2024 U.S. Open Cup

https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/20...final-semifinal-final-broadcast-info-apple-tv

Rest of tourney will be available on MLSSP

 

Big U.S. Open Cup news: Final three @OpenCup rounds will air free on Apple TV's MLS Season Pass. U.S. Soccer's agreement with Apple covers only the 2024 tournament. https://t.co/kb70h2NAzc

— Paul Kennedy (@pkedit) May 23, 2024

 

Lol Already seeing comments they'll never subscribe to Apple to watch USOC (even though it's free). These are the people that want MLS to do better when it comes to USOC TV rights and when they do they complain. And then this......

CBS was reportedly interested in doing a multi-year deal.

MLS power play now has effectively been rewarded by USSF taking this property to a non-neutral platform.

I’m hoping @SacRepublicFC spoil the party and win this thing now more than ever! https://t.co/MnU19tBrtT

— Kartik Krishnaiyer 🇺🇦🌻⚽️ (@kkfla737) May 23, 2024

 

What this year's USOC has exposed (that many of us already knew), is that these cranks aren't "pro-pro/rel" or "pro-improving US soccer" or even "pro-lower league soccer". They are just anti-MLS in every way. And in reality even if MLS did everything they wanted they would still, largely, be anti-MLS because its not Europe. And by Europe they really mean Champions League. And by Champions League they really mean its not United/City/Chelsea/Liverpool/Spurs/Arsenal/PSG/Bayern/Leverkusen/Real/Barca/Inter. Oh, and Wrexham now.

 

They don’t even care about Wrexham. When Reynolds sells his share of Wrexham, it loses its TV show, and it inevitably starts its tumble down the ladder, they’ll drop it as if it never existed.

 

The comments on his tweet are pure gold though. Some rightfully, and factually call him out..... and he acknowledges the fallacy in his notion above. And then he doubles down on his MLS wants to kill the USOC unless its' on Apple TV schtick.

A better question would be: Why doesn't Warner Bros - Discovery want the rights???? Seeing as they (allegedly) already have them as part of their deal to broadcast the US National Team games.

 

That is what confused me with his tweet. Two years ago, he had a series of articles on WST about the media deal, how it included USOC, and an interview with Cindy Parlow Cone on it. Now today it is MLS screwed over a deal with CBS for the same rights he was touting that Warnermedia had?

Seattle, LAFC, and Atlanta are still in the tournament and are pretty big draws. Hell, Giroud will be available for the semis if LAFC beats New Mexico. Last year's USOC final featuring Messi pulled in 1.23 million viewers domestically. Then there is however much they pulled in for selling international rights. It is almost like CBS or Warner were hoping to cash in on the fact that they could get cheap rights for games involving Messi. That is cynical, but the fact that no one wanted the games even with 3 bigger MLS teams left is telling to me.

 

And if MLS were to suddenly collapse and fold tomorrow, they'd switch to being anti-USL. Whatever the top division is, they'll be against it because it's not "Europe."

 

How come these people don’t bring those pro/rel suggestions to other USA pro leagues like NFL,MLB, NBA, NHL, etc forums

 

Hell those sports can use some punishment for tanking. It's a huge problem.

 

If an open cup final with an injured Messi can bring in 1.25 million what can an MLS cup with Messi actually playing do? Perhaps finally beat the 1996 MLS cup viewership?

 

I’m still laughing that the “magic of the cup” people didn’t want to acknowledge NYCII beating two USL C teams and outlasting all other third division teams.

 

USOC is a USSF tourney.

It's rights should be in the bundle with the Nats. Though I guess you need streaming because most USIC matches won't merit a linear TV broadcast.

 

So two Ontario teams vs. two British Columbia teams.

 

Chances of 4 MLS teams in the semis?

 

New Mexico United offering $250 Open Cup package

Chartered plane, ticket to the game, & swag bag.

 

75%. I think Sacramento has a chance against Seattle.