Continuing the old conversation though.... I hope Fox at least keeps in mind going forward that low numbers are due to their own timing choices as counter programming to NFL.
I don't remember the numbers from last year but they weren't too exciting. Fox Sports may not be particularly alarmed by the numbers, realizing the competition and the long-term positives surrounding women's soccer, but it sure would be nice if fans and others connected with WoSo may a bit of effort to help the viewership. I sure didn't see a lot of mention of the last couple games on my Twitter feed (not that I follow everyone under the WoSo Sun)
http://www.nwslsoccer.com/musical-a...arden-package-announced-for-nwsl-championship I guess the first steps to making the championship game a "big event" are music and beer, right? I am somewhat hoping it eventually evolves into a full weekend event, with fan activities, all the end of season awards, etc.
Not a big fan of All-Star games but I could see one as added value here if ur look to put together a championship week. Make an all-star team out of the teams not in the final and bring in a European club for a friendly. The other option is divide up league players to make the teams. Either way two matches makes travel for fans more worthwhile and they will be able to market the European club well in advance as opposed to not know who will be in the final.
All-star game whether versus another all-star team or European club would make for a great addition on the same day or at least the same weekend.
Agree. If they dont want to do a double header they could offer the option to buy a ticket to both matches at a reduced cost.
Good state of the league - looking forward feature from Jonathan Tannenwald at Philly.com linked in this tweet: The NWSL isn’t going away, but it can’t stand still: https://t.co/reOzsCZreN via @phillysport— Jonathan Tannenwald (@thegoalkeeper) September 19, 2016
Extensive article by Jonathan Tannenwald of the Philadelphia Inquirer touches on many subjects regarding the state of the league, including comments from Merritt Paulson on whether the need to move the league forward is in danger of leaving some teams behind. Paulson goes so far as to mention the possibility of some teams needing to plan a "graceful exit" (I see others beat me to it but I'll leave up my post up since I have a partial, sort of juicy, quote)
I think the insinuation that one or more teams is *expected* to be forced out is something not entirely media-wise to admit.
Not by any official outlets, NWSL or media. Most suggestions for forcing NJ or others out has been completely on fan forums and such, where people are anonymous and there's no risk of investors getting suspicious or the league coming after you for stoking suspicion. I mean, having one team owner come and admit other teams could be pushed out is NOT a sign of unity. That's not something anyone official would *want* to broadcast unless things are immanent. The league is clearly not in a dire situation at the moment, so to me it definitely reads like something Paulson couldn't keep his mouth shut about.
It surprises me but the officials have already been announced for the Championship Final on the Professional Referees Organization website: REF: CHRISTINA UNKEL AR1: Alicia Messer AR2: Nick Uranga 4TH: Margaret Domka
I agree. I think something may be in the works with Sky Blue and possibly another team. The league may feel from what they have seen, at this point, that there is no real indication that Sky Blue, under the current ownership, will ever really be able to do much better then what they have done. I also can not help but wonder what might be happening with the Kansas City situation. The league may have done some kind of investigation regarding the emails and ownership dispute, and may not like what they see and where it could end up. I know it is all speculation on my part, but I can't help but think they may be wanting to take care of it before it could possibly get out of hand, especially if an opportunity presented itself where MLS Kansas City club got on the phone to Paulsen and said they now were interested. This may be a reason the league would let expansion slide to 2018, at which time it would involve two teams out West. So any one East of the Mississippi might grab at the opportunity to get Sky Blue, or wait in line a couple of years later or longer and hope to possibly get a team.
I have pointed out the following before. Phil Murphy one of the 3 owners of SB has declared for governor of NJ (election '17), while another is the CEO of Bed Bath & Beyond whose stock is about 40% below its all time high of early '15. On the other hand, I received on Tuesday an Email from SB that season tickets for '07 were on sale. That is the earliest I can remember.
These Sky Blue owners are very impressive (first time I looked at them). If you told me that these guys are headlining an MLS ownership group, or even a Premier League or NHL or NBA ownership group, I wouldn't blink an eye, their resumes are impressive enough. I guess maybe these guys just don't care enough. Crazy that Sky Blue seems such a weak organization while having such owners.
The negative side to revenue sharing in this league is it allows teams that dont want to drive their product to get by. I dont claim to know how revenue sharing works in the NWSL but IMO it's more like welfare than workfare.
I think you underestimate the ownership groups of the leagues you just mentioned. To be fair, just because someone has a nice resume and a large personal value doesn't meant they have the ability to bankroll something like a soccer team. Just from WoSo experience, look at the oft-maligned Jeff Copper of St. Louis Athletica infamy. Quite powerful, high-net-worth guy, but the problem was that his worth wasn't fluid enough. That's why he brought on other investors, who were also fairly high-worth (but bailed on him without warning). From what I heard, the only revenue sharing that happens is a fraction of whatever profit margins the profit-making teams make. I don't know how far in the black the Thorns are, but I was under the impression they get to keep a significant enough chunk of that, and the rest is split among the other teams. So a team like Sky Blue gets help, but likely not a difference-making amount. I think the issue with Sky Blue is that Hoff is the only one actually interested in WoSo; whatever monetary and resume clout the others bring to the group, that doesn't mean they're actually contributing much (monetarily or in the business of WoSo).
For what it's worth, I did talk to someone who bought season tickets for SkyBue next year. They said that there is supposedly a new management group coming in and that there's actually going to be real merchandise next year.