Think this topic demands it's own thread... I've hearing alot of talk about the WWC and it's implications on the WPS, so thought I'd just come out and say it: I think that the USA not winning actually HELPS the WPS. My thinking: Had the U.S. won, we would have had a recap of the 1999 scenario. Everyone is feeling good, patriotic fervor, "Oh we're good at soccer, yay!", yada, yada, yada. "Oh we should have a women's professional soccer league after the fact!" Fail. 2011 version: We don't win. We get the Empire Strikes Back/Friday Night Lights ending (depending on your taste...). And what happens? People are left wanting more. The fans weren't satisfied by the loss, but they loved the heart that this team showed--otherwise why would so many people have been watching? Luckily for those wanting more, a women's professional league already exists. I think the borderline ridiculous outpouring of support that your seeing everywhere the team goes, and with TV/media coverage is indicative of this. I, for one, spent the bulk of my day yesterday following the WNT around from network to network, still as much enthralled by our national team as I was in the 122nd minute of the Brazil game. As well, I think one of the biggest differences between 1999 and now is the advent of social media (especially twitter) which has allowed people to follow this team on a much more personal level. So whereas 1999 was faulted by the fact that this team was split up amongst the league, I actually think the WPS benefits from having the players on different teams, because people who were fans of individual players will just follow them to their pro teams. Bottom line: Women's soccer is in a much different place than it was in 1999. And I think that the conditions are right for (read: nearly perfect) for the WPS to capitalize on this. I think that when people look back, they'll consider this world cup a momentous occassion for the development of women's soccer--much more so than 1999. (Wow. Did I really just say that?)
The BEST way that the WWC could possibly help WPS is if someone with money watched the WWC and decided to invest in the league because of what they saw. If you know someone with this sort of money, gently and kindly encourage them to invest in WPS. The next best way that the WWC could possibly help WPS is if someone with a business was inspired to sponsor a WPS team or the entire league based on what they saw happen during the WWC. If you or someone you know own a company with some advertising money, take a look at WPS teams. DiegoRed (a mod here) decided to sponsor the jersey's of the Dallas WPSL team this season. She's not Warren Buffet or Oprah wealthy. Or even Real Housewives of Atlanta wealthy. But she is dedicated and decided to put up some ca$h for the team. All of us can do something even if we can't sponsor a jersey or buy at team. Take the time to write/email/tweet current WPS sponsors and let them know their WPS sponsorship is good & the reason you are interested in their company. Give companies and media outlets financial reasons to buy sponsorships and write articles about WPS. Buy tickets if you can. Buy WPS gear if you can. Click through ads on WPS web pages & WPS related articles in various online media. Tweet and re-tweet about WPS & post WPS related links on fb. Use the #hashtags.
I agree with that, love this US team since their match against Brazil. If they won the game I would be SO happy but after that I will just move my eye to men's teams till 2015.
The President is a tad busy atm. There are a couple of little affairs of state going on right now... But he did tweet a welcome back: And he tweeted during the game as well as a "I've got some stuff going on and can't be at the game in person but good luck" tweet prior to the game.
Those sorts of ceremonies tend to occur well after the event. I'd be surprised if the WNT doesn't get an invitation to the White House sometime in the next six months, but it's not going to be this week.
I know I'm beyond broken record territory with this post. I'm ok with that. Here are some links to online comment forms for some of the national businesses that sponsor WPS. There are also local businesses that sponsor WPS. If you've got links to contact info, post 'em so we fans can thank them. If you do not want to send an online comment, consider sending each company a tweet thanking them for their support of WPS & be sure to include either #WPS or @womensprosoccer in your tweet. Or you could post a message on the company's fb page. Please take a few minutes to send an email thanking the company for their support of WPS. Companies need financial reasons to continue to sponsor WPS. Here's Stonyfield's contact page Here's Playtex's contact page Here's Citi Bank's online comment form Fox Sports (parent company of FoxSoccer Channel) online comment form. The Sahlen's contact us link on their websit is a direct email and not an online form. The Coast Guard contact page from the main gov't page -- the link from the WPS site takes you to their recruiting website. Don't forget to thank the Coast Guard folks for their service to the country. ShopRite, a SBFC sponsor's contact page.
Here is another ESPN article that I linked to yesterday on the USWNT boards that speaks specifically to the question asked by the original poster. I found it quite insightful. Comments from the WPS CFO and owners. The most salient point I got from it is that the league really needs the right kind of team owners to make the league succeed. http://espn.go.com/sports/soccer/new...omen-soccer-us
YES! Just did all of these, will do the same via twitter for good measure! I suggest that everyone on this thread do the same.
Apologies. Here is the proper link to the ESPN article I mentioned up thread. Good read. http://espn.go.com/sports/soccer/ne...828/women-world-cup-wwc-boost-women-soccer-us
An awesome article (with one unfortunate typo) with many thinking points on the future of the women's game. Give it a good read. There's some fruitful stuff there.
Jeff Kassouf on the hope that the WWC bump leads to more investors/sponsors Write/call/email/tweet the current WPS sponsors, including local team sponsors, so they know there are financial reasons to buy into WPS.
From Kassouf's well-balanced article... (As an aside, I think it's funny that the article didn't have a comment section. Luckily we have this thread!) Note the italicized section. In that statement, Jeff points out two issues that he feels are necessary for the leagues survival: sponsorship revenue and expansion.One of those two, is a key issue that has obviously been talked about since the WPS came into existence: Without a sustainable source of revenue (investors and sponsorship, not attendance--leaving out tv revenue since I think its a straightup trade for tv time) this league won't be able to function. Unfortunately, Mr. Kassouf's second point is a little bit...well, wrong. What the Equalizer failed to mention was the bigger (granted, less talked about and slightly more contrived) issue of sustainable modeling. This is something Anne-Marie, and Tonya before her, liked to harp on every chance they could get, but the plain truth is that this league has switched into survival mode since 2010, as evidenced by their bold yet necessary escrow/down-payment move over the winter, and hasn't figured out how to go about this question of sustainability. Which brings us to Jeff's point about expansion. Don't get me wrong, I love the Pacific Northwest. I think it's beautiful and it's probably the most soccer-crazed area in the United States--but it should not be home to any WPS team, at least in the forseeable future. In fact, there shouldn't even be a team on the West coast. (Sorry Bay Area) It's a simple matter of economies of scale: the costs of expansion do not outwiegh the advantages of expansion. Pure and simple. There's a reason all the west coast franchises folded. There's a reason all the mid-west franchises folded. It's just far too expensive to sustain a bi-coastal league. The market resolved this. In order to keep this brief, I'll just simply say that the WPS needs to consider sustainability before expansion (of course, I'll eat crow if an investor comes along saying he wants a team in Chicago and can afford all the transportation costs associated with that), although that is not nearly the beginning of it. Flawed regulatory measures, weak franchising governance, confused league-franchise responsibilty structure...these are just some of the big issues that need to be resolved before any talk of sustainability can take place. So that's a discussion for another time and thread.
Although this doesn't directly relate to WPS it does indirectly relate since it involves one of their star players. I just heard on the radio that Dancing with the Stars is talking to Hope Solo about being on the show! Let's hope she accepts since it will be great for the publicity of women's soccer.
Even if the WPS fails, the 2011 Women's World Cup (excitement and ratings) are still good enough to "increase" the chances that another women's pro league may yet form in the United States someday in the future. At one time, I wouldn't have thought that could be possible, if the WPS folded (which would mean a 2nd death to a womens' pro league in the USA). But quite frankly, a 3rd one is actually possible now in the future, if the WPS does come to an end. And what about a women's pro champions league inclusive to USA women's teams, intercontinental, with the USA teams playing abroad (maybe Fox Soccer Channel and GolTV would televise those matches as well).
I would disagree at this point. If an established professional league can't hang on with the boost coming from the WWC, it's hard to see how a new one would gain enough enthusiasm to get up and running with two failures behind it. I think either WPS survives or you're left with the W-League/WPSL, possibly with a couple of low-level professional teams.
Chicago is as close to the northeast as Atlanta (and closer than S. Florida). That said, I agree that viability is more important than expansion. However, if there are 2 strong investors in the NW, then the WSL should expand there. Travel costs can be minimized by holding games Friday-Sunday on West Coast (or East Coast) road trips. In fact, I don't know why that hasn't been done yet.
I agree with your points...If WPS fails, then I don't see how there will be another league. I would like to sound positive...But, I am not sure there will be WPS next year...
I think it's more can they replace the teams which fold at the end of this year? WNY - Guy purchased naming rights for 5 yrs to a stadium, and probably has his books in order to what he wants to spend. Back in 2012 if the league lets him in the exclusive club. Beat - Fitz still doesn't have his football team, has a cheap payroll and best attendance. Back in 2012 MagicDan - Like him or not, since he doesn't have his horses thanks to the Feds, he has his BigJacks and 9 figs of wealth. I don't it's about him coming back, it's about who will want to play in FL. Back in 2012 Boston - #2 in attendance, and Kelly Smith and other players have taken pay cuts to stay with the organization. Don't see any difference in 2012. Back in 2012 Philly and SBFC- They both have rocky attendance, and don't have the "write off" models as Jack and WNY. As i've said, I could see one of them giving the FCGB NeSmith speach at the end of the season and closing doors. Marta's AEG deal is done, salary has to come in-line, based on her TRUE worth, because she isn't the super draw they thought she was. I'd say depending the day of the week Abby seems to be the bigger draw for the league. Maybe Santos puts their club in Miami and things change for Marta but she isn't the 500k cap busting girl, more 175k what Santos pays her. Has the world cup done enough to draw in some sponsors and another franchise or 2 to keep them at 6 or increase to 8? Who knows?