Hey, guess what buddy... You're on a SOCCER board, full of hardcore SOCCER fans. Think that might influence why you don't see much conversion to baseball? We're not talking about whether highlights on SportsCenter would get us to watch MLS, but whether it would convert other people, namely casual fans. Huey
And that was exactly my point six posts ago. Allow me to quote myself... "People who don't watch MLS aren't going to start because their highlights on SportsCenter."
Saying it a thousand times only compounds the mistake. The funny thing is that MLS hasn't even reached the point where everyone has an opinion about it. A point, I might add, that doesn't stop corporations from spending billions reminding us how much we need a Bud Light or a Big Mac (but, of course, that stuff doesn't work, right?). There are still tons of people that are not aware, or barely so, that MLS even exists.
And my assertion is that those people who are not aware wouldn't have interest, because if they did have interest, they would have found MLS. We'll just have to agree to disagree here.
You are either born an MLS fan, or you are not. It's as simple as that, right genpabloescobar? Genpabloescobar was born liking everything he likes now. And he also was born knowing how to find those things, all by himself without anyone telling him about it. It was in his genes, man. He had the MLS genes. Why can't everyone else understand that this is the state of humanity and nature? Popular media and culture have no effect whatsoever on a human being. - Paul
Well, I admit this was humorous. I won't bore you with the rich details of my life on how I became a soccer fan. And, again, let me quote myself from an earlier post... "I think getting the name in the papers of the local markets and on the local news is more important than marketing to people who are watching Sportscenter to see highlights of the sport(s) that they only care about." That said, let me ask y'all to give your opinion to this question: What percentage of MLS fans watching MLS would cite the appearance of highlights as what brought them to start watching the league? I remember when MLS highlights were more prominent on SportsCenter than now (no one would have confused it with the NBA, but still, a couple of goals on the Saturday 11 PM were a given), and I didn't think it played a role in the attendance. Maybe I'm wrong about this...maybe I'm not giving credit where credit is due. If I'm wrong, so be it, I'll admit it. But I don't see the evidence of being wrong. And I don't count other B.S. posters who are just as opinionated as I am, just on a different side, telling me I'm wrong as evidence.
I got into the Fire because I saw a Friday night game on ESPN in their first season. I had seen some highlights on Sportscenter before, but didn't start watching them because of it. It was during my pre-drinking time before partying. I hadn't really been into soccer since the World Cup, but I got into it that night. I also have a friend who's die-hard soccer, so that always helps. After that, I was excited to have outdoor soccer back in Chicago (I never cared for indoor, especially the NPSL). That said, I seldomly watch an MLS game that is not the Fire. I generally only care about Chicago teams. The only sport I really watch that is not my team is football. What else is there to do on Sunday?
And again, you miss a very simple point. We're trying to target casual fans. People who like soccer, people who may have watched a couple of games. I like a lot of sports, but if I don't hear about it, I'm less inclined to spend my time watching the sport. However, if I see highlights every night on SportsCenter, and hear messages about how the next MLS game between the Fire and the Earthquakes (just an example) is a HUGE game, I'll be more inclined to watch. Please explain why you cannot grasp this simple point.
I do grasp it...I just don't agree completely with it. My theory is that the casual fans are the ones you want to get into the seats in the stadium, and to do that, you want to focus on local coverage.
Well, in chicago the papers and the news do a fairly good job of covering games. I'll give them that. But I can't speak for everyone.
Sports Center is like 7-Eleven. It used to be popular, but now it's just convenient.....if YOUR WHOL ******************ING LIFE IS BASEBALL AND FOOTBALL.