Re: Women's pro soccer trying for a relaunch in 2007 I would think the rest of the soccer playing world, at least at the association level. We laugh at other federations that do stupid stuff, this would be another chance for them to laugh at us. Maybe we don't care and maybe we shouldn't, but it makes the USSF look like a(n) (more) amateur organization than it is. I don't see why the WUSA couldn't come up with 8 teams and make this a moot point. The number is pretty arbitrary but 6 teams? Everyone plays each other 6 times, that'll be fun. . . Having just 6 teams is amatuerish enough.
Re: Women's pro soccer trying for a relaunch in 2007 Dave Wasser has an archive of games, but I don't think you can download them. www.davebrett.com
Re: Will WUSA Return or is it a Myth I think double headers would be a bad way to go. I don't think a WMLS would work either. I can't see enough people going to home matches every single weekend to support 2 teams. I think if a women's league is going to be successfull it has to stand on its own. The WNBA would not exist with the NBA propping it up.
Re: Will WUSA Return or is it a Myth the WUSA did two things wrong. 1 they went head to head with MLS on saturday at 4pm. 2 they honestly tried to market to women and girls. I honestly think that losing WUSA will hurt soccer in the US in the long run kids could relate to the ladies much better, than the men's game.
Re: Will WUSA Return or is it a Myth That wasn't really that much of a problem. The ratings for MLS and the WUSA were pretty pathetic to begin with. I'm not saying it helped, but there were far - far bigger problems than the TV overlap during 2002 and 2003. Part of the problem is that they didn't really market to women. They only marketted to girls. It was a huge mistake. Not a lot of 12 year old girls by Maytags and Hondas (the league's two big sponsors). And, yeah, the league really missed up by basically telling potential male fans that it "was a different type of sports league." Way to alienate a huge potential market (18-35 yr old men were the largest TV demographic during the 99 WWC.
Re: Will WUSA Return or is it a Myth I hope that the WUSA returns because where I live, we had a good team and that it was always fun to watch women play with their different ideas that the men coould use in playing
Re: Will WUSA Return or is it a Myth I have it on good authority that once more MLS teams get their own stadiums, it will be easier to support a women's team, possibly as a partnership with the MLS team (much like it is in England).
Re: Will WUSA Return or is it a Myth For the 8,428th time - the "WUSA" is never coming back. If you mean "professional womens soccer league" say "professional womens soccer league." The brand name "WUSA" is poison. Advertisers and investors run screaming from any proposals that have even the slightest taint of the financial disaster that the WUSA was.
Re: Will WUSA Return or is it a Myth <snip> [-yfm] of course, while WUSA may not have a lot of value, the individual team names (i.e. Washington Freedom) ARE valuable . . .
Re: Will WUSA Return or is it a Myth Well said, cool man. I can't think of anything esle to add to it.
Re: Will WUSA Return or is it a Myth I think it would be safe for you to infer that WUSA is synomous with professional women's soccer league in most people's (at least those who haunt these boards) minds. Time will tell if your theory is correct. As for me, I don't care what they call it as long as it comes back to stay. Also, while the WUSA name might have negative conotations to investors it has a great deal of goodwill amongst fans and supporters of the game. Shrewd investors would be wise to look past the knee jerk reaction related to the financial disaster and deteremine what the value of the name and team names is before tossing them aside.
Re: Will WUSA Return or is it a Myth Please, break the WUSA habit. Part of being professional is to follow the money. WUSA is not "the money". In fact, most former WUSA towns will be unlikely venues for a new D1 women's professional league. The Freedom, maybe (unless our pres sours that name ). But who else?
I believe the NFL failed a number of time before it become embody in consciousness of the American public. they kept the brand name NFL didn't they.
True, but it was hardly on the national radar during its early failures. The WUSA meltdown was VERY public, kind of like the XFL. You don't see the XFL coming back any time soon, do you?
Re: Will WUSA Return or is it a Myth I agree! It's hypocritical to tell people they need to stop saying "WUSA" when you guys are nursing and holding onto your WUSA team name (the "Freedom"). Andy... thanks for the Cagle flashback... as I recall, we were more upset about the sexual banter that came with the photo and the talk of her under-attire, than the photo itself. I love the way you guys still dabble in half-truths :: where the hell is that rolling eyes icon? :: On a positive "bury the hatchet" note... you've had some very thoughtful, insightful and well versed comments in this thread... so, ::gulp:: ...good job. WUSA or not... and whether or not the yet to be named league of the future choose Atlanta... the diehard Beat fans will always cheerish the WUSA days!!! Atlanta was really coming into their own and started having more of an adult following rather than the screaming 10 year olds. There was a really good foundation there. A couple more years, I know we could have averaged 10,000 a game. I know that thought terrifies the masses who hated the Thugs of Atlanta!! Hello Fear! ...and cheers to NSA... Long time eh? Is Mel still around...how about Piper?
Re: Will WUSA Return or is it a Myth The latest news on the pro league can be found here: http://www.non-league.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/fguswsii.htm
Re: Will WUSA Return or is it a Myth 2007 looks to be a bad year to start up a new league, since the Women's World Cup will be held in China in September. Most of the top talent will be locked away in national team camps. PRwise, it's a bad idea to shorten your first season anyway.
I don't know if this has been discussed yet, but I found this in Newhouse News Service: http://www.nj.com/business/times/index.ssf?/base/business-0/114983714183940.xml&coll=5 Look at the second page, the last bullet. Yep, 2008 is the launch of WMLS.
In all fairness thats not exactly what they say. "If a revived women's league is launched, as planned, in 2008, SUM will represent that league, giving advertisers the ability to reach a different demographic -- women." I take that to mean SUM will do advertising and such, not that MLS is involved.
SUM doesn't run soccer leagues, they buy marketing rights & sell advertising. Just because they're connected with MLS doesn't mean that MLS will have anything to do with a new women's league.
Re: Will WUSA Return or is it a Myth you are right some of the top talent would be at camp at different times but there are alot of players out there that are top players as well and just haven't recieved a chance...the us team would have 20 women so i beleive that would leave alot of other players that might be able to play okay in the new league....Get a clue.....the top players before were so stingy and thats one of the main reasoins the league failed....according a Beat coach. so whether its 2007 or 2008 depends on the marketing not availability of players there are tons of great players all over the world that would come running to play in the new league
Re: Will WUSA Return or is it a Myth I have to disagree - you should get a clue. The national team players will be a major drawing card for a new professional league. To go forward without them would set the new league back before it even starts. Sure I agree there are plenty of other good American players out there but none that will help put fans in the seats.
I guess by a reasoning here that we should hold off from a launch until 2009 since the Olympics are 2008.