OT: Should the Jays/Rogers worry about Soccer/TSN?

[LittleOzzy]

This is a bit of a far off into the future thread but should Rogers and the Blue Jays start to worry about TSN and their interest in Major League Soccer?

TSN took an almost failing league in the CFL and turned it into a ratings gold mine, could TSN do the same with Major League Soccer and start to dominate the middle of summer when the Jays normally are no longer competing?

TSN will broadcast over 50 MLS games this summer alone, and more in the future as part of their six year deal, could this be something that will force Rogers to spend on the Jays to get the ratings back?

I'm not saying they will lose out any time soon, but in 6 years could a country who has been loyal to the Jays start to find other interests with 3 Canadian MLS franchises?

[hyper316]

the quality of MLS play is terrible compared to European leagues and Champions League. I cannot stand watching MLS. So this does certainly concern me, I want to watch the Jays as much as possible. How much Jays games played on Rogers Sportsnet and on TSN?

[J-Roc]

MLS has no chance. I don't see it. Soccer aficionados say it's noticeably inferior soccer. And with the CFL, TSN was able to push the Canadiana aspect. I admit I'm surprised they made it work, but the Grey Cup, etc was a big Canadian event even before TSN.

That said, I've said if the Jays keep floundering, fans may jump ship from major league baseball. So any threat is real.

[baulderdash77]

With Vancouver and Montreal coming to MLS there's certainly a possibility that it could grow the sport. Keep in mind that soccer is the #1 particiaption sport in Canada by quite a bit so there's a market there.

[tiger7]

the quality of MLS play is terrible compared to European leagues and Champions League. I cannot stand watching MLS. So this does certainly concern me, I want to watch the Jays as much as possible. How much Jays games played on Rogers Sportsnet and on TSN?

This. The quality of MLS soccer is terrible.

[LittleOzzy]

I understand the quality isn't the same compared to soccer overseas, but neither is the CFL compared to the NFL and they don't seem to have any issues attracting an audience.

Plus the quality of soccer is getting better and better each year in MLS, in 6 years it's going to be a lot better and they will still be on TSN with 3 Canadian franchises.

You guys are thinking way too much about today, when I'm talking about the future.

[kelso]

The popularity of the league is growing. If they keep attracting star players in the twilight of their careers (Beckham, Henry, etc.), and if revenue from advertising and sponsorship keeps growing, they will be able to attract young talent as well because they will be able to pay them.

[-MetA4-]

I understand the quality isn't the same compared to soccer overseas, but neither is the CFL compared to the NFL and they don't seem to have any issues attracting an audience.

As mentioned above; the CFL is a Canadian league and features a ton of former Canadian university players. That is the biggest reason why its done pretty well: the Canadian aspect and ability to create competition across the country.

[Modern_epic]

I understand the quality isn't the same compared to soccer overseas, but neither is the CFL compared to the NFL and they don't seem to have any issues attracting an audience.

As mentioned above; the CFL is a Canadian league and features a ton of former Canadian university players. That is the biggest reason why its done pretty well: the Canadian aspect and ability to create competition across the country.

MLS has nationality requirements too, with three canadian teams, there will be a lot of canadian players floating around.

My question is more of what could Rogers do even if they thought it was a threat? Run soccer attack ads?

[Macho]

I enjoy both, TFC plays once a week so for me there really isn't much of a conflict.

[Yosemite Dan]

The CFL does well across the country as a whole but not in Toronto, in fact ratings and attendence are falling more every year in the city. Apathy in Toronto has gotten to the point where the CFL is afraid to hold a Grey Cup game in Toronto because they will have a very difficult time selling out thier own title game. If you ever have gone to an Argos game recently then you know the announced attendence of 20-22 thousand is really closer to 14-16 thousand which is quite pathetic for a team that only has 9 home games a year and has relatively cheap tickets.

Interest in the TFC is even worse. The only reason they sell out games was the newness, season tickets were pretty cheap and an excuse for people to party. I've been to a few TFC games, they are there just to party and try and create a europeon atmosphere by getting drunk. They really couldn't care less if the TFC win or not as evidenced by awful TV ratings. Now that ticket prices are going up substansially, interest for the TFC will start going downhill just like it did for the Toronto Blizzard in the late 1970's. In 5 years the stadium will be half full and they won't be able to give away tickets like with the Argos now.

[satyr9]

The CFL does well across the country as a whole but not in Toronto, in fact ratings and attendence are falling more every year in the city. Apathy in Toronto has gotten to the point where the CFL is afraid to hold a Grey Cup game in Toronto because they will have a very difficult time selling out thier own title game. If you ever have gone to an Argos game recently then you know the announced attendence of 20-22 thousand is really closer to 14-16 thousand which is quite pathetic for a team that only has 9 home games a year and has relatively cheap tickets.

I was just about to ask if this was still the case. I get why the CFL can become a big draw in Saskatoon with the right hype/marketing/coverage, but I can't remember the last time I even heard someone say the word Argos.

Now sportsnet, if it broadcasts all 162 Jays games nationally (no idea) may have some concern about ratings against TSN and CFL, but I think we'll be just fine here in TO and with their regional set-up I don't think we're likely to lose games in the future broadcasted here. Maybe it's a concern if you're an Albertan Jays fan.

As for MLS, no in a couple ways. It has no shot catching on nationally unless all those CFL towns get MLS franchises (they don't now right?). The reason the CFL can be successful IMO is it's the only game in town for the full range of cross-Canadian rivalries (NHL has obvious large holes and too many games against non-Canadian franchises). Football is really the only sport that can work for that type of appeal because of the limited number of games. Limited opportunities can really heighten the importance of hence the emotion of each contest. Since I don't even know how many games they play in MLS, I can't say if that's possible, but even so I think you'd need a CLS to make it work, but that's not ever happening. As for Toronto I think others can speak far better about how or why it will/won't succeed, 'cause I know I don't give a crap. I know some people that go a couple times a year, but I don't know anyone that follows them daily.

[hsb]

I was just about to ask if this was still the case. I get why the CFL can become a big draw in Saskatoon with the right hype/marketing/coverage, but I can't remember the last time I even heard someone say the word Argos.

You will hear a lot more word of mouth in 2012. Toronto will hold the 100th Grey Cup at that time.

[rarefind]

MLS means nothing in the grand scheme of things.

And either way, Rogers owns toronto fc so i would not be too concerned.

[LittleOzzy]

MLS means nothing in the grand scheme of things.

And either way, Rogers owns toronto fc so i would not be too concerned.

Rogers doesn't own Toronto FC.

[rarefind]

MLS means nothing in the grand scheme of things.

And either way, Rogers owns toronto fc so i would not be too concerned.

Rogers doesn't own Toronto FC.

maybe for the next 8 months or so.

teachers pension group says jump, rogers says how high.

[LittleOzzy]

MLS means nothing in the grand scheme of things.

And either way, Rogers owns toronto fc so i would not be too concerned.

Rogers doesn't own Toronto FC.

maybe for the next 8 months or so.

teachers pension group says jump, rogers says how high.

Not according to the Globe today.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-o ... le1940403/

[Chevy Chase]

The pick up spot of the Toronto Marathon was at the Direct Energy Center and it was on the same day that TFC tickets went on sale. Let me just say that it was utter Chaos! It the "in" sporting event these days. Up in Woodbridge there is as much talk about TFC as there is about the leafs. Do not underestimate TFC importance to the sports landscape.

[LittleOzzy]

For those who are not taking the surge of popularity in the MLS seriously.

Major League Soccer is Poised to Overtake the NHL as the 4th Most Popular Professional Sports League in the U.S.

In 2010, MLS average attendance was 16,675 spectators per game, a 4 percent increase over 2009. The NHL drew an average of 17,072 fans per game last season, a 3 percent drop from the year prior.

Among the largest crowds, the Seattle Sounders’ average of 36,173 MLS fans a game dwarfed the NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks, who drew an average 21,353 fans. The L.A. Galaxy also surpassed that figure, averaging 21,437. As MLS stadiums continue to expand and as the league continues to grow, so too should the league’s attendance numbers.

And for MLS, growth continues virtually across the board. Sixty percent of clubs – or 9 of the league’s 15 returning teams (not including the expansion Philadelphia Union) – experienced an increase in attendance.

Meanwhile, the NHL experienced a 66 percent decrease in average attendance with 20 of the league’s 30 teams posting lower attendance numbers in 2009-10 than 2008-09.

With regard to ratings, MLS also is making a surge. The league’s televised 2011 opener between the Galaxy and Sounders on ESPN was up 129 percent in ratings and 112 percent in viewership, drawing 604,000 English-language viewers. The game’s Spanish-language broadcast on ESPN Deportes drew another 79,000 viewers, an increase of 84 percent from a year ago.

Those TV viewer numbers rival – or surpass – those of almost every nationally televised NHL game this year on Versus. And no league can come close to boasting that kind of jump in viewership.

http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/sports ... ts-league/

The TFC/Vancouver game last weekend was also the most watched MLS game in Canadian history.

[distracted]

For those who are not taking the surge of popularity in the MLS seriously.

Major League Soccer is Poised to Overtake the NHL as the 4th Most Popular Professional Sports League in the U.S.

This article is VERY misleading (and just wrong in parts).

In 2010, MLS average attendance was 16,675 spectators per game, a 4 percent increase over 2009. The NHL drew an average of 17,072 fans per game last season, a 3 percent drop from the year prior.

Among the largest crowds, the Seattle Sounders’ average of 36,173 MLS fans a game dwarfed the NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks, who drew an average 21,353 fans. The L.A. Galaxy also surpassed that figure, averaging 21,437. As MLS stadiums continue to expand and as the league continues to grow, so too should the league’s attendance numbers.

The Seattle Sounders average attendance also dwarfs the average attendance of any NBA team. Does that mean they're soon going to be the 3rd most popular pro league in the US?

And for MLS, growth continues virtually across the board. Sixty percent of clubs – or 9 of the league’s 15 returning teams (not including the expansion Philadelphia Union) – experienced an increase in attendance.

Meanwhile, the NHL experienced a 66 percent decrease in average attendance with 20 of the league’s 30 teams posting lower attendance numbers in 2009-10 than 2008-09.

The NHL experienced a 2.32% drop in attendance in the period. 66% of teams dropped in attendance though. And more teams in the NHL (10) increased in attendance than in the MLS.

With regard to ratings, MLS also is making a surge. The league’s televised 2011 opener between the Galaxy and Sounders on ESPN was up 129 percent in ratings and 112 percent in viewership, drawing 604,000 English-language viewers. The game’s Spanish-language broadcast on ESPN Deportes drew another 79,000 viewers, an increase of 84 percent from a year ago.

Those TV viewer numbers rival – or surpass – those of almost every nationally televised NHL game this year on Versus. And no league can come close to boasting that kind of jump in viewership.

So if you cherry-pick games from one league they're going to have higher ratings than a lot of games from another league? And this only talks about US ratings. Any leaf game has higher ratings than that in Canada (the country this thread is about). HNIC kills those ratings.