<figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" class="alignnone wp-image-371105 size-full" src="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/US-Open-Cup-Trophy.jpg" alt="US Open Cup broadcast potential" width="1200" height="675" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2022/02/US-Open-Cup-Trophy.jpg 1200w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2022/02/US-Open-Cup-Trophy-300x169.jpg 300w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2022/02/US-Open-Cup-Trophy-600x338.jpg 600w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2022/02/US-Open-Cup-Trophy-150x84.jpg 150w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2022/02/US-Open-Cup-Trophy-768x432.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure>
<p>Starting in 2023, the US Soccer media broadcast rights are back in-house. As part of the Federation’s offer to broadcasters, US Soccer included the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. </p>
<p>This strategic decision features one of the oldest domestic cup competitions in the world. However, it is also among the most obscure.</p>
<p>This inclusion represents a significant pivot in the marketing of the Lamar Hunt Open Cup from the past. Then, US Soccer did very little promotion of the competition. Major League Soccer and Soccer United Marketing did not include the US Open Cup in its package. Rather, the bundle focused on the US Men’s and Women’s National Team rights. For many years, streams of early round Lamar Hunt Open Cup matches were few and far between.</p>
<p>Here is how the US Open Cup aligns in a potential media deal sought after by US Soccer.</p>
<h5>Lamar Hunt US Open Cup</h5>
<p>As the name indicates, the Lamar Hunt Open Cup is available to any applicant club in the United States. Each year, the tournament provides stories of of giant-killings by amateur clubs. Additionally, some lower-league professional sides make deep runs. </p>
<p>The winner of the Lamar Hunt Open Cup earns a spot in the CONCACAF Champions League. Therefore, in theory, the competition is a direct path to qualify for the FIFA Club World Cup. It is the most open and accessible soccer competition on the men’s side in the United States.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Unfortunately, the Lamar Hunt Open Cup exists in obscurity outside a small niche. In terms of streaming and television, the competition’s coverage has been inconsistent. Awareness is minimal, even for soccer fans who love similar cup competitions in Europe. It’s a midweek competition that failed to find a niche except among a small number of “hipster” fans of the domestic game. </p>
<p>But, its potential seems unlimited particularly in a nation that loves straight knock-out competitions and playoffs. It also potentially could interest fans of European soccer, particularly those who revere the FA Cup and other domestic cup competitions.&nbsp;</p>
<h3>The US Open Cup in US Soccer’s media deal</h3>
<p>In our recent interview with US Soccer President Cindy Parlow Cone, she revealed US Soccer’s next broadcast package includes the Lamar Hunt Open Cup. Currently, the Federation negotiates that deal with potential media partners.</p>
<p>The US Open Cup provides broadcast potential via an abundance of matches throughout the calendar year. The competition runs from March to September and qualifying begins in late September for the following year’s cup.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Broadcasters can get creative with how they use the Lamar Hunt Open Cup. Previously, wraparound shows on radio and podcasts go through all the action at once. Early round Lamar Hunt Open Cup nights are like final match days of top European leagues. Simultaneous kickoffs allow the US Open Cup broadcast potential for a ‘Premier League Goal Rush’-style whip-around program.&nbsp;</p>
<p>In the past, the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup rights were sold on a piecemeal basis. Fans had little advance notice of broadcast partners. Also, many matches did not air on neither TV nor streaming. In recent years, while more matches have been aired on <a href="https://go.web.plus.espn.com/mWebq" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">ESPN+</a>, the details of the package are murky. Furthermore, promotion of the competition has been negligible.&nbsp;</p>
<h5>Fans of tournament-style competitions</h5>
<p>The US Open Cup has broadcast potential similar to NCAA’s March Madness. Many college basketball fans do not watch the regular season. Regardless, millions fill out brackets and watch the tournament each year. The NCAA Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournaments are rapid, only lasting a month. Of course, the US Open Cup differs in that regard.</p>
<p>However, Americans fall in love with long, drawn-out playoffs in the NBA and NHL. There, over half the eligible teams qualify. The Lamar Hunt Open Cup potentially provides domestic soccer with its best chance to cut through the clutter of other sporting competitions.&nbsp;</p>
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<div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/worldsoccertalk" title="World Soccer Talk Podcast" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener">World Soccer Talk Podcast</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/worldsoccertalk/parity-in-mls-are-playoffs-the-best-way-to-crown-a-champion" title="Parity in MLS: Are playoffs the best way to crown a champion?" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener">Parity in MLS: Are playoffs the best way to crown a champion?</a></div>
<p>For its part, MLS values knock-out cup competitions. After all, the entire league hitched its wagon to a playoff system to determine a champion. Also, the enhanced <a href="https://www.leaguescup.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Leagues Cup</a> in 2023 competes with the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup for attention. </p>
<p>Moreover, <a href="https://thecup.us/about-the-u-s-open-cup/">MLS clubs have won every Lamar Hunt US Open Cup</a> since 2000. Still, in each of those competitions, a lower-division club has made a deep run. Those clubs provide the ‘Cinderella stories’ that hook new fans.</p>
<h5>Incorporating the tournament into a broadcast rights deal</h5>
<p>US Soccer opting to include Lamar Hunt Open Cup in a larger media rights deal potentially gives the competition a larger window to where it can become more visible. The competition needs sponsorship dollars to enhance its profile, along with a consistent television or streaming presence, but the inclusion of it in a larger package can only help.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The potential of the Lamar Hunt Open Cup being part of a larger media rights deal is very encouraging. Perhaps finally this “sleeping giant” of a competition will get its day and grow in a fashion that’s fitting for such a historic cup in a nation where the sport continues to grow by leaps and bounds.</p>

How US Open Cup plays into US Soccer’s upcoming media deal

With US Soccer returning its media rights in-house, the US Open Cup provides great broadcast potential a potential media deal.

How US Open Cup plays into US Soccer's upcoming media deal - World Soccer Talk

<p><a href="https://go.web.plus.espn.com/mWebq" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_new"></a></p><p></p>
<p>ESPN+ dominates the soccer media landscape in the United States. And, frankly, it is not really up for discussion.</p>
<p>Since launching as a paid-streaming service in April 2018, <a href="https://go.web.plus.espn.com/mWebq" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_new">ESPN+</a> features more coverage, more competitions and more simplicity than its competitors. In a time when streaming is the most common way to access a number of games, ESPN+ leads the way. ESPN+’s dominance in soccer follows a similar trajectory to the growth in popularity of the sport as a whole. Albeit, ESPN+ is significantly younger than soccer and welcomed a meteoric rise since its launch.</p>
<p>At that time, ESPN used its paid streaming service primarily for overflow content. Niche audiences that followed college sports, boxing and less-popular sports in the U.S. like rugby used ESPN+ as a new vehicle. However, soccer was also a key part of ESPN+ when it started up. A strong contingent of MLS, USL, Serie A and Eredivisie were a few examples of ESPN+’s original soccer content.</p>
<p>Speaking exclusively to World Soccer Talk, ESPN Vice President Programming and Acquisitions of Digital Media John Lasker says soccer has always held importance for ESPN+.</p>
<blockquote><p><em>“We knew it was a key category for us, at ESPN overall, to expand our reach to new and more expanded audiences in ways that we were not able to do from just the linear perspective.”</em></p></blockquote>
<h5>ESPN+ by the numbers</h5>
<p>Given that soccer has been a major priority for ESPN+, the stand-out metrics for 2021 are:</p>
<ol>
<li style="list-style-type: none;">
ESPN+ streamed more than 22,000 total live events<p></p>
<p>Of those, 5,400 were soccer matches</p>
<p>The busiest day of 2021 had 152 live events that streamed</p>
<p>The year 2021 featured more than 1,030 hours of soccer-focused studio shoulder programming, including news shows such as ESPN FC</p></li>
</ol>
<p>ESPN+ has been quick to jump on the opportunity to get other assets. On one hand, CBS and <a href="https://paramountplus.qflm.net/c/330866/1007330/3065" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_new">Paramount+</a> took over the American rights to broadcast Serie A. At the same time, ESPN+ started airing Bundesliga and LaLiga fixtures to go along with its coverage. Therefore, ESPN+ owned the rights to major leagues in Spain and Germany, as well as cup competitions in those countries as well as the FA Cup in England.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em><strong>READ MORE:&nbsp;</strong></em><em>How to watch soccer via ESPN+.</em></p>
<h3>ESPN+ dominates soccer in 2021</h3>
<p>This past year welcomed many soccer competitions that did not happen in 2020. Leagues and Cups from across the world picked back up, but we also saw a number of tournaments. Particularly the Copa America and Euros, both scheduled for 2020, arrived a year late.</p>
<p>While ESPN did hold the rights to Euro 2020, the entire schedule of fixtures aired on ESPN or ESPN2 rather than ESPN+. Still, ESPN+ dominated soccer coverage in a number of other ways.</p>
<p>A bulk of content served as the perfect opportunity for ESPN+ to up its content. In the same year that the media conglomerate acquired the rights to the National Hockey League, LaLiga joined the action.</p>
<h5>Continued growth</h5>
<p>Lasker is aiming for ESPN+’s dominance in soccer to continue to grow.</p>
<blockquote><p><em>“We’re not done. The opportunity and the benefit that we have with ESPN+ and its relative infinite capacity is we can continue to add and continue to serve without taking away from the existing commitments we made.</em></p><em>
</em><p><em>“We are really proud of what we’ve done here. Being able to utilize the technology and the subscription platform of ESPN+ to expand ESPN’s reach to serve more sports fans. And, we are particularly proud of the soccer product that we put out there.”</em></p></blockquote>
<p>ESPN+ dominates soccer based on quality and <a href="https://soccertvblog.com/usa-tv-links/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">quantity</a>. For the biggest soccer fans, the exclusive access to major competitions like the Bundesliga, LaLiga and FA Cup make the subscription service practically essential.</p>
<p>Therefore, it is no surprise that ESPN+’s subscriber count went from 1.4 million in the first fiscal quarter of 2019 to <a href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/1054451/espn-plus-subscriber-us/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">17.1 million subscribers</a> at the end of 2021. There are a number of reasons for that massive jump over three years.</p>
<p>However, the continued expansion of <a href="https://go.web.plus.espn.com/mWebq" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_new">ESPN+</a>‘s soccer coverage is among the biggest factors.</p>
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<div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc; line-break: anywhere; word-break: normal; overflow: hidden; white-space: nowrap; text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif; font-weight: 100;"><a style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;" title="World Soccer Talk Podcast" href="https://soundcloud.com/worldsoccertalk" target="_blank" rel="noopener">World Soccer Talk Podcast</a> · <a style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;" title="ESPN+ leaves competitors in the dust" href="https://soundcloud.com/worldsoccertalk/espn-leaves-competitors-in-the-dust" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ESPN+ leaves competitors in the dust</a></div>

ESPN+ dominates soccer; the numbers behind its success

ESPN+ dominates the soccer media landscape in the United States, and the entity's 2021 numbers show the comprehensive coverage of the sport.

ESPN+ dominates soccer; the numbers behind its success - World Soccer Talk


<p>Arsenal’s rebuild arrived out of necessity. In the previous two decades, the London-based club consistently finished in the top four of the Premier League. In fact, the Gunners qualified for <a href="https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0239-0e970bbed6d8-1a5b9f71f4c2-1000--most-consecutive-uefa-champions-league-campaigns/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">19 straight Champions League group stages</a> until 2017/18.</p>
<p>Unsurprisingly, the fan base developed an expectation of domestic and, at least to some extent, European success. Now, Arsenal finds itself outside of the conversation for Champions League qualification. While Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea battle for Premier League titles, the club from the Emirates Stadium is simply a mid-table side.</p>
<p>Arsenal’s rebuild is one that will take time. Of course, different people have different perspectives on acceptable durations of rebuild before the club should blow it up and try again. In Arsenal’s case, the foundation is there.</p>
<h3>Patience with Arsenal’s rebuild</h3>
<p>Most sports fans don’t exactly react well to the word ‘patience’ regarding their favorite team. Unfortunately for many teams, supporters want convincing results immediately.</p>
<p>Nevertheless, there are some cases in which patience is undoubtedly needed. Perhaps the most common need for calmness and patience is when a particular team is young but shows potential. Or, the club’s manager is clearly building for the future. Both of these examples happen to be true at Arsenal right now.</p>
<p>Just four years ago, Arsenal’s players had an <a href="https://www.transfermarkt.us/premier-league/altersschnitt/wettbewerb/GB1/plus/?saison_id=2017" target="_blank" rel="noopener">average age of 26.5</a>, which was about average for Premier League clubs at the time. That middle-of-the-pack squad finished <a href="https://footballdatabase.com/league-scores-tables/england-premier-league-2017-18" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sixth in the Premier League</a>. Good for a Europa League spot, but not up to the standards and without a clear view for the future.</p>
<p>However, at the start of the current campaign, the Gunners now average just <a href="https://www.transfermarkt.us/premier-league/altersschnitt/wettbewerb/GB1/plus/?saison_id=2021" target="_blank" rel="noopener">24.1 years old</a>. Remarkably, this is almost a whole year younger than the second-youngest team, Brentford.</p>
<p>The nearly two-and-a-half year difference may not seem like a big deal to some, but they are the youngest Premier League squad since 2008/09 (also Arsenal).</p>
<h5>Transfer Window</h5>
<p>Manager Mikel Arteta and technical director Edu developed crystal clear plan for the summer transfer market for Arsenal’s rebuild. They wanted to buy young, talented players that both fit the club’s current system well and will progressive over time. All six summer signings by the north London club were aged 21-23.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em><strong>READ MORE:&nbsp;</strong></em><em>Grading Europe’s biggest clubs’ transfer windows.</em></p>
<p>Many pundits criticized Arsenal’s spending, which <a href="https://www.transfermarkt.us/premier-league/einnahmenausgaben/wettbewerb/GB1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">led all Premier League clubs</a> in terms of expenditure. Much of that came from the fact that many believed Arsenal needed immediate results, not future success. Even then, the new sextet of Gunners performed well in the opening pair of months this season. In fact, new defender Takehiro Tomiyasu was awarded as the club’s Player of the Month for September, with Aaron Ramsdale finishing second in the poll.</p>
<div id="attachment_344114" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignright"><figure class="image"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-344114" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-344114 size-medium" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20211026_CMS_351234_79a6f5517383ec18e9a9d317572a11b23db6da7d-300x200_544d9a15.webp&amp;width=300&amp;height=200" alt="" width="300" height="200" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/08/79a6f5517383ec18e9a9d317572a11b23db6da7d-300x200.jpg 300w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/08/79a6f5517383ec18e9a9d317572a11b23db6da7d-600x400.jpg 600w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/08/79a6f5517383ec18e9a9d317572a11b23db6da7d-150x100.jpg 150w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/08/79a6f5517383ec18e9a9d317572a11b23db6da7d.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px"></figure><p id="caption-attachment-344114" class="wp-caption-text">Photo credit: AFP</p></div>
<h3>Arsenal’s immediate results</h3>
<p>Along with this young crop of players, Arteta is also a young coach. This combination will almost certainly guarantee some growing pains along the way. Despite the fact that the Spaniard led Arsenal to another FA Cup trophy in his first season as a head coach, Arteta is still learning and will only get better leading his team.</p>
<p>Gunner supporters took to Twitter following a disappointing draw against Crystal Palace last week, with some large fan accounts even suggesting that the draw should be the end of Arteta’s days as the club’s manager. Four days following the discouraging match, Arsenal managed to bounce back with an emphatic victory of Aston Villa.</p>
<p>There will undoubtedly be ups and downs throughout the current campaign with this group of players, such is the nature of a young squad and a young manager.</p>
<p>However, there is reason to feel cautiously optimistic about Arsenal’s future. The more this young team plays, the more comfortable and confident they will be. Surely a handful of COVID-19 cases and injuries contributed to Arsenal’s slow start this season. In fact, Arsenal’s first choice defending five (including goalkeeper) did not all play together until their win against Norwich on September 11. Since these players have been on the pitch together, the Gunners remain unbeaten in all competitions.</p>
<p>Some expected the so-called ‘process’ to progress a bit more than it has so far, but it was always going to take time. Arsenal have, however, seem to be headed in the proper direction.</p>
<p>With the club just three points adrift of a Champions League place with three-quarters of the season remaining, this group of youngsters should soon be back in contention for a European spot once again.</p>
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<div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc; line-break: anywhere; word-break: normal; overflow: hidden; white-space: nowrap; text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif; font-weight: 100;"><a style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;" title="World Soccer Talk Podcast" href="https://soundcloud.com/worldsoccertalk" target="_blank" rel="noopener">World Soccer Talk Podcast</a> · <a style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;" title="Premier League Eyes $3 Billion Rights Deal In U.S." href="https://soundcloud.com/worldsoccertalk/premier-league-eyes-3-billion-rights-deal-in-us" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Premier League Eyes $3 Billion Rights Deal In U.S.</a></div>

Arsenal’s rebuild requires patience with young roster

The Gunners are not the squad they used to be. Arsenal's rebuild is a necessary one. Therefore, it should demand patience over pressure.

Arsenal's rebuild requires patience with young roster - World Soccer Talk

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