Nov 18 2007
So, Who’s the Genius…
…that decided to schedule the MLS Cup final today so that the second half coincided with the kickoff of ten, count ‘em, ten NFL games? Do they really want casual sports fans in America not to watch that badly?
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I agree, Dave. What time do you think would have been optimal?
The Thursday night slot on ESPN would have been much better for this. They would have been competing against one Big East college football game that wasn’t nearly as interesting to the rest of the country at large. Better to go against one college game in prime time than 10 NFL games on Sunday afternoon.
Thursday night might be optimal for TV, but it would utterly horrible for the fans of the teams and the atmosphere at the game. As long as MLS Cup is played in the fall, its going to run into other sporting events. It’s just a fact of life.
Good point, Chris. If that’s the case, then Saturday night would be better, since it still gives fans time to get to D.C., still produces the atmosphere, and goes up against college games that aren’t going to get as big a national audience as the entire NFL schedule.
It’s a fact of life, yes, but it’s nothing that will help MLS attract casual sports fans.
Have you tried getting to RFK? Essentially every one of us has to get on the metro. All of us. Not too bad of a game; speed versus luck? Half time show was almost funny - Jimmy Eat World?? The flyover was the best part I think.
Saturday night would have been ideal excepting a “normal” college football season.
As an aside, it’s often ABC/ESPN that determines playoff times on MLS’ schedule, and not MLS/SUM. DC United was practically forced into a Thursday/Thursday schedule with Chicago because of ESPN programming, worsening the attendance figures at RFK.
Dave, I honestly can’t think of any time period where MLS Cup can be played in front of a profitable audience where it runs opposed in the American sports schedule…
Except a Saturday in Early December, after the Army/Navy game but before the bowl season swings into public consciousness. That… Doesn’t seem likely, as teams like Houston and DC United are in preseason by late January (thanks to the CONCACAF Champions Cup).
The other alternative involves slightly modifying the wage structure to provide incentives for teams to develop deeper rosters. But I’m rambling.
MCG: Don’t even get me started about Jimmy Eat World. They only got them because Lifehouse was at Southpoint lighting a damn Xmas tree.
[...] on all that. Canes Country pays tribute to Glen Wesley. What a dark day for New England sport. DFB thinks it was a crazy time to have the final. I agree…have it in May ffs. Bruce misses the [...]