Founded in 2002, Soccer United Marketing (SUM) is the preeminent soccer marketing company in the United States. Headquartered in New York City, SUM represents all commercial rights for Major League Soccer (MLS). It also holds the English-language broadcast rights for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, its third World Cup television property after the 2002 FIFA World Cup and 2003 Women’s World Cup. SUM also produced the world feed as the host broadcasters of the Women’s World Cup in the United States. Additionally, SUM is the largest promoter of international soccer matches in the United States including being the exclusive U.S. promoter and marketing representative for the Mexican National Team and its annual tour in the United States. The 2004 tour, “Coca-Cola presenta Futbol Mexicano de Verdad” (Coca-Cola presents Real Mexican Soccer), will kick off on Wednesday, February 18, 2004 when Mexico faces Chile at The Home Depot Center in Carson, California. Mexico played nine matches (February to November) in eight different U.S. markets during the 2003 calendar year, averaging over 37,000 fans a game. In 2004 all Mexican National Team matches will be televised to a national U.S. television audience on Telemundo while Futbol de Primera, carried by 70 Spanish-language radio stations across the United States, will provide live radio coverage of all matches. On December 8, 2003, SUM announced the multi-year acquisition of the marketing, promotional and broadcast rights in the United States for InterLiga™, a new, annual qualifying tournament that determines the automatic berths for Mexican clubs to the Copa Libertadores, considered the top international club competition in the world. Held for the very first time January 4-14, 2004, more than 150,000 fans attended InterLiga games in Los Angeles, San Jose, Stockton, CA, Dallas and Houston, Texas. Other SUM properties include MLS Futbolito, the league’s official 4-v-4 tournament and grassroots program targeting the League’s Hispanic fan base which is co-presented by RadioShack and Panasonic and features the legendary soccer player Carlos “Pibe” Valderrama as its main spokesperson; and a strategic partnership with U.S. Club Soccer, combining the efforts of both organizations to reach out and develop the millions of youth soccer-players in America and stage elite youth events in conjunction with MLS team and League properties. Please contact Soccer United Marketing Communications for more information.
Great catch. I had tried various combinations of the name and acronym a while back and couldn't find anything registered.
Didn't SUM recently get a hold of The Gold Cup and all of the Men's National Team qualifiers (or something like that)? I don't see any mention of those. Or is my memory failing already?
The Gold Cup is still controlled by Jack Warner and his cronies. Basically MLS/SUM doesn't want write Chuck and Jack a blank check.
Mexico played 9 matches in the US in 2003! That's a lot. Does anyone know how many they played in Mexico, and what the attendances were? I don't think this is a good thing at all. The Mexican team should play in Mexico, and Mexican-Americans should put the US team first. My grandparents were Irish, but I support England. If I didn't associate primarily with England, I would move to Ireland, and I wish America still had the confidence and cohesion to expect immigrants to integrate in this way.
Phil nice thought BUT severly flawed. Mexico pops into the US on a Wednesday night picks up some cash and poof they're gone.They are indirectly helping support MLS and AEG. This is a good thing. truth is if AEG/SUM didn't promote these games someone else would and that revenue would be lost. another hard fact is the US fans don't support the National teams like the Mexicans fans do.Particularly on the West Coast. Don't you think its odd that the HDC is the official traning center of the US mens and womens National teams YET they both play more games on the East Coast. Why? because they draw better there, simple economics.
It'd be nice if foreign born residents of the US rooted for the US when they play other countries (and I would point out that plenty do), but I don't think anyone would expect them to drop their allegiance to their home country's team. I've always liked having lots of "away" support at US matches, as long as we can create a dominant home support atmosphere at matches that count, like World Cup Qualifiers (we're still working on that bit). Andy, any idea how much money it would take to get the Gold Cup rights? I guess the pay per view guys who get it now pay way more than SUM could afford while aiming to make a profit on a tournament that gets low viewership.