U.S. vs. Canada Match-viewing: The OverDraught

The Magpie · Jan 9, 2003

The Midnight Riders, a New England Revolution independent supporters association, invite U.S. supporters to watch their national team take on Canada on Saturday, January 18, 2003. The match will be broadcast LIVE at 7:30 PM EST from Fort Lauderdale's Lockhart Stadium.

There is no cover and the Riders are picking up the cost of the Pay-Per-View telecast.

Revolution stars Taylor Twellman and Steve Ralston have been called into the U.S. National Team for the first training camp of 2003, and both could figure in the international friendly.

The OverDraught has also agreed to broadcast the upcoming friendly between the United States and Argentina on Saturday,February 8, 2003. The match will start at 12:00 Noon and will be broadcast LIVE on ESPN2.

Information on The OverDraught as well as directions may be obtained at:

http://www.midnightriders.com/OverDraught.htm

The OverDraught is a ten minute walk from the Lechmere stop on the Green Line, and is on the MBTA 69 bus line with the closet stop being 1/2 block away.

See everyone there!

The Magpie

GPK · Jan 9, 2003

Thanks Evan, Monty et al.

patfan1 · Jan 9, 2003

You're more than welcome, but Joe deserves credit for his work with the OD more than the rest of us.

Way to go Joe! Now do some work!

GPK · Jan 9, 2003

Originally posted by GPK
Thanks Joe, Evan, Monty et al.
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Fixed it

Mike Toole · Jan 9, 2003

Great! I look forward to seeing you all there. Just 10 minutes walking from my house!

Keevo · Jan 9, 2003

I'm thinking about driving in for this one. Anyone from say, Framingham-East that needs a ride, feel free to pm me (if its not too far off Route 9).

Arisrules · Jan 16, 2003

bump

nsa · Jan 17, 2003

So how is Cambridge's snow removal? Are there any legal parking spaces within a mile of the OverDraught?

See y'all tomorrow night!

The Magpie · Jan 17, 2003

Are there any legal parking spaces within a mile of the OverDraught?

There's usually plenty of parking on the side streets and sometimes, right on Cambridge Street. Not sure how that may be affected considering snow removal.

The Magpie

Ross · Jan 18, 2003

I've always had good luck parking on Cambridge Street. Sometimes directly across the street, other times a bit of a walk, but never a huge problem.

Since we only got a dusting yesterday, I'm guessing there'll be little impact on the number of spaces available related to snow.

Mike Toole · Jan 18, 2003

There's also a municipal lot not too far down from the Over Draught-- heading towards harvard square. And since it'll be after 6, no need to feed the meter!

See you all in a few hours. Hey, does the Over Draught have good food? The only time I've gone there is to see Ireland-Saudi Arabia last summer. Don't suppose they've got a menu online?

athens77 · Jan 18, 2003

Let me be the first to congratualte the Midnight Riders on a job well done for tonights viewing party!

There must have been over 50 people there at different points to see the game. Great turn out!!!

It' was my first event with the local supporters group (SA or Midnight Riders). And I must say it made a huge impression on me.

**NOTE: I am sure I will feel better once the frostbite heals

Mike Toole · Jan 19, 2003

Good turnout, but did the viewing happen?! My girlfriend and I arrived early, only to be told that the Over Draught would not be able to show the game because they didn't have DirecTV. We stuck around for a bit to see if a contingency plan would appear, but nothing was forthcoming, so we left.

It was nice to meet some other local soccer supporters, but did we end up leaving a little TOO early, and a solution was arrived at...?!

JohnnyRev · Jan 19, 2003

My son and I left, too, about 7:30. I didn't want to watch any more of the golf tournament. Once it was announced that someone wanted $2,000 for the cable feed, it was all over, and people were finishing their beers and shuffling out.

Rev-eler · Jan 19, 2003

riders, i do appreciate you guys trying to work these thing out with the o.d. in the future though, just check soccertv.com. they were pretty explicit about the ppv being on setanta thru directtv only. maybe this was a screw-up on the o.d.'s end by not knowing that they have the dish instead of directtv. maybe, none of that's the case and they could get it but didn't know they'd have to fork out 2k for it based on their occupancy. i do know i was disappointed that i drove in for no game...as i'm sure yourselves were too.

on a related note, if anyone knows of the dept in ussoccer responsible for making it more difficult than it should be to follow our national team....i'd be up for seeing it. this game was on fsw-canada, they should've found a way to get easy access for us.

athens77 · Jan 19, 2003

Originally posted by Mike Toole
Good turnout, but did the viewing happen?!
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No it did not happen. I was being sarcastic. But now that I have had time to sleep it off and we did win 4-0 I am not so bitter about it.

Mistakes were made, these things happen.

I am just glad that I didn't push harder to get my friends to come (2 Italians, a Korean, and a Japaneese guy). They would have never let me live it down that I drug them all the way across town in the bitter cold to watch golf.

The Magpie · Jan 19, 2003

When Riders representatives spoke with management from The OverDraught about the match they (the Riders) were assured they'd be able to carry it.

As has been indicated, the match viewing never took place because TheOverDraught did not have DirectTV and the Riders didn't check carefully enough.

That being said members of the Riders did their best to find an alternative venue, primarily a pub or bar that had either Direct TV or satellite access to Fox Sports World Canada (that was showing he game live.)

The Thristy Scholar, The Sports Depot, The Coolidge Corner Clubhouse, Roggies, and Bad Abbotts were all contacted with no success. The Thirsty Scholar could have shown the match, but snice their contract is a commercial one it would have cost them $2,000 to show it. Unfortunately, the Riders don't retain enough financial resources to cover that cost.

It's unfortunate, especially to those who drove in from places afar to catch this match. I also think it's unfortunate that fans had to jump through hoops for a match-viewing that should have been on regular Pay-Per-View.

That being said TheOverdraught will be showing the U.S. vs. Argentina match on ESPN2. I sicnerely hope that those people who made it out in the cold last night try to do so again: there was a good number of people despite the disappointment.

The venue has doe a great job of accomodating local soccer fans, and the Riders have done a good job of helping promote and host viewings there.

Thanks again and apologies to all.

The Magpie

Rev-eler · Jan 19, 2003

thanks for the clarification magpie......the guy at the door was a little confusing about what happened.

ToMhIlL · Jan 19, 2003

The question I have is why the game was on PPV to begin with? I can see the logic of some of the CONCACAF games involving certain nations on PPV, like the treks to the Wonderland Ballroom years ago for qualifyers vs El Salvador. Generally, there is enough of a market among the immigrants from those countries that there is money to be made on a PPV telecast.

But a game against Canada, the one country in the world that has equal or less of an interest in the sport among the mainstream population than the US?

That's what I don't get. I can't imagine this game being anything more than a money pit for any bar to show, unless it was part of a package, where you couldn't get the rights to other more lucrative games.

Does the USSF even care about these things to grow the sport?

Tom

GPK · Jan 19, 2003

Originally posted by ToMhIlL
Does the USSF even care about these things to grow the sport?

Tom
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Yeah Tom, they care enough to make an effort and put this match on PPV. They even made an effort to get it on to more than just DirecTV.

Damned if you do and damned if you don't. Nothing is ever enough is it?

Riders, next time call every day for 3-5 days before the match to double and triple check everything. Especially when you have so many people relying on your efforts.

Philippe.Vezina · Jan 20, 2003

I personally wanted to watch the match, and I do have DirecTV at home, but the $19.95 viewing price was pretty ridiculous if you ask me. For the record, I would've paid for it if it was $9.95, but I can't justify blowing 20 samolies on a friendly with Canada.

I bet DirecTV would've doubled its audience and made the same amount of money for that match if they cut the price in half. How many soccer fans like me were interested, but couldn't afford the high price? I mean, c'mon, they're even charging less for the FA Cup fourth round game this Sunday.

And you're right Guy, nothing's EVER enough!

Mike Marshall · Jan 20, 2003

I vote that next time we just all go to Tony Biscaia's house.

bostonmasshole · Jan 20, 2003

thanks to the riders for giving it a shot anyway. these things happen. see you guys there next time.
cheers
tommy
REVARMY.

Chip · Jan 20, 2003

Originally posted by Philippe.Vezina
I personally wanted to watch the match, and I do have DirecTV at home, but the $19.95 viewing price was pretty ridiculous if you ask me. For the record, I would've paid for it if it was $9.95, but I can't justify blowing 20 samolies on a friendly with Canada.
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At least you had the opportunity. Not an option on our cable network.

Mike Toole · Jan 20, 2003

Likewise. Hell, if I had the option of getting the game for 20 smackers, I would've done so, and invited as many as possible to my apartment to watch! (I'm 10 minutes walking from the Over Draught.) It would've been fun.

I'll be sure to show for the next friendly, though. I'm dying to try the food, the OD's menu looked great! Oh, and also, the game.