News: 2014 US Open Cup to see much-needed schedule changes, most teams of Modern Pro Era (TheCup.us)

Never understood the games on consecutive weeks thing unless the point was to destroy the tournament.

So definitely a good thing.

 

Did you know that in January and February, the four Copa del Rey semifinalists (including finalists Real Madrid and Barcelona) played cup games on six consecutive midweeks for the Round of 16, Quarterfinals, and Semifinals which had two legs each?

 

Well they'd damn well better start taking it seriously. Every year that they've spent more money on the tournament, they've earned higher net profits (proportionate to that spending) as a result.

 

As Josh said, travel isn't really an issue. Neither is selling out these games. Even on short notice, I'm pretty sure these games sell out -- and they sell out massive stadiums.

 

Actually, I liked the schedule of recent years to play on (nearly) consectutive midweeks. It gave it a look of an actual "tournament" where you face a knockout every week, instead of the "we'll play this week, then that-ish week, then sometime later, then whenever or maybe."

I would have liked to see how this would have played in real life last year, with the Michigan Bucks, but the Dearborn team saw to that.

 

olujosh It finally gives poor Tavio a chance to relax as well. ;-)

 

The difference is that those are relatively late rounds. Basically all the clubs in the Round of 16 are going to be in the top 2 divisions.

 

Just kind of hard to sell tickets on short notice to a midweek game against a non-sexy opponent (much of the time).

How the tournament "looks" to you is a secondary concern at this point.

 

Did you know that in Spain, soccer is really, really popular?

 

Bigger than California, but smaller than Texas, yes.

 

This is what I'm saying.

It's kind of hard to sell tickets to a mid week tournament game on short notice when it's not against the Galaxy or someone of that ilk.

 

No, seriously, like eight people are going to say that.

You know I love you, but you seriously overestimate things.

 

I think that would start with having all of the NASL clubs and all of the USL PRO clubs to have a local network that broadcasts all of their home games.
Once you have that along with MLS sides local braodcaster televising all of their open cup matches then a deal with ESPN3/Watch ESPN would be a very possible.
As they get into later rounds where matches are at USL PRO, NASL, and MLS sites the Broadcasts can be simulcast on ESPN3/Watch ESPN in the same fasion that NCAA football, basketbal, Arena Football, CFL, etc. are able to do.
I know NASL clubs are now beginning to have more of the clubs having a local network Broadcast their games.
I know that the USL PRO have free webcast of all games so someone would need to Broadcast those matches but not sure how professional they are. IS it just a Camera following the game or is their a team with several cmaeras and announcers..
No network such as an ESPN or FS1 is going to send a broadcast team until very close to the finals but before those games there are a lot of matches that could be of interest between USLPRO, NASL, and MLS cross league matches

 

Yes, but soccer being popular in Spain doesn't make it less tiring for the players to play two games a week for six weeks.

 

With NASL now entering its 4th season there are more teams, bigger fan bases, and better players and teams. They will be bringing there best every game. So for the MLS with its many clubs tanking their open games by playing bench players and resting starters will e caught in a tough spot as a league as they will not want an MLS club(s) to play in and win the open.
USL PRO teams will be bringing it also even it the MLS clubs are able to and bring back their loaned players for open matches.

 

The number of teams is allowing it to get closer that USL Pro plays D4 or lower teams ... and if they win match up almost across the board with NASL teams (NASL will have ~11 in 2015 ... and will be joined by 2 MLS teams since they'll have 18 teams ... 2 to many for a round of 16 entry group). When this happens, do you think the NASL vs USL "rivalry" will help market those midweek games in those markets? If it's done right, those markets may host some of the next round so you'll get to market a visiting MLS team which should help as well ... slow growth, but growth ... and time to market will only help.

 

I think the vast majority of potential ticket buyers couldn't give a toss about the "rivalry."

Certainly not enough to goose ticket sales.

This is still a midweek tournament of dubious consequences and you're either playing someone you play a lot or someone you've never heard of. And not every team from rungs above you has enough cachet to move the needle.