What a great day for the MLS. July 4 with some great games and great atmospheres. The goals were great and the day showed the potential of the MLS. I really hope MLS continues to build off its last 2 weeks or so, some great games. I hope ESPN can someday have some consistent Saturday coverage. Anyways, what do you think of this July 4th for MLS? for me it was one of my favorite days of the season.
Agreed with just about everything. It's a great tradition for the league that even the Eurosnobs aren't embarrassed about. Then there was this one line: Yes, because Soccer Saturday on ESPN2 not three seasons ago was a boon for the league. </snark>
I think today is a lot different than 3 years ago. The league is better, interest is better. I can't guarentee it would do wonders for espn and the league, but I definately would like to see it, and I would think other fans of the MLS would want to as well. It is almost noon and all I want is a game on HD to come on at 1.
Nice of you to begin signing your posts... While it might be nice for some television viewers, what about the fans who won't attend those games? Noon or one in the afternoon during the Summer is hot and in some places very humid.
I care. A 4pm kickoff in the east comes on at 1pm out west, I'm liking that. A 4pm kickoff in the west (good for the Saturday or a weekday holiday) comes on at 7 for the eastern viewers, that sounds good to me too. So go ******** yourself.
Did I really just get ripped on for saying I would like to see Saturday day games? and one of the people who was ripping on me complained people might feel a game is too hot? Sun is good, live a little, a few beers will cool you right off. I want San Jose playing in the beautiful sun at the HDC, that's just my opinion. Night games are sweet too, but sunny Saturday afternoons are great thing in America.
I think you did, at least I took post #4 to be a rip . . . so I suggest the eastern games could kick off in the later part of the day, beat some of the heat and still finish before nightfall so folks could have evening plans for fireworks, etc . . . then the earlier kickoffs can be scheduled out west where the summer weather is milder and the eastern viewers can watch the day game broadcast. I think you're idea of creating July 4th as a traditional event for viewing and attendance is a good one.
The problem with having Saturday evening games on ESPN was that you would take a large part of your viewers away because they were attending live matches (and vice versa). Thursday is nice, because it's a consistent spot (until College Football starts), and isolated as the only game. Sort of like Monday Night Football.
I hope you didn't interpret my post as ripping into your last post. I'll go to the DC games regardless of weather(I only missed the rainout because I was sure they wouldn't even try to start that match) and watch just about any other match. Sun in California isn't the same thing that is experienced on the East Coast, some of the midwest and especially the South. While games in heat aren't always glamorous affairs, games in humidity are almost always ugly or one-sided. They aren't fun for the fans in the stands either. Last week's DC-LA match was one of the exceptions that proves the rule(or maybe not). I didn't pay attention to your location or handle before. 4pm EST starts may not be as bad. Every season I wish DC had more Saturday games. Although they may not get great television numbers during the Summer, those are the easiest to schedule around and they are normally the best attended games.
I think the main reason I have a want Saturday's on ESPN is because I think ESPN is vital in the sport taking off. I think lots of Saturday games are great, when its sunny out and there are a few games going on across the country. I love Saturday's in the EPL because of the great day atmospheres. Hopefully ESPN can help show how great it can be because although I am obsessed with FSC, they just don't have the money and power to have great coverage. I still want them to keep their Thursday game and it is good because it does not have to compete with weekend football/baseball, but I think other sports competition is overate. To an extent either you want to watch soccer or you don't and it doesn't matter much what else is on.