I contacted 1280 The Zone about possible live coverage of the press conference and this is the response I received: Jason, We won't be able to broadcast live from the event (there is still a possibility it might happen), but we will be attending the press conference and providing reports and interviews on site. Ryan Hatch Program Director Sports Radio 1280 The Zone hatch@1280kzn.com Perhaps if more people were to send Mr. Hatch an email requesting live coverage, they would accomodate our desires. For those that aren't in Utah but would be interested in hearing live coverage, 1280 provides streaming internet radio. jason
This says a live feed will be available from mlsnet.com ---------------------- For Immediate Release Contacts: MLS Communications: 646-831-8813 / -1698 www.MLSnet.com MLS COMMISSIONER DON GARBER JOINS DAVE CHECKETTS IN UTAH FOR HISTORIC ANNOUNCEMENT ON WEDNESDAY, JULY 14 Live Satellite Feed of the Event Available to TV Outlets Followed by National Media Teleconference Call Featuring Commissioner Garber and Mr. Checketts NEW YORK (Tuesday, July 13, 2004) – Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber will join Dave Checketts, Founder and Chairman of Sports Capital Partners LLC, on WEDNESDAY, JULY 14 for a major announcement at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah. A live satellite feed of the event, which begins at 1:00 p.m. ET (11:00 a.m. MT), will be made available to media outlets (see satellite coordinates below). A live feed of the press conference will also be available on the League’s official web site (www.MLSnet.com).
I would think your local TV news at noon (if they have noon news like most places) would have almost-live coverage.
Don't count on Hatch doing anything. The guy is a first rate ******... He is only concerned about the big #1 and $$$. Trust me I have had the misfortune of working with him. If you listen to the station often you would alos know that he has said more than once, "Soccer isn't a real sport." IF wan't true soccer guy in SLC then you might try contacting Grer Wrubel at 1160 KSL. Last time I was in to see him he had an arsenal mouse pad for his computer. I bet KSL carries it live before 1280.
Yes, I've heard his comments before. Unfortunately he's not the only one on that station that feels this way, although he is certainly the most vocal. I think they only way we can hope to change their views (if at all possible) is for them to see the genuine interest by a large group of fans. They couldn't ignore it if they realized that a growing number actually cared about soccer and the MLS in particular. He claims that soccer is boring but then they'll spend a whole day breaking down a PGA event or spend weeks talking about Carlos Boozer.
I feel sorry for you guys. You're entering into the fight that we've been at for a number of years here in DC. The Washington Post and Washington Times are on board, but TV has been slow to come around. Some of the sports anchors still don't know how to properly refer to DC United, saying 'the United' [and I know I've left myself wide open here from some MetroScum supporter...may you also develop such a hated, loathed, reviled opponent] . It will be a long, trying battle. What moved coverage in the right direction here was butts in seats (surprise, surprise). So start pushing those season tickets now.
Yeah I have heard both E-Ray, Scottie G, and of course Hatch rip on soccer. However, as I have said in other threads, the most famous guy in the business around here, Bolerjack, helped me defend soccer on the air one day (vs. Hatch) so maybe Boler would be more of a helping hand as far as 1280 is concerned.
Tomorrow is a lost cause, but it's time to get the attention of the local tv sports editors for the start of the season next year. Write letters and mail them, not emails. Email means almost nothing to them. Be nice Be straight that you EXPECT coverage of a Major League Soccer team, and won't accept anything less. Be persistent but not a pest. Be manipulative. Act like you are their friend, compliment them on whatever they have done no matter how poorly it was done, then ask for more. If the radio personalities get down on soccer, wait for the next ad. Find out what product/company is buying time in the same show as the soccer bashing. Call that company, and ask them why they hate your favorite sport, and tell them you won't consider their product because they buy time to support a show that makes unfair fun of an entire sport that is loved by billions, including you and young people (yourself, your kids, etc). Write a letter to that same company asking them to withhold ad buys from that media outlet because of this, and copy the radio station with a copy of the letter. If you want a soccer team to thrive in your city, better get ready to take the responsibility on yourself to help out. That is the way of life for the core fans of MLS, and you are very welcome to the club. Glad to have you on board.
I have heard that he is a buddy of Checketts from the days Boler was at KSL (sports director) and Checketts was with the Jazz. As for Boler, he is a smart sports guy, where as Hatch is a moron with a mic. Unfortunately, HAtch is the guy who calls the shots down at 1280. I actually quit listening to them shortly after Hatch took over from E-Ray. The quality of programming crashed and burned. However, I would be more than happy to help badger the guy if it gets better MLS coverage.
I've been listening to 1640 AM. But I have a relatively short commute & they've been broadcasting Copa America matches. Their local sports guy has not mentioned anything about MLS, but they have talked about the Blitzz in the past. 1640 AM, I'm guessing, has a pretty big audience. Chris Cannon or his aides were on a few times during the primary. Hopefully, Checketts & Co made sure that all the local Spanish language media knows about tomorrow.
While I am posting from Detroit and am not familiar with Salt Lake City, I would really hope that you have a group of fans at the press conference to make some noise. Nothing would be worse for this announcement than for the MLS folks to be standing there with a couple microphones and a handful of press with no atmosphere. I will be trying to follow the events on MLSnet, because the announcement won't generate a blip here. Good luck to all of you.
Compare & contrast the way SLCFan was treated with the Blitzz, whose owners invited fans to post-match dinners & who organized parties to watch USMNT matches with fans.
Yes and No. Yes, it made the fans feel part of the team and I have to say it did make me go to more games. 4700 or 5200 or whatever attended the last home game for the Blitzz, that has to be considered awesome for a PSL team. and No since it didn't get the Blitzz an MLS team. Obviously, I care what happens to the Blitzz but I don't think they have the "pull" that it will take to have a successful MLS team in Utah and get a SSS built. My opinion, Checketts is the MAN! He put his money down on the table and that is more than others were willing to do, and it sounds like ALOT of private funding is prepared to be put out for the SSS. At the end of the day, money talks and Bull@#t walks. GO SLC!
It depends on how you define "paid off in a big way". The Blitzz is solvent, which is a pretty big accomplishment considering the limitations they were working under. No, the Blitzz aren't the Rhinos or even the Sounders or the Timbers. But on the other hand, they aren't San Diego Flash, the Bay Area Seals, the Orange County Zodiac, et al.
