Comments on: Hockey on its Heels? http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2007/06/26/hockey-on-its-heels/ Exploring football culture around the world Mon, 15 Mar 2010 17:24:24 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Max J. Rosenthal http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2007/06/26/hockey-on-its-heels/comment-page-1/#comment-100 Max J. Rosenthal Thu, 28 Jun 2007 02:29:35 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/2007/06/26/hockey-on-its-heels/#comment-100 That's a good point, I watch DC matches on Telefutura gladly. My point is more that FSC is a network that caters mostly to a demographic US soccer wants, which a) existing soccer fans of other leagues and b) middle/upper middle class households with lots of disposal income. Would LOVE to see how the game faired there. That’s a good point, I watch DC matches on Telefutura gladly. My point is more that FSC is a network that caters mostly to a demographic US soccer wants, which a) existing soccer fans of other leagues and b) middle/upper middle class households with lots of disposal income. Would LOVE to see how the game faired there.

]]> By: Dunl http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2007/06/26/hockey-on-its-heels/comment-page-1/#comment-99 Dunl Wed, 27 Jun 2007 18:33:26 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/2007/06/26/hockey-on-its-heels/#comment-99 I watched much of the Gold Cup tournament -- including every United States game -- on Telefutura and Univision. (Had to tape the semifinal and final, though, since I was <i>at</i> those games.) I'm not Hispanic and don't speak any Spanish, but often find myself watching soccer on Spanish-language TV, because -- unlike most English-language televised soccer in the US -- the Spanish-language networks are free-to-air. And it's not like you have to understand Spanish to get what's going on, and the pure <i>enthusiasm</i> of the Spanish-language commentary might even enhance the experience compared to having to pay for cable and then pay <i>extra</i> for the Fox Soccer Channel. I'm sure there's a much bigger white-guy audience than just me. (Too bad, I guess, that mine isn't a Nielsen household.) Another interesting statistic: the same day as the Gold Cup final happened in Chicago, Chicago's two Major League Baseball teams were playing each other in interleague play -- quite a big deal in the local media. The <a href="http://www.nbc5.com/news/13560331/detail.html?rss=chi&psp=news" rel="nofollow">finale drew an attendance of 39,194</a> -- compared to <a href="http://www.terra.com/deportes/articulo/html/fox377551.htm#soldier" rel="nofollow">at least</a> <a href="http://www.terra.com/deportes/articulo/html/fox410022.htm" rel="nofollow">60,000 fans</a> at Soldier Field for the Gold Cup final. But from the mainstream media attention, you wouldn't know it. Though the <i><a href="http://www.chicagotribune/" rel="nofollow">Tribune</i>'s got a <a href="http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/soccer_redcard/" rel="nofollow">good writer dedicated to the soccer beat</a> (and what coverage they did have was good), neither it, nor the <a href="http://www.suntimes.com/" rel="nofollow"><i>Sun-Times</i></a> gave as much attention to the Gold Cup final as they did to that weekend's local baseball. For the front-page and inside pictures, I actually picked up a copy of the free Spanish-language daily <a href="http://www.hoyinternet.com/" rel="nofollow"><i>Hoy</i></a>... I watched much of the Gold Cup tournament — including every United States game — on Telefutura and Univision. (Had to tape the semifinal and final, though, since I was at those games.) I’m not Hispanic and don’t speak any Spanish, but often find myself watching soccer on Spanish-language TV, because — unlike most English-language televised soccer in the US — the Spanish-language networks are free-to-air. And it’s not like you have to understand Spanish to get what’s going on, and the pure enthusiasm of the Spanish-language commentary might even enhance the experience compared to having to pay for cable and then pay extra for the Fox Soccer Channel. I’m sure there’s a much bigger white-guy audience than just me. (Too bad, I guess, that mine isn’t a Nielsen household.)

Another interesting statistic: the same day as the Gold Cup final happened in Chicago, Chicago’s two Major League Baseball teams were playing each other in interleague play — quite a big deal in the local media. The finale drew an attendance of 39,194 — compared to at least 60,000 fans at Soldier Field for the Gold Cup final. But from the mainstream media attention, you wouldn’t know it. Though the Tribune’s got a good writer dedicated to the soccer beat (and what coverage they did have was good), neither it, nor the Sun-Times gave as much attention to the Gold Cup final as they did to that weekend’s local baseball. For the front-page and inside pictures, I actually picked up a copy of the free Spanish-language daily Hoy…

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