I find it hard to explain to people why the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup is important. Even after explaining the new CONCACAF Champions League and the FIFA Club World Cup stuff. I wrote it out in an email once and it worked out pretty good. So I wrote this post and thought maybe some of yous may have had a similar experience talking about this stuff to non-soccer fans or those who are EPL snobs and what have you... feel free to pass the link along- I think it does a decent job of explaining. If not, feel free to post a comment and make it better.... http://www.examiner.com/article/2012-us-open-cup-championship?cid=db_articles
You explained it well. The beginning of the article doesn't make sense though, it shows up as random words.
It would help if the USSF actually promoted the event. One wouldn't even know this is happening without checking mlssoccer.com Getting the semis and final on ESPN or something would help. I know FSC has had the final in years past but more people get ESPN.
You might tell non soccer people it is a historic part of US soccer history. Tell them when it started and that most other countries have the same tournament of the best club team in the country.also that leagues come and go. But this tournament will always be here. How about that
Yeah you html tag is off. The article itself is solid. I do have an underlying challenge to your premise. I don't think it is all that coveted outside of a few clubs (fans aside). I have opinions as to why, but I will leave that aside for now. Suffice it to say the prestige, format/scheduling, and coverage make it difficult for most clubs to prioritize over league games.
Well, given CCL changes and lack of true history in FIFA's club worldcup I think the explination to EPL snobs may actually help them root for MLS in this kind of a format, or against given their preference. Although from the CONCACAF releases the terms of revenue it doesn't seem as if it has much revenue potential outside of- as you mentioned- few clubs. That being said, working on getting the formatting fixed so it looks better. thanks for the input!
I've stopped watching ESPN due to lack of MLS coverage. In my view, it is just bad. Plain and simple. Although more people do watch ESPN- sports fans at that- I'm not sure their 'coverage' would give it the needed 'umph'
To me, the main reason why the U.S. Open Cup is important is that it is a link to the American soccer of nearly 100 years ago, and those links are getting fewer and fewer. The leagues from back then are gone, the top teams are gone, the players are gone. The main links still remaining are the USSF, the U.S. men's national team, a few amateur clubs and the U.S. Open Cup.
Clearly, it is not important at all to the USSF. If it were, they would have done something about allowing a meaningless European friendly to go on at the same time on a much more widely viewed network. I really see this as a bit of a slap in the face of the two clubs who played in KC last night.
1. It gives non MLS teams a chance to compete with MLS teams. 2. It's for a champions league birth 3. It gives an MLS a chance at a trophy outside the MLS Cup. 4. It's just a very historic tournament.
Do you think they felt it was a slap in the face? Do you think you make more of this than the people who are actually involved? If it's a meaningless European friendly, what the ******** are you concerned about?
My concern is that the national cup final had to compete for the soccer audience, and lost badly. I don't see this state of affairs as being in any way helpful toward trying to build the sport in this country. I suspect the clubs were too focused on playing the game to care about the TV situation. Any other questions?
The best way to explain is that its just another way to gain entry into the concacaf champions league. America gets 4 slots. 1. for supporters shield 2. for mls cup winner 3. mls cup runner up 4. us open cup winner. So if your a team that doesn't have a chance to finish 1st in the league or go to the mls championship game this is just another way to get into the champions league. It gives every team a little hope even amateur clubs.
1. It gives non MLS teams a chance to compete with MLS teams.- pretty much benefits the lower division teams, i think it needs to be later in the season like your tradional american postseason playoffs 2. It's for a champions league birth- MLS Cup decides the league Championship, eurosnob american socccer fans need to understand that. doesnt help that the CCL schedule doesnt benefit MLS... neither does the USOC 3. It gives an MLS a chance at a trophy outside the MLS Cup.- Consolation at best, Need a better reason 4. It's just a very historic tournament. - Not a Good enough reason the USSF still needs to do a better Job marketing it and Soccer better