State of the League preview

[monster]

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/mls/2002-07-31-post-cup_x.htm

[soccer4ever]

Originally posted by monster
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/mls/2002-07-31-post-cup_x.htm

A multiyear sponsorship agreement with ADT Security Services that will be announced Thursday.


That's great news!

[soccer4ever]

Originally posted by monster
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/mls/2002-07-31-post-cup_x.htm


A 15% increase in the average audiences for MLS' Saturday afternoon telecasts on ESPN2 since the World Cup.

. . . the league's weekly Saturday afternoon matches on ESPN2 has increased this season from about 167,000 homes for broadcast through the end of the World Cup, it still has been a little less than 200,000 homes for the four broadcasts since the World Cup.

[Northside Rovers]

The ADT angle sounds familiar. Is this just an offical announcement of something that occurred earlier or am I just confusing that with the commercials I saw during the WC?

I was also hoping to see something about Lamar Hunt officially purchasing the Dallas Burn. I guess not yet. Maybe by the MLS Cup.

[FootyMundo]

A very good and balanced article.

[Minnman]

Nice piece. My only complaint (and it's not even that big of a deal) is how the article implies the big July 4 crowds were related to the US WC performance. We always get big crowds in Denver and LA on the 4th, of course.

I'd be surprised (pleasantly), if there is any mention of the Burn's ownership status in Garber's speech tomorrow. Has there been any news on this front in recent months? Seems to me that Hunt's purchase of the Burn was scuttled (or at least delayed) when McKinney pulled the plug on the Burn stadium. Now, I'd be thrilled if Garber announces that the league has made progress in identifying another Metroplex city in which to build a stadium. Until/unless that happens, though, I have my doubts as to whether Lamar Hunt will ever take over the Burn.

[MtMike]

Will the state of the league address be broadcast live on the internet or be available later on MLSnet? Has anyone heard anything on this??

Northside, this is killing me. Sweet Daddy Cornbread??? do I even want to know? Sounds like an affectionate name for a pimp... :D

[FlashMan]

Originally posted by MtMike
Will the state of the league address be broadcast live on the internet or be available later on MLSnet? Has anyone heard anything on this??

Live, ABC/ESPN2, 3pm est, both Congressional Houses present.



Northside, this is killing me. Sweet Daddy Cornbread??? do I even want to know? Sounds like an affectionate name for a pimp... :D

We all have our alternative personas!

So, I guess there has been a post-WC "bump" in ESPN2's ratings, albeit it is only a minor speed bump in a 15 mph zone.

[jmeissen0]

Originally posted by Northside Rovers
The ADT angle sounds familiar. Is this just an offical announcement of something that occurred earlier or am I just confusing that with the commercials I saw during the WC?

they were previously just involved with the world cup aspect of things

nice to see someone come over to mls from the world cup crop of sponsors

[Soccerdude]

I love to see apple gives MLS a chance to show case the IMAC at MLS games.

[bunge]

Originally posted by Soccerdude
I love to see apple gives MLS a chance to show case the IMAC at MLS games.

What?

[Yankee_Blue]

Originally posted by Soccerdude
I love to see apple gives MLS a chance to show case the IMAC at MLS games.

Apple and MLS.

Now THAT is two things that go together...

[bunge]

Originally posted by Yankee_Blue


Apple and MLS.

Now THAT is two things that go together...

I keep hoping that Apple will buy the Earthquakes and put a nice Apple logo on the front of their kit. Plus it's two fanatical fan bases in one with a good marketing department....

[SoFla Metro]

Originally posted by Minnman

I'd be surprised (pleasantly), if there is any mention of the Burn's ownership status in Garber's speech tomorrowThis continues to be my biggest (and with the passage of time, only) gripe about contraction. When they got rid of the Mutiny and Fusion, they said they would have ownerships groups for all remaining teams, and I believe they stipulated that it would be very shortly (like, within a week or before the season started - anybody have a refresher?)

[jmeissen0]

i think they had said by the time the season started


i admit it does kinda suck, at least dallas seems to be doing ok... not as good as last year attendence wise, but ok

[SoFla Metro]

Best quote (IMO) from the article:


"We never expected the World Cup to be a panacea," says Mark Noonan, MLS executive VP for marketing and fan development. "In 1998 MLS didn't go away because the U.S. didn't do well in the Cup, and it isn't going to become the NFL because the team did well in 2002.

[kenntomasch]

Ho. Lee. Cow.

Mark Noonan said that?

Did he say anything about a baseball strike being a boon to MLS?

[Northside Rovers]

Originally posted by jmeissen0
i admit it does kinda suck, at least dallas seems to be doing ok... not as good as last year attendence wise, but ok

Last year Dallas finished the regular season at 12,574 (including the playoff game, that put us around 12,900).

This season we are at 13,175.

That is an increase. Not a huge one, but better than "not as good". We have 4 home games left including the big Aug 10 clash with the Fire on ESPN2, a Sat night game with LA, a Thursday night with the Metros and a Sat night against the Revs.

We should finish the season a little above where we are now, if I had to guess.

[kenntomasch]

Do you think USA Today is in on The Conspiracy as well?


"Major League Soccer's television ratings are still just short of invisible. And the effect of the USA's success in the World Cup six weeks ago no longer is being in the stands."

All your base are belong to us.


"What has lifted Garber's spirits and MLS' profile was the USA's advance to the 2002 World Cup quarterfinals after finishing last in 1998."

I'm starting to think Frank Cunha wrote this. ;)

[The Cadaver]

Was this a guest article by Veronica Paysee?