Gol TV is the savior for the televising of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Final
match. They have secured a three-year contract with US Soccer/SUM to show
the Championship match till 2006. Viewing of the final is available thru
digital cable or on the Dish Network. While it's nice of Gol TV To help the
viewers and supporters of US Soccer to show the 3rd oldest Sporting
tournament in the United States, it's very sad that Fox Sports World who
claims to be the home of World Class Soccer decided not to re-new a contract
with US Soccer to show the US Open Cup.

I do remember the first time the US Open Cup was being broadcasted on TV.
Even before Fox Sports World was created. In 1998 it was on Fox Sports Net
and it was a Semi-Final Double Header at a neutral site in a baseball
stadium home of the New Orleans Zephyrs AAA Affiliate of the Houston Astros.
The MetroStars lost 1-0 to the Columbus Crew and the Chicago Fire defeated
the defending Cup Champion Dallas Burn 3-2. But in 1997 the Final was
broadcasted on Fox Sports Net when the Dallas Burn defeated the defending
cup champion DC United in the round of penalties.

In 1999 for the first time the US Open Cup Final was shown on ESPN as the
MLS Colorado Rapids lost to the A-Leagues Rochester Rhinos 2-0 at Columbus
Crew Stadium. First time an MLS side would lose to a lower division side in
the Championship match. That would be the only time the US Open Cup would
get a sniff on a major network.

In 2000 when Fox Sports World was created they decided to bring in the Lamar
Hunt US Open Cup and for the first time more than one match would be
televised as the MetroStars on the road in Crew Stadium in the only
Quarterfinal match to be televised that year defeated the Crew in the round
of penalties after Tab Ramos and Brian McBride registered a goal for their
respective sides. Both Semi-Final matches and the final match.

In 2001 when US Soccer restructured the tournament into East & West brackets
there were two 2nd round matches, two Quarterfinal matches, Semis & Final.
Slowly but surely the number of matches broadcasted went from six back to
three in 2002. It was suppose to be that way in 2003 but because the
MetroStars played their Semi-Final match at Rutgers University in
Piscataway, NJ on a small field and there was only a one sided grandstand
Fox Sports World decided to scrap their broadcast. The last Cup Final on Fox
Sports World was in Giants Stadium as the Metro lost to the Chicago Fire
1-0.

Who here is to be blamed for digging around to find a network that shows
soccer in the states to promote the oldest Cup tournament in the world? US
Soccer who doesn't do any promoting of this great tournament. Major League
Soccer? Maybe Fox Sports World who had the broadcasting rights to the
tournament from 2000 to 2003 and they did promote the tournament in
commercials on their channel as well as all Fox Sports Net Affiliates. But
is too little or just enough not enough?

Maybe our news media that covers the sport can try to boost the promotion.
Maybe the Soccer Hall of Fame can help. We the fans who support this
tournament to the hilt and is able to put in the work for this website does
show me that people do care about the US Soccer Federations version of the
FA Cup. Maybe the wrong people are sitting in the offices of all
Professional soccer leagues in the USA. Maybe they think they know but are
not sure if it's going to fly.

It's sad to see us supporters scrapping around to find a channel that will
show the championship match. But on the positive note let's see if there
will be a little history made as the Chicago Fire will attempt to be the
first MLS Club to win four US Open Cup Championships since Fall River (MA.),
Ukrainian Nationals (Philly) & Maccabee SC (LA) did it. Also the Fire will
try their luck for the first time as repeat Cup Champions. Fall River won
back to back in 1930 & 1931, Ukrainian Nationals won back to back in 1960 &
1961. Those are the only sides that have won the Cup four times once as
repeat champions. Maccabee SC won the cup three times in five years 1973,
1975 & 1977 and waited till 1981 to capture their fourth.