]]> By: Lenin http://www.majorleaguesoccertalk.com/time-for-mls-and-espn-to-build-together/593#comment-1548 Lenin Sun, 30 Nov 2008 11:31:46 +0000 http://www.majorleaguesoccertalk.com/time-for-mls-and-espn-to-build-together/593#comment-1548 "That's why immigrant, and particularly latino, african and asian immigrants have to be the focus."<br><br>go job Sherlock , that's what ESPN is doing now , last time I saw sportcenter they cut away to ESPN Deportes to relay soccer news , how alianting is that to the millions of Americans that love the sport , Well I guess you must be from Europe or Latin America to understand this game, besides the only reason ESPN took the rights to MLS was because FIFA won't sell the rights to the WORLD CUP with out helping MLS get a broadcast deal. LOOK soccer FANS are soccer fans and they will always be ESPN needs to expose the game more and that is more than just showing a game on Thursday night, and god forbid the is is a WNBA going on thats going into over time , that crap. “That's why immigrant, and particularly latino, african and asian immigrants have to be the focus.”

go job Sherlock , that's what ESPN is doing now , last time I saw sportcenter they cut away to ESPN Deportes to relay soccer news , how alianting is that to the millions of Americans that love the sport , Well I guess you must be from Europe or Latin America to understand this game, besides the only reason ESPN took the rights to MLS was because FIFA won't sell the rights to the WORLD CUP with out helping MLS get a broadcast deal. LOOK soccer FANS are soccer fans and they will always be ESPN needs to expose the game more and that is more than just showing a game on Thursday night, and god forbid the is is a WNBA going on thats going into over time , that crap.

]]> By: kkfla737 http://www.majorleaguesoccertalk.com/time-for-mls-and-espn-to-build-together/593#comment-1544 kkfla737 Sat, 29 Nov 2008 14:19:26 +0000 http://www.majorleaguesoccertalk.com/time-for-mls-and-espn-to-build-together/593#comment-1544 The casual sports crowd will never buy into MLS. They for the most part will never buy into soccer. As I discussed in my article earlier this week much of this has to do with the orientation and biases of the sports media in this country and the impact they have in shaping the opinion of mindless sports fans nationally who cannot think for themselves. That's why immigrant, and particularly latino, african and asian immigrants have to be the focus. The casual sports crowd will never buy into MLS. They for the most part will never buy into soccer. As I discussed in my article earlier this week much of this has to do with the orientation and biases of the sports media in this country and the impact they have in shaping the opinion of mindless sports fans nationally who cannot think for themselves. That's why immigrant, and particularly latino, african and asian immigrants have to be the focus.

]]> By: MLS en espanol http://www.majorleaguesoccertalk.com/time-for-mls-and-espn-to-build-together/593#comment-1541 MLS en espanol Sat, 29 Nov 2008 13:36:20 +0000 http://www.majorleaguesoccertalk.com/time-for-mls-and-espn-to-build-together/593#comment-1541 If ESPN is not going to see the potential, is their loss.<br><br>MLS could be extremely successful in America if they focus on immigrants. Please name one person who came from a different country who doesn't like soccer and wouldn't like to have the opportunity to watch live soccer every weekend...<br><br>I think MLS is wasting too much time targeting the wrong crowd... If ESPN is not going to see the potential, is their loss.

MLS could be extremely successful in America if they focus on immigrants. Please name one person who came from a different country who doesn't like soccer and wouldn't like to have the opportunity to watch live soccer every weekend…

I think MLS is wasting too much time targeting the wrong crowd…

]]> By: sad_fan http://www.majorleaguesoccertalk.com/time-for-mls-and-espn-to-build-together/593#comment-1539 sad_fan Sat, 29 Nov 2008 11:40:15 +0000 http://www.majorleaguesoccertalk.com/time-for-mls-and-espn-to-build-together/593#comment-1539 ESPN has bought the tv rights but does nothing with them. It does not promote the league at all and treats it as a stepchild. Case in point during an MLS broadcast we will get hundreds of reminders that an important college football game is taking place on ESPN, but no reminders on ESPN during the college football game that there is an MLS game on ESPN 2 (i know , because ive tuned in to see if it went both ways.) If you are not a fan of MLS you would not know that the MLS broadcasts are being shown on Thursday Night, the broadcasts come on the air without any build up or hype during the week whatsoever, and once the game is over the results are never talked about at all on Sports Center. With the myriad of sports talk shows and sports analysis shows on ESPN and EPSN 2 does the network even have a weekly soccer show, let alone a weekly MLS wrap up show? Aside from the commentators and studio hosts whose job it is to work on the thursday night MLS broadcasts, are there any ESPN on the air pundits that are even willing to give soccer the time of day?<br><br>I could go on but what would be the point? ESPN paid to be the public tv face of the league, to be its standard bearer---if the league is not getting the tv exposure it wants, then besides blaming the league,ESPN must also take a good hard look at itself and the way it markets soccer in this country in general and MLS soccer specifically. ESPN has bought the tv rights but does nothing with them. It does not promote the league at all and treats it as a stepchild. Case in point during an MLS broadcast we will get hundreds of reminders that an important college football game is taking place on ESPN, but no reminders on ESPN during the college football game that there is an MLS game on ESPN 2 (i know , because ive tuned in to see if it went both ways.) If you are not a fan of MLS you would not know that the MLS broadcasts are being shown on Thursday Night, the broadcasts come on the air without any build up or hype during the week whatsoever, and once the game is over the results are never talked about at all on Sports Center. With the myriad of sports talk shows and sports analysis shows on ESPN and EPSN 2 does the network even have a weekly soccer show, let alone a weekly MLS wrap up show? Aside from the commentators and studio hosts whose job it is to work on the thursday night MLS broadcasts, are there any ESPN on the air pundits that are even willing to give soccer the time of day?

I could go on but what would be the point? ESPN paid to be the public tv face of the league, to be its standard bearer—if the league is not getting the tv exposure it wants, then besides blaming the league,ESPN must also take a good hard look at itself and the way it markets soccer in this country in general and MLS soccer specifically.

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