Soccer > Hockey

[Matrim55]

41 percent more households tuned into Gold Cup final than Stanley Cup final. (http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news?slug=ap-goldcupratings&prov=ap&type=lgns) And that's not counting the FSC numbers.

First posted by xxdischord here (http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showpost.php?p=11962349&postcount=35).

What does this mean for MLS? Probably nothing much at all in the short term. But in the long term soccer in the US is looking like a blue-chip investment.

Now ask me why ABC didn't have the final on Wide World of Sports and give me time to make up some lame answer...

[John_Harkes_6]

41 percent more households tuned into Gold Cup final than Stanley Cup final. (http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news?slug=ap-goldcupratings&prov=ap&type=lgns) And that's not counting the FSC numbers.

First posted by xxdischord here (http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showpost.php?p=11962349&postcount=35).

What does this mean for MLS? Probably nothing much at all in the short term. But in the long term soccer in the US is looking like a blue-chip investment.

Now ask me why ABC didn't have the final on Wide World of Sports and give me time to make up some lame answer...


I think this does go a long way towards explaining to those who think the SuperLiga is a waste of time why MLS needs that tournament. As artificial as the team selection for year 1 was - the enormous, largely untapped hispanic market, is something MLS would do well to figure out. As opposed to ethnic pandering, I think this tournament may actually add some lasting value after a while.

[cleansheetbsc]

Both shown on NBC (Univision is now part of the Peacock, aren't they?)

Be curious to know if FSC has a bigger reach than the mighty Versus.

[Asprilla9]

41 percent more households tuned into Gold Cup final than Stanley Cup final. (http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news?slug=ap-goldcupratings&prov=ap&type=lgns) And that's not counting the FSC numbers.

First posted by xxdischord here (http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showpost.php?p=11962349&postcount=35).

What does this mean for MLS? Probably nothing much at all in the short term. But in the long term soccer in the US is looking like a blue-chip investment.

Now ask me why ABC didn't have the final on Wide World of Sports and give me time to make up some lame answer...
the obvious answer is ... if that turned into a US/Guadeloupe final ... suddenly it doesn't have the same ca-ching. i think ABC should carry it regardless, but these deals have to be made way in advance. it that final turns into Panama/Guadeloupe ... then suddenly ABC looks ridiculous. and i know they essentially fixed it so the US would face Mexico in the final, but adding ABC to the equation would have made it look all the worse.

[texgator]

Soccer hates hockey

[wolfp10]

Why will soccer grow while hockey will regress?

Anyone in this country can play soccer. All you need is a field (ideally) and a ball.

Only rich kids, or middle income kids who parents make a sacrifice play hockey, since you need padding, jerseys, equipment, rink fees, etc.

[ugaaccountant]

and i know they essentially fixed it so the US would face Mexico in the final, but adding ABC to the equation would have made it look all the worse.

WTF? who is "they" in your post and how was this "fixed". I'd love to hear a good conspiracy theory if you've got it.

[Asprilla9]

WTF? who is "they" in your post and how was this "fixed". I'd love to hear a good conspiracy theory if you've got it.
relax, it was semi tongue in cheek. i don't know if Warner & Co. really fixed it.

[metros11]

Soccer hates hockey

Why would you say that?

[ax319]

As far as the reach of Versus compared to FSC i believe they are about the same. Versus might have a slight edge over FSC though. Here in Denver Versus is on the basic cable package, so everyone has it. To get FSC here you must buy the highest priced cable or satelite package. I have noticed this is usually the case only in NHL markets, in most other markets both versus and FSC can only be viewed by purchsing the highest priced package.

[texgator]

Why would you say that?

Because BigSoccer demands that every thread contain a ___ hates ____ joke at some point.

[sundayparkplayer]

This is HUGE. We're talking major $$ here for the TV Station that figures out how to tap into this market. I can't believe MLB hasn't tried although I think the Latino fan base isn't as big as you think for baseball here. Don't argue my point here because they didn't show up for the World Baseball Classic. This ratings number is astounding and to think ESPN only gives us the 30 second ESPN Deportes update! Someone with a good business mind should be jumping out of their skin right now and working on a business plan.

[AndyMead]

As far as the reach of Versus compared to FSC i believe they are about the same. Versus might have a slight edge over FSC though. Here in Denver Versus is on the basic cable package, so everyone has it. To get FSC here you must buy the highest priced cable or satelite package. I have noticed this is usually the case only in NHL markets, in most other markets both versus and FSC can only be viewed by purchsing the highest priced package.

Was OLN/Versus basic cable before the NHL moved there? I kind of doubt it.

It's an indication that the Avalanche are far bigger than MLS.

The other think that is being overlooked here is that the ratings being compared are those of the United States vs Mexico and a team from Canada vs a team from Los Angeles.

Over 95% of the population of the United States had no "team" in the Stanley Cup Finals. Whereas the vast majority of the country had one - if not two - teams playing on Sunday.

[texgator]

Was OLN/Versus basic cable before the NHL moved there? I kind of doubt it.

It's an indication that the Avalanche are far bigger than MLS.

The other think that is being overlooked here is that the ratings being compared are those of the United States vs Mexico and a team from Canada vs a team from Los Angeles.

Over 95% of the population of the United States had no "team" in the Stanley Cup Finals. Whereas the vast majority of the country had one - if not two - teams playing on Sunday.Boo logic.....Soccer kicks hockey's ass!!!!

[VR03]

I wish espn/abc carried it in hopes of seeing the game in HD.

[John_Harkes_6]

AndyMead hates soccer

[Jamooky]

Much ado about nothing

all this proves is that there are more Mexicans in the US than Canadiens :rolleyes:

[tab5g]

Both shown on NBC (Univision is now part of the Peacock, aren't they?)

Be curious to know if FSC has a bigger reach than the mighty Versus.

no.

NBC Universal owns Telemundo.

Univision is separate and owns broadcast TeleFutura and cable/satellite Galavision.

[Asprilla9]

This is HUGE. We're talking major $$ here for the TV Station that figures out how to tap into this market. I can't believe MLB hasn't tried although I think the Latino fan base isn't as big as you think for baseball here. Don't argue my point here because they didn't show up for the World Baseball Classic. This ratings number is astounding and to think ESPN only gives us the 30 second ESPN Deportes update! Someone with a good business mind should be jumping out of their skin right now and working on a business plan.there already is a TV station that taps into this demographic: it's called Univision. and Telemundo. they're already tapping into this market big time, they're selling huge $$$ ads for all their soccer games.

i don't know what more you're looking for.

[tab5g]

all this proves is that there are more Mexicans in the US than Canadiens :rolleyes:

and some people think that soccer doesn't have a brighter future than hockey.

of course a Gold Cup final (nationalism and sport interest) isn't a straight comparison to and NHL finals (club/city/sport interest), but I can assure you that Univision is very happy with how its soccer properties continue to perform in the US.


Over 95% of the population of the United States had no "team" in the Stanley Cup Finals. Whereas the vast majority of the country had one - if not two - teams playing on Sunday.

a good point. but the vast majority of the country are not soccer fans. (yet)

the vast majority of Americans aren't hockey fans either.

i wonder what a regional NT hockey final would get on NBC these days (say a Sunday afternoon US/Canada match for some regional "Gold Cup" like title). i'm not sure of the audience for that, but I'd venture to say that Univision's audience for the 2007 Gold Cup final would top it.