World Cup organizers have cut their estimate of foreign visitors to South Africa from the original forecast of 450,000 down to around 200,000. On a more positive front, they saidFriday that tickets for 29 of 64 matches are no longer available and fans had bought 130,000 tickets in the final phase of ticket sales. Over-the-counter […]
business
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Real Madrid-Barcelona telecast tops ratings
[TELEVISION WATCH] Saturday’s broadcast of El Clasico between Real Madrid and Barcelona on ESPN Deportes was the highest rated and most watched telecast onSpanish-language cable this year. The afternoon telecast was seen by an average of 466,000 Hispanic homes and 783,000 Hispanic viewers ( P2+), based on a 9.0 rating. VisitingBarcelona won the top-of-the-standings clash, […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Bankrupt Portsmouth reaches FA Cup final
[ENGLAND] Bankrupt Portsmouth cannot afford to pay its players the bonuses it promised them for winning, but that didn’t stop it from beating Tottenham, 2-0, inovertime in Sunday’s semifinals of the FA Cup. The win, which came a day after it was relegated from the Premier League, sends Pompey to the final against Chelsea on […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Spanish players plan to strike
The Spanish players union (AFE) has called a strike of all pro games next week over unpaid wages involving pay disputes applying mainly to minor-league players. The strike will affectgames at all four levels of Spanish pro soccer but not “training sessions and technical activities” and begin on Thursday. The union said that 85 percent […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
'Homegrown' players given new value
[MLS] It took a while for MLS to figure out what to do with young players developed by its teams and how to tweak its acquisition rules, and terminology, toaccommodate them. Teams will be allowed to place as many as two “homegrown” players on its rosters, the maximum of which has been increased from 24 […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Dynamo stadium deal gets green light
The Houston Dynamo’s stadium project got a green light when the Houston City Council approved the deal with Harris County and the Harris County-Houston Sports Authority. “This is a great day forHarris County,” said council member James Rodriguez. “This is a long time coming.” The stadium will be built on city-owned land east ofdowntown […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Second-year league sees progress
[WPS] On the eve of Women’s Professional Soccer’s second season, Commissioner Tonya Antonucci says the league is movingin a positive direction. Despite a poor economic climate and the loss of the 2009 regular-season champion Los Angeles Sol, which folded, she says all the trends look good … — Seasonticket sales are up 20 percent for […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Digital trail exposes MLS web site mess
Fake Sigi takes us under the hood, so to speak, of mlssoccer.com, MLS’s new and much-maligned web site. He calls for the firing of Chris Schlosser, MLS’s Director of Digital Strategy, but finds blame all around the room, from MLS executives to consultant RocketFuel to the editors who were hired to manage thecontent. Fake Sigi […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
Sereno and Solar partner with EPL club
[CHELSEA FC] Sereno Soccer Club of Phoenix and Solar Soccer Club of Dallas have joined Chelsea FC’s growing U.S. youth club network. Theclubs will host training sessions and camps with Chelsea coaches, benefit from Chelsea-sponsored tournaments and participate in player exchange programs. “Our youth club network isdesigned to create long-term growth and sustainability of soccer […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
MLS's Designated Players lack staying power
[MAKING A LIST] Major League Soccer announced plans to expand its Designated Player program, offering new mechanisms for teams to acquire star players. But upuntil now, MLS’s Designated Players have lacked staying power. Only three of its 13 current or former Designated Players could be termed outright successes. Cuauhtemoc Blanco, David Beckham and Juan Pablo […]