Following yesterday’s article about why it’s no wonder that ESPN’s TV viewership for MLS games has dropped 12% this year, I planned on writing an article today about how and where you’re planning on experiencing the 2010 MLS Cup Final. I headed to ESPN’s Soccernet website to double check the kick-off time but not only couldn’t I find the start time, but I was dumbfounded at how incredibly poor ESPN’s MLS coverage is online.
For example, take a look at the above screengrab from Soccernet which shows the remaining fixture for the 2010 MLS season. You’ll notice the amateurish mistake circled in red. Even though ESPN is televising the biggest MLS game of the year, they’ve listed the wrong venue for the final! It’s BMO Field in Toronto, Canada, not Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Colorado.
Not only that, but take a look at ESPN’s U.S. Soccer homepage and try to find any mention of (1) the MLS Cup Final, (2) what time ESPN’s coverage begins and (3) the US men’s national team friendly against South Africa, which is also being shown on ESPN.
How does ESPN expect the TV ratings for Major League Soccer and this Sunday’s MLS Cup Final to be decent when your own website isn’t promoting the game itself.
I could go on and on about how poor ESPN Soccernet’s coverage of US soccer is, but let me return to my original quest which is to ask you, the reader, how you plan on watching the 2010 MLS Cup Final (Sunday, 8:30pm ET, ESPN – thanks MLSSoccer.com for actually listing the time). Personally I’ll be watching the game at home with my wife and will be hoping it’ll end up being a highly entertaining match. How do you plan on spending Sunday evening watching the game? Share your plans in the comments section below.
