Landon The Brand…

July 1, 2010 by Joe Favorito · 3 Comments 

While France and Italy were wringing their hands and Nigeria was suspending their team for two years, the United States was moving on to figure out how to capitalize on the next step success that was realized in the World Cup.  Despite the loss to Ghana, more casual fans tuned in, logged on and talked about World Cup in the States than ever before, giving the sport a new opportunity in its growth at the professional level. So what’s next?  The NHL used the success of the Olympics to elevate it’s awareness for the rest of this past winter and spring, how can MLS and professional soccer in general do the same?

MLS Cup Sets Template For Future Soccer Success…

November 24, 2009 by Joe Favorito · Leave a Comment 

One of the most significant games in the history of professional soccer took place in the Pacific Northwest in the late summer of 1977, when the New York Cosmos, led by the legendary Pele, won their first North America Soccer league title by defeating the original Seattle Sounders 2-1 in Portland Oregon. This past weekend, perhaps the most important game since then in the evolution of professional soccer in the United States again took place in the Pacific Northwest, where a crowd of over 40,000 saw Real Salt Lake defeat the Los Angeles Galaxy 2-1 on penalty kicks to take the 2009 Major League Soccer title?

Becks Back To Europe…Good Or Bad For Soccer In The US

October 23, 2008 by Joe Favorito · Leave a Comment 

As David Beckham’s management team ponders a temporary or permant shift back to Europe…this time for AC Milan…the LA Times has a piece on the value that he has brought to the Galaxy and whether or not its time for the legendary star to go back overseas.  The piece raises lots of questions about what Beckham actually brought to the sport in this country and did the lack of success hinder progress for the franchise or MLS.  There is no doubt that Beckham made a splash for soccer for the short term in this country that got MLS water cooler talk they would never have gotten last year otherwise.  It brought people to stadiums, moved the league off the sports pages and hopefully continued the gradual awareness or conversion for the sport in this country.  The problem is in this 24/7 world people look for the quick fix, and the staff at MLS and Soccer United Marketing have spent years slowly building and nuturing a brand to avoid the quick splash and flameout that has followed so many spectacles in sports and entertainment (read the MMA piece below).  Was the Beckham situation…an aging star with lots of masters to serve…the best for MLS?  No.  It would be much better to get…aka pay for…a young star to grow, and those things are slowly happening.  But to deny that Beckham’s presence moved MLS up the latter, broiught in much needed funds and media exposure would be silly, and hopefully there were thouands of kids exposed to him and the MLS brand that may not have gone to a match before who now have a better affinity to the pro game…almost as much as they have to playing soccer in local towns nationwide.

Obama Pulls Out of NASCAR oppt, while (Cindy) McCain Pulls In…and BAM Racing Wins

July 14, 2008 by Joe Favorito · Leave a Comment 

Update on yesterday’s post…apparently Senator Barack Obama has pulled out of the potential NASCAR opportunity, with one report saying the campaign was worried about the issues if the car didn’t win the race or crashed…while Cindy McCain, the wife of Senator John McCain, made an IRL appearance this past weekend, grabbing a photo opp. with Danica Patrick and taking a spin in the pace car in Tennessee.  Smart move, no pain and no crash.  However the winner in all this political “racing” this past week were the smart folks at BAM Racing, who garnered some great exposure by offering the advertising spot to both  candidates and playing through a three day news cycle despite not landing either candidate.  Good forward thinking move by  the sales and PR folks at BAM.  The interesting play from the Obama camp was the riskward factor for the ad spend.  If the car did not do well, the feeling apparently was that the loss for the long term would outweigh the benefit of race day exposure.  Interesting view on public perception in an area where the Senator is trying to raise his approval rating.