Soccer News & Notes, August 13, 2011

MLS strikes "significant" broadcast deal with NBC Sports Group

Major League Soccer (MLS) commissioner Don Garber has hailed the agreement of a broadcast rights deal with NBC Sports Group as a "significant step forward" for the organisation.

The three-year agreement, which commences at the start of the 2012 MLS season, calls for 45 MLS games and four US men’s national team matches to be televised live across both NBC and NBC Sports Network each season. This marks the first rights deal for NBC Sports Network, the newly named cable channel that will be re-branded from Versus on January 2, 2012.

Each season, NBC will broadcast two regular-season MLS games, two playoff games and two appearances by the US men’s national team, marking the first time four MLS matches will have been broadcast on English-language network television in the United States since 2002.

The NBC Sports Network will televise 38 regular-season games, three playoff games and two US men’s national team matches. The new agreement replaces the existing arrangement with Fox Soccer Channel. "Our new partnership with the NBC Sports Group is a significant step forward for Major League Soccer and US Soccer," said Garber.

"The NBC Sports Group is world-renowned for its award-winning coverage, superb broadcast quality and promotional expertise," Garber continued. "We are excited to be part of NBC’s ambitious plans for soccer, and look forward to reaching a considerable audience on multiple platforms."

Mark Lazarus, chairman of NBC Sports Group, added: "MLS is a perfect fit for our new group, and we are uniquely positioned to help grow soccer in the United States with extensive coverage on NBC Sports Network, significant programming on the broadcast network and our growing digital platforms. Additionally, this agreement complements the partnerships that five of our regional sports networks have with their local MLS teams."

Source: sportbusiness.com

NBC Partnership Gives MLS The Platform To Grow Its Fan Base
Published August 11, 2011

MLS’ three broadcast contracts all expire after the ’14 season

The new broadcast partnership between MLS and NBC provides the league with a "chance to grow its base," according to Paul Kennedy of SOCCER AMERICA. MLS Commissioner Don Garber said that the league "was ready to return to English-language network television, from which it has been absent during the regular season" since ’08. NBC Sports President of Programming Jon Miller said, "We won’t just be promoting Major League Soccer inside soccer games. We’ll be promoting Major League Soccer inside Notre Dame football games, the NHL, Indy Car, PGA Tour golf, obviously the Olympics next summer." Kennedy notes MLS offers "attractive demographics and what Miller termed ‘blue chip’ sponsors" for NBC and Versus, which will be renamed NBC Sports Network next year. Garber and Miller "go back together to Garber’s days with the NFL," and the MLS commissioner indicated that the deal "came together quickly" (SOCCERAMERICA.com, 8/11). Miller said one of things that "worked in our favor is that several of the owners" of MLS teams also own NFL and/or NHL teams. Miller: "Those owners have seen what we do when NBC Sports puts their marketing and promotional muscle behind something. We bring something so unique to the table that you can’t get anywhere else" (BROADCASTINGCABLE.com, 8/10).

NO KNOCK ON FOX SOCCER: NBC picks up the MLS package from Fox Soccer starting next season, and Garber said yesterday, "This was not a negative statement about Fox Soccer, it’s a positive statement about NBC Sports and its newly branded network. Fox has done a terrific job promoting [the] sport, and we hope to keep working with them." In N.Y., Jack Bell noted MLS’ broadcast deals with NBC, ESPN and Univision all expire at the end of the ’14 season. Garber said the timing was the "key thing" in the NBC deal. Asked if plans going forward could include an MLS network, Garber said, "It’s too early to comment" (NYTIMES.com, 8/10).

CHANGING DIRECTIONS: In Tacoma, Don Ruiz writes the national profile of MLS "took a couple of steps forward" yesterday thanks to the NBC partnership. Sounders minority Owner & GM Adrian Hanauer said, "The league continues to gain momentum, to gain credibility. … It’s exciting. (These networks are) in a lot more homes, which ultimately is good for us. I think Fox has been a very good partner . but with the infrastructure and the capacity to promote our league within the NBC family of networks, I think it will end up being a good thing" (Tacoma NEWS TRIBUNE, 8/11). SI.com’s Richard Deitsch noted while Fox Soccer "had carried MLS since 2003, the network’s primary focus has always been on its heavy inventory of international soccer, particularly the English Premier League." That focus "clearly irked MLS officials." One of the "attractions of a move to NBC is the number of homes the network’s properties can offer." Versus is in 76 million homes in August while Fox Soccer is in around 40 million. An NBC spokesperson said that "no announcers have been named for the new package and that such an announcement is likely months away" (SI.com, 8/10). In L.A., Joe Flint wrote the MLS/NBC partnership "is a blow to Fox Sports." Landing the MLS package is NBC Sports Group’s "latest move in a push to compete more aggressively" with ESPN and Fox Sports. Flint noted the "next big fish that NBC Sports will try to land is the NFL’s new eight-game package of Thursday night games" (LATIMES.com, 8/10). Meanwhile, DAILY VARIETY’s Josh Chetwynd examined the state of soccer on TV in the U.S. under the header, "Can TV Soccer Kick Second-Class Status? Ratings Rise, Coverage Grows, But U.S. League Is Key" (DAILY VARIETY, 8/6).

WIN FOR MLS: Following yesterday’s MLS-NBC announcement, DC United Senior VP/Marketing Communications Doug Hicks wrote on Twitter, "This is a big deal for our sport in this country. Congrats to all involved. … I’ve long admired VS work with the NHL and am looking forward to working with them to showcase dcunited." Dynamo President Chris Canetti wrote, "MLS lands TV deal with NBC Sports. Another great sign of growth for our league and sport." IMG Consulting Senior VP Tim McGhee wrote, "MLS deal w/NBC Sports a win for both sides. Another major league property for NBC & potential for great exposure for league." The Boston Herald’s Kyle McCarthy: "NBC Sports deal is a big step forward for MLS. The shift is probably a good fiscal move for FOX Soccer as well. … MLS has done a nice job of setting up a possible rights battle between ESPN and NBC Sports in 2014. Ratings must grow to spark it, though." But Grande Sports World Marketing Manager Vedran Agovic wrote, "Love the move but NBC needs to broadcast more than two regular season MLS games. Por favor."

Source: sportsbusinessdaily.com

World Football Challenge Averages 41,749 Fans Per Game For Second Iteration
Published August 9, 2011

The Herbalife World Football Challenge averaged 41,749 fans per game over 14 matches this summer. The tournament featured five clubs from MLS, two from Mexico and six from Europe. The inaugural WFC in ’09 averaged 56,136 fans per game and featured only four foreign clubs playing a total of six matches. This year’s FC Barcelona-Manchester United contest at FedExField on July 30 led all matches with 81,807 fans. The top draw in ’09 was 81,224 fans for a Chelsea-Inter Milan game at the Rose Bowl. FC Barcelona led all clubs in WFC average attendance with 70,898 fans per match. Listed below is match-by-match attendance for the ’11 WFC, compared to the event in ’09. There was no WFC last year due to the FIFA World Cup (THE DAILY).

’11 WORLD FOOTBALL CHALLENGE
DATE GAME VENUE ATTENDANCE
7/13 Manchester United-Revolution Gillette Stadium 51,523
7/16 Manchester City-Club America AT&T Park 11,250
7/16 Real Madrid-Galaxy L.A. Memorial Coliseum 56,211
7/18 Manchester City-Whitecaps Empire Field 24,074
7/20 Real Madrid-Chivas de Guadalajara Qualcomm Stadium 38,211
7/23 Manchester United-Fire Soldier Field 61,308
7/23 Sporting Portugal-Juventus BMO Field 10,028
7/23 Real Madrid-Union Lincoln Financial Field 57,305
7/24 Manchester City-Galaxy The Home Depot Center 24,897
7/26 Club America-Juventus Citi Field 20,859
7/28 Juventus-Chivas de Guadalajara Carter Finley Stadium 16,124
7/30 FC Barcelona-Manchester United FedExField 81,807
8/3 FC Barcelona-Chivas de Guadalajara Sun Life Stadium 70,080
8/6 FC Barcelona-Club America Cowboys Stadium 60,807

’09 WORLD FOOTBALL CHALLENGE
DATE GAME VENUE ATTENDANCE
7/19 Club America-Inter Milan Stanford Stadium 31,026
7/21 Chelsea-Inter Milan Rose Bowl 81,224
7/22 Club America-AC Milan Georgia Dome 53,600
7/24 Chelsea-AC Milan M&T Bank Stadium 71,203
7/26 Inter Milan-AC Milan Gillette Stadium 42,531
7/26 Chelsea-Club America Cowboys Stadium 57,229

Source: sportsbusinessdaily.com

FIFA launches probe into 16 Caribbean officials

FIFA has continued its investigation into corruption allegations surrounding world football by opening an ethics proceedings case against 16 Caribbean Football Union (CFU) officials.

Thursday’s announcement comes after world football’s governing body set a 48-hour deadline on July 26 for Caribbean football associations to explain their part in the infamous meeting in Trinidad & Tobago on May 10-11 that led to Mohamed bin Hammam’s life ban. Bin Hammam was handed the ban on July 23 for allegedly offering bribes to CFU officials in return for their backing in his bid for the FIFA presidency.

The Ethics Committee has revealed it will contact all 16 people to arrange further interviews in the proceedings. One of the officials, Guyana’s Colin Klass, has been provisionally suspended from taking part in any football-related activity by the chairman of the Ethics Committee, Claudio Sulser, after consideration of "specific information received on this matter". A FIFA statement read: "It is important to note that the investigations are still ongoing and that is therefore possible that further proceedings could be opened."

Bin Hammam has long protested his innocence along with former Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) president Jack Warner, who resigned before the investigation was completed. Thursday’s news comes a day after FIFA banned Lisle Austin from all football-related activity for one year for launching a civil court challenge against CONCACAF’s decision to remove him as acting president.

Source: sportbusiness.com

EPL Club Blackburn Forgoes Shirt Sponsorship Deal, Donates Rights To Charity
Published August 11, 2011

Prince’s Trust charity replaces Crown Paints on Blackburn shirts

EPL club Blackburn Rovers players "will wear the name of the Prince’s Trust charity on their shirts this season," according to Neil Docking of the BLACKBURN CITIZEN. The Prince’s Trust partnership follows Blackburn’s three-year, US$8M deal with Crown Paints, which ended after last season. The new deal will see Blackburn "donate the branding space on their football kit to the national charity, instead of selling it to a new sponsor." The club is just the second EPL team in history "to have a charity as their main shirt sponsor." Aston Villa "teamed up with the Acorns Children’s Hospice Trust in 2008, wearing the charity’s logo for two years." Blackburn’s move also "echoes Spanish giants Barcelona," whose shirts bore the Unicef crest from ’06-11. Docking notes it "was thought Rovers owners Venky’s India Ltd would seek a new lucrative deal with a major Indian firm, in line with their aim to raise the profile of the club in Asia." The team wore Venky’s logo on shirts "in the recent Barclays Asia Trophy matches in Hong Kong." Prince’s Trust "has strong links to East Lancashire working with hundreds of youngsters particularly in Blackburn and Burnley" (BLACKBURN CITIZEN, 8/11). The Rovers as part of the deal will "fundraise for the charity" (BBC.co.uk, 8/11). Rovers officials said that "they decided to reject commercial sponsorship offers to link up with the charity" (PA, 8/11).

Mercedes-Benz Extends Sponsorship Of German soccer federation
Published August 11, 2011

The German Football Association has "extended its long-standing partnership" with Mercedes-Benz. The seven-year renewal of the deal, which was to expire in ’12, keeps the automaker as the "top-tier general sponsor" of the soccer body through ’18. Mercedes-Benz retains the "exclusive right to have their branding featured on official training and leisure wear for the men’s and women’s national teams." Financial terms were not disclosed, but the deal is reportedly worth a total of US$71-85M (SPORTSPROMEDIA.com, 8/11).

Source: sportsbusinessdaily.com

U.S. Soccer goes green with Yingli

Yingli Green Energy has furthered its presence in the football market by signing a multi-year agreement with U.S. Soccer.

The leading solar energy company has become the first official renewable energy partner of U.S. Soccer and the U.S. men’s, women’s, and youth national teams in a deal that will run through to the end of 2014. The agreement will see Yingli Green Energy attempt to raise awareness of solar energy throughout the United States and adds to its status as an official partner of the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups, along with Bundesliga giant Bayern Munich.

"Soccer is the world’s most popular game and we are extremely excited to be partnering with U.S. Soccer, an organisation that has achieved tremendous success and similar global recognition in recent years," said Robert Petrina, managing director of Yingli Americas, a fully-owned subsidiary of Yingli Green Energy. "We consider this association to be the best platform for building solar energy awareness across the country. We recently announced that we are on track to capture 15% of the North American solar market in 2011, and today we’re reinforcing our commitment to build a lasting brand and a recognisable local presence."

U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati added: "Working closely with a leading renewable energy company will give us the opportunity to enhance our social and environmental activities through a number of different initiatives over the next few years."

Source: sportsbusinessdaily.com

YINGLI GREEN ENERGY BECOMES THE FIRST OFFICIAL RENEWABLE ENERGY PARTNER OF U.S. SOCCER

Partnership Merges Rising Mainstream Markets – Soccer and Solar Energy – in America

BAODING, China and CHICAGO, U.S.; August 10, 2011 – Yingli Green Energy Holding Company Limited (NYSE: YGE) ("Yingli Green Energy" or the "Company"), and U.S. Soccer today announced a multi-year agreement that establishes Yingli Green Energy as the first Official Renewable Energy Partner of U.S. Soccer and the U.S. Men’s, Women’s, and Youth National Teams through the end of 2014.

Yingli Green Energy, a leading solar energy company and one of the world’s largest vertically integrated photovoltaic ("PV") manufacturers, markets its products under the brand "Yingli Solar." During the next four years, Yingli Green Energy will support U.S. Soccer’s ongoing efforts to develop the game at all levels.

The partnership will launch during tonight’s U.S. Men’s National Team match versus Mexico at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia at 9 p.m. ET, which airs live on ESPN2, ESPN3.com and Univision. Jurgen Klinsmann will also make his debut as the U.S. Men’s National Team head coach.

Klinsmann takes over the U.S. team a little more than a year after a dramatic run through the FIFAT World Cup 2010 in South Africa, culminating in a Round of 16 match against Ghana that garnered 19.4 million American viewers.

The partnership comes at a time when the U.S. Women’s National Team finished an impressive run at the 2011 FIFAT Women’s World Cup in Germany, capturing the attention of millions of fans stateside, evidenced by a record-setting TV audience of 13.5 million for the final match against Japan.

The notable growth of solar power throughout the U.S. market in recent years charts a similar trajectory as the National Teams’ popularity. Overall, average attendance at U.S. Men’s National Team matches has increased 60 percent since 2007 to 47,674 in 2011, with top solar energy states such as California, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania playing host to key U.S. National Team events during that time.

Nationwide, solar PV installations in the U.S. have also grown considerably by 527 percent to reach 878 MW nationwide.

"Soccer is the world’s most popular game and we are extremely excited to be partnering with U.S. Soccer, an organization that has achieved tremendous success and similar global recognition in recent years," said Mr. Robert Petrina, Managing Director of Yingli Americas, a fully-owned subsidiary of Yingli Green Energy. "We consider this association to be the best platform for building solar energy awareness across the country. We recently announced that we are on track to capture 15 percent of the North American solar market in 2011, and today we’re reinforcing our commitment to build a lasting brand and a recognizable local presence."

Yingli Green Energy has committed to working with U.S. Soccer on a philanthropic initiative that aims to provide solar energy for local athletic centers in disadvantaged communities across the U.S. The program will be operational throughout the duration of the Yingli Green Energy and U.S. Soccer’s partnership, and is designed to be a lasting legacy for future generations to value environmental sustainability.

"We are looking forward to our new partnership with Yingli Green Energy through 2014," said U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati. "Working closely with a leading renewable energy company will give us the opportunity to enhance our social and environmental activities through a number of different initiatives over the next few years."

"This is a special time for soccer in America, when the soccer community is energized about the game’s future," said Mr. Liansheng Miao, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Yingli Green Energy. "We are similarly excited about the potential for the solar industry, and we are pleased to be partnering with U.S. Soccer to help advance opportunities for both soccer and renewable energy throughout this important market."

Yingli Green Energy has made a significant global commitment to soccer in recent years, including official partnerships with the FIFAT World Cup 2010 and 2014, and Germany’s largest and most successful soccer club, FC Bayern Munich. A key component of these partnerships centers on the ability to utilize the power of soccer to help advance the Company’s commitment to social responsibility.

Source: USsoccer.org

ESPN Criticized For Sticking With Little League WS Instead Of U.S.-Mexico Kickoff
Published August 11, 2011

ESPN pushed start of U.S.-Mexico to ESPNews, airing finish of LLWS game

ESPN treated last night’s U.S.-Mexico men’s soccer friendly "like a big game before it started," but subsequently "undermined everything by shunting the first 20 minutes of the game over to ESPNews so that a Little League World Series *qualifier* could finish on ESPN2," according to Grant Wahl of SI.com. ESPN may have "policies that call for such measures, but it sure came off as a statement that this game didn’t mean much at all." The game coverage "was strange," particularly since it appeared ESPN "was sort of overhyping this friendly." The network’s "SportsNation" crew was at Lincoln Financial Field prior to last night’s game, and a "cavalry of a half-dozen ESPN broadcasters was also on-hand." With yesterday’s announcement that NBC Sports has signed a deal to broadcast MLS and U.S. national team games, it will be "curious to see how the presence of NBC Sports impacts ESPN’s soccer decisions" (SI.com, 8/11). BROADCASTING & CABLE’s Ben Grossman writes ESPN had "mixed messages for soccer fans" yesterday. Leading into the game, ESPN "turned its ample promotional muscle to an exhibition match," but then elected to start it on ESPNews. Grossman: "What’s the point of playing up this game like it is so big, and then not even airing it from the start where it was scheduled to air?" (BROADCASTINGCABLE.com, 8/11). ESPN Senior Dir of Communications Bill Hofheimer today wrote on Twitter, "Starting US-MEX on ESPNEWS was unfortunate circumstance but this is one of the challenges of back-to-back live events. ESPN almost always sticks w/ the live event until it ends. Soccer fans would want the same if a match ran long. Fans were alerted of sched change and match was still available in HD and on ESPN3. Otherwise, hope you liked ESPN’s unprecedented commitment to this friendly."

LONG DAY AT THE OFFICE: AWFUL ANNOUNCING’s Ben Koo writes under the header, "Rough Day For ESPN Soccer." The network’s soccer coverage "trudged through a very long day," first with the NBC announcement and later with its decision to move the start of last night’s game. Then, during the second half of the game, ESPN missed the "majority of the setup work" on the U.S. goal because it was "showing replay of the previous attack." Koo writes, "The missed goal setup, the ESPN News kickoff, and NBC’s foray into soccer all combine for a pretty rough day for a network that has had nothing but high marks over the last year or so broadcasting the world’s most popular sport." ESPN already has its "soccer package and it’s considered the top package, but the long term implications are a bit ominous" (AWFULANNOUNCING.com, 8/11).

THE TWITTER WORLD EXPLODES: ESPN’s decision to stick with the LLWS game instead of shifting to U.S.-Mexico was met with plenty of Twitter criticism last night. Houston Dynamo President Chris Canetti wrote, "US-MEX start bumped off ESPN2 to ESPNews b/c Little League baseball running late. C’mon!! Should be other way around." The Schenectady Daily Gazette’s Ken Schott wrote, "Epic fail by ESPN. U.S.-Mexico soccer looks like it will start on ESPNEWS because of Little League Baseball. A Southeast Regional semifinal game is running late. Emphasis on semifinal." AP’s John Krawczynski: "Soccer getting bumped on ESPN for Little League? Sounds about right." Washington Post’s Steve Goff: "USA soc being preempted on ESPN2 by Little League REGIONALS. Bring back FSC!" Broadcasting & Cable’s Ben Grossman: "Shame on you ESPN. Awful." The Big Lead’s Jason McIntyre: "What an embarrassment for ESPN. I hope you guys have ESPNews." Freelance journalist Kyle Stack: "Is Little League baseball that important to ESPN that it can’t bump *that* to ESPNews so that USA/Mexico can be shown on ESPN2?" SI’s Richard Deitsch joked, "Seems Jurgen Klinsmann has magically transformed into a 12-year-old Little League pitcher…"

Source: sportsbusinessdaily.com