The U.S. U-23's Olympic Qualifiers Could Been On National Pay-Per-View

[TomJ]

I want you all to read this article:

http://www.sbsun.com/Stories/0,1413,208~12588~1948041,00.html

It states that offers were made to the buttheads at Concacaf for National Pay-Per-View available to all of us, but Concacaf turned them down. The offers were for equal or more money. So what gives?

Here is the email for Butthead #1, Chuck Blazer:
chuck.blazer@concacaf.net

He runs the show at Concacaf. Be sure to drop him a line on why he does not care about the U.S. fans!!! I know I will.

[Dr. Wankler]

I doubt, in retrospect, if too many people are going to be angry about NOT having the opportunity to watch the US lose 4-0 at a cost of $20 or so.

[monster]

Ok, so now we know that some people did try. I wondered if that even happen. But Blazer and Warner being dicks in this regard is nothing new.

[mpruitt]

The general manager of Fox Sports World and Fox Sports en Espaol said a soccer match featuring Mexico and the United States always draws huge ratings.

"I think it's a shame," David Sternberg said. "Obviously, the holders of the rights made a business decision they made for their own reasons. These are the kinds of events we certainly like to make available to our viewers."

[TomJ]

"I doubt, in retrospect, if too many people are going to be angry about NOT having the opportunity to watch the US lose 4-0 at a cost of $20 or so"

Whatever, man. At least they could have given us the choice. The way Concacaf handled it, they gave us no choice and thats not fair. And how do you know it would have been $20?

[dark knight]

I know it sucks especially for those with no options to see the game, but part of me likes seeking out random bars that I would never go to otherwise and getting the experience of watching a game surrounded by lots of other fans - fans of Costa Rica and Honduras, for example. I know that's not the point of this thread and thus this comment is probably irritating, but I doubt I would get off my couch if I didn't have to -- and there is something to be said for seeking out and being part of the soccer world in the U.S. that you might not see otherwise.

It's too bad the game was horrible, but it was cool, for example, seeing some Costa Rican fans cheering for the U.S. (for whatever reason), the rival fans I had contact with were really polite, and a bunch of Americans showed up, including Sunil Gulati and friends who managed to swing a VIP lounge downstairs. This wasn't everyone's experience, obviously, but you get the point.

[Kevin in Louisiana]

I guess it's wishful thinking to want Fox Sports World to pick up stuff like this, but it would've been nice.

[Thomas A Fina]

Originally posted by dark knight
I know it sucks especially for those with no options to see the game, but part of me likes seeking out random bars that I would never go to otherwise and getting the experience of watching a game surrounded by lots of other fans - fans of Costa Rica and Honduras, for example. I know that's not the point of this thread and thus this comment is probably irritating, but I doubt I would get off my couch if I didn't have to -- and there is something to be said for seeking out and being part of the soccer world in the U.S. that you might not see otherwise.

It's too bad the game was horrible, but it was cool, for example, seeing some Costa Rican fans cheering for the U.S. (for whatever reason), the rival fans I had contact with were really polite, and a bunch of Americans showed up, including Sunil Gulati and friends who managed to swing a VIP lounge downstairs. This wasn't everyone's experience, obviously, but you get the point.

Where was the VIP Lounge downstairs? and how the hell did I miss Sunil!!!
We should be beyond this hunting. Even if it was kinda cool. almost felt like I was at a meeting of the Freemasons or some secret society.

[dark knight]

I think it was to the right of the bathroom, although I never saw inside. The manager of the bar kept running downstairs with trays of drinks. Sunil roamed around a little at the beginning and middle of the game. I'm not sure who else he was with although one of the guys looked familiar.

[voros]

Originally posted by dark knight
I know it sucks especially for those with no options to see the game, but part of me likes seeking out random bars that I would never go to otherwise and getting the experience of watching a game surrounded by lots of other fans - fans of Costa Rica and Honduras, for example. I know that's not the point of this thread and thus this comment is probably irritating, but I doubt I would get off my couch if I didn't have to -- and there is something to be said for seeking out and being part of the soccer world in the U.S. that you might not see otherwise.
Excpet that you live in an area that actually had a bar show the game. How far would you like me to drive to watch a game on Television?

[dark knight]

Originally posted by voros
Excpet that you live in an area that actually had a bar show the game. How far would you like me to drive to watch a game on Television?

Yeah - that's why I said the comment may be irritating to some. I commuted about an hour and half by train. Much more than that would have been difficult on a school nite for me anyway. (Edit: took me about 40 minutes going and about 90 minutes returning.)

[voros]

Originally posted by dark knight
Yeah - that's why I said the comment may be irritating to some. I commuted about an hour and half by train. Much more than that would have been difficult on a school nite for me anyway.
My choices were to drive five hours to LA or drive three hours and cross the border and take my chances.

[TomJ]

In response to the dude who said "there is something about seeking out bars that you normally wouldn't go to watch these games"

Here is a quote from another post on another board regarding US v. Mexico game doing just that - seeking out a bar that he normally doesn't go to:

"i was able to make it to Restaurante El Paisa. when i first got there, it was 100% mexicans sitting there watching. i expected this, no prob. what i didn't expect was that there were charging $8 to get it. i had to step out of line for a moment, since my friends weren't sure if they even had enough cash to cover. when we got to the front of the line again, the lady at the door jacked it up to $10 per person. meanwhile, i didn't not see her take any money from other patrons ahead of us... who all happen to be mexican. i took that as a subtle note that we (we= non-mexicans) were not welcomed. so we left"

Sounds like a lot of fun. NOT!

[Thomas A Fina]

Originally posted by dark knight
Yeah - that's why I said the comment may be irritating to some. I commuted about an hour and half by train. Much more than that would have been difficult on a school nite for me anyway. (Edit: took me about 40 minutes going and about 90 minutes returning.)

[off topic]
?????????????

90 MINUTES??????????

You know, would these people in NYC ever get it throught their thick frickin skulls to get some sort of transportation from Queens to Brooklyn that DOESN'T go through Manhattan ?????????????????????????????????????
[/off topic]

[dark knight]

Originally posted by TomJ
In response to the dude who said "there is something about seeking out bars that you normally wouldn't go to watch these games"

Here is a quote from another post on another board regarding US v. Mexico game doing just that - seeking out a bar that he normally doesn't go to:

"i was able to make it to Restaurante El Paisa. when i first got there, it was 100% mexicans sitting there watching. i expected this, no prob. what i didn't expect was that there were charging $8 to get it. i had to step out of line for a moment, since my friends weren't sure if they even had enough cash to cover. when we got to the front of the line again, the lady at the door jacked it up to $10 per person. meanwhile, i didn't not see her take any money from other patrons ahead of us... who all happen to be mexican. i took that as a subtle note that we (we= non-mexicans) were not welcomed. so we left"

Sounds like a lot of fun. NOT!

I'd be surprised if they were letting anyone in for free, but who knows. Bars had to pay a fair amount for the rights, so trying to make it up on a few gringos sounds very unlikely. Anyway, I paid $15. I also don't understand bailing over $2.

[dark knight]

Originally posted by Thomas A Fina
[off topic]
?????????????

90 MINUTES??????????

You know, would these people in NYC ever get it throught their thick frickin skulls to get some sort of transportation from Queens to Brooklyn that DOESN'T go through Manhattan ?????????????????????????????????????
[/off topic]

Well - I might have exaggerated a little for effect, but late night subways suck. They need to either try to have some kind of schedule, or do what someone once suggested -- have late-nite party subway trains with drinking cars.

[dark knight]

I sought out the origin of that post and this is the reply from someone who did go (sounds similar to my experience):

Originally posted by Mglnbea
1) Most of the fans in El Paisa were Hondurenos, who probably would have cheered for the US had the RW&B given them something to cheer about. There were some Mexican fans in attendance, but the place didn't exactly erupt in cheers when the tri-colores scored, especially the first three goals.

2) I would be surprised if anyone, at any other restaurant across the country, paid less than $10 to get in. Maybe some didn't, but I believe most everybody paid $10.