Univision currently is the only network that holds rights to this summer’s Superliga.
The hope is that MLS will pursue English language broadcast rights to these matches through other networks.
The event is an exciting one that will pit MLS clubs against Mexican clubs for bragging rights. With a purse of a million dollars the tournament will adversely effect the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and you might just see some teams like the Dynamo and DC United fielding reserve teams in the Open Cup. With so many competitions going in the 2007 season the depth of many teams will be tested and many players at the back end of rosters will have to shine in the spotlight that David Beckham’s signing is bringing. This is a huge year for the league to capitalize and jump forward in the sports culture in the United States.
It is also a year hopefully more pressure will be put on clubs like Columbus, Kansas City, Colorado and New York to stop dragging the league down and become more important and relevant in their markets.
The New York Red Bulls are serious and manager Bruce Arena stated on my radio show last Tuesday that they will have the best youth set-up in the country. (790.thesportsanimal.com and Houstonchronicle.com to hear podcast)
I have concerns around Columbus and Colorado. Colorado is claiming global yet with their recent alignment with Arsenal yet have not marketed locally or have created strong ties in their community. Stop the smokescreen in Colorado and be relevant in your market before taking on the world. I hope that they are not living and dying by a new stadium?
Columbus you need life, no excuse not to be better in your market. Fact is Beckham’s signing , new youth initiatives, more pressure from media , important international competition, and new ownership is increasing the urgency and those who can’t get it done will more than likely get exposed this year. For players it is the year of opportunity…….
Ok back to the Superliga and tv rights. MLS must get English language rights or risk making this a purely hispanic event.
This event has to be showcased also very strongly to the American fan.
Glenn glenndavis@thesoccerhour.com
February 24, 2007
Univision currently only holder to television rights for Superliga
3 Comments »
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spot on Glenn. do you know of any talks between MLS and HDnet? Do you think HDnet would even be interested?
Comment by Michael Simpson — February 24, 2007 @ 10:58 pm
Glenn,
Columbus has decent involvement within the community. Since McBride left it has headed a bit south every year for two reasons 1) consistently playing unattractive disconnected minor league soccer and 2) not signing or keeping a player the community could identify with. Cunningham was probably the best chance they had with (2) and he was sent packing only a year after McBride left. In exchange the Crew relied on mega scoring threats like Wolyniec and Glenn; relied on Buddle who shortly thereafter stumbled with personal issues; relied on Razov who openly ranted about his dislike of Columbus. As a season ticket holder there is an air of expected poor performance on the pitch among the faithful at the stadium so you were right on that count of it being time to step up.
On the note of ticket sales, what info do you have about League wide sales? The Toronto FC website has posted their sales by stadium section and the majority of the stadium is sold out for the entire year! What is the HDC looking like?
Comment by will — February 26, 2007 @ 10:47 am
McBride was a great symbol for Columbus but truth be told it is consistent years of average to poor soccer that has killed enthusiasm in my opinion. With a more attack oriented team to go along with motto of hard work then maybe you see the light. Never have I ever felt that the Crew had a definitive purpose of play that was identifiable.
So much possibility in Cbus………All I know is that league wide there was a bump with the Beckham announcement. Great demand for soccer in Toronto….
Thanks for the comments and visiting the site.
Comment by glenndavis — February 26, 2007 @ 2:18 pm