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Arena On Increased Media Attention

May 14th, 2006 | By: Daryl | 6 Comments »

Bruce Arena was asked about the level of media attention in 2006 compared to 2002, here’s what he had to say:

“I don’t know the exact numbers, if there’s more of a gathering this time around than last time, we certainly got some attention last time around but its seems that four years later the American public and the media are more aware of the significance of this event, and I would say that on the surface it appears that there’s much more support of the US team in the media this time around than last.”

What do you think, is the team getting more coverage in the run up to 2006? And is this a direct result of success in 2002, the #4 ranking, MLS, big name players at home (Donovan) and abroad (Beasley) or all of the above?

And if the main reason for this years media attention is an expected repeat of the 2002 performance, is future media attention dependent on us getting out of Group E?

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Posted from United States

By eric | May 15th, 2006 at 10:28 am

I would say they are getting more attention this time around. The roster was announced on sportscenter This blog is giving readers more chances to0 discuss and I think that brings about more attention.

Posted from United States

By Travis | May 15th, 2006 at 4:42 pm

Well, it’s certainly a double-edged sword at best, as you suggest.

“Casual” media attention, i.e. fluff pieces by journalists who don’t know a direct free kick from a hole in the wall, will breed “casual” fans who may have unrealistic expectations.

My personal opinion is that after the World Cup, 95% of these people will return to their soccer-less lives, regardless of how well the US team does.

And you know what? I’m fine with that. I’ll happily cheer along side these people during the World Cup and I won’t waste one breath trying to keep them in the fold afterwards. Three (or four or five, if we’re lucky) games of soccer are not going to turn many people into life-long, paying fans.

A more compelling MLS, and an attending increase in media attention, will result from exanding corporate financial backing, which comes from an expanding fan base, which comes from a more compelling MLS…I don’t know how to achieve this self-sustaining cycle of growth but I think it will continue at a snail’s pace, under the best of circumstances. However, I’m not sure it’s directly related to World Cup results, good or bad.

Sorry, I’ve gone well beyond the scope of daryl’s topic.

Posted from United States

By daryl | May 15th, 2006 at 5:03 pm

Travis,

That’s exactly what I wanted to discuss. I was wondering if a stunning World Cup would be enough to hold media attention, but you make a good point that World Cup glory is short-lived media-wise and the only way to hold long term interest is via improvements in MLS.

Posted from United States

By chuck | May 16th, 2006 at 11:17 am

Imagine a bucket full of sand, and a bowl affixed to the ground outside. The sand represents the non-soccer people, and the bowl represents the best soccer has to offer.

Every four years, the bucket full of sand is dumped into the bowl. This last happened in 2002. The sand stays in the bowl for about a month.

At the end of the month, the sand that is in the bowl is put back into the bucket by hand. Not all of the sand can be removed — a little bit is always left behind, in the bowl.

Over the course of the next four years, the sand that was left in the bowl undergoes a transformation. It hardens into a cement-like substance, and gradually becomes a permanent part of the bowl.

On June 9th, 2006, the sand from the bucket will be poured back into the bowl for another month.

When people are newly exposed to the game of soccer, I will welcome them, and attempt to bond with them.

What was once loose grains of sand are now melded together into a substance that relies on the bowl for its very shape, form, and existance.

Over time, the bowl will become full of layers of cemented grains of sand. Right now, however, the bowl is mostly empty.

…

And so is my coffee cup.

Posted from United States

By Razzle | May 16th, 2006 at 1:34 pm

I think we need to start calling american football pointy ball to drive home the fact that pointy ball sucks and soccer, the real football, rocks.

Yep that’ll do it.

(credit for the word ‘pointy ball’ goes to bob)

Posted from United States