Fox Soccer Channel does a wonderful job bringing in the best matches from Europe, Argentina as well as international tournaments like the World Junior Tournaments (U-20’s & U-17’s), Confederations Cup and at one time English language for the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2002. For the last few years they have created the post match show MLS Wrap after a slate of league games that Saturday. Producing MLS & USL First Division matches of the week, but when it comes to promoting the entire body of US Soccer, there happens to be one sore spot that is always ignored.
WHY ISN’T THERE MORE ADVERTISING FOR THE US OPEN CUP OR AT LEAST A SHOW DISCUSSING THE UPCOMING MATCHES FOR THE NEXT ROUND!
A corporate sponsor, a better looking silver trophy, more rounds and every single club affiliated with US Soccer from Division I all the way to the USASA should be available to participate. Change the format into a round robin or the March Madness bracket used by the NCAA for College Basketball’s national champion. All of these ideas to help make the US Open Cup into a better tournament for the US Supporters have been thrown around, discussed over and over again on message boards, chat rooms and at the local pubs in every supporters group's city, but the #1 problem still remains about the US Open Cup.
As we know FSC imports matches from the English Premiership as well as shows from England previewing the next round of League matches and a highlight show reviewing all the action from that particular weekend in the exciting world that is the premiership. We all know that FSC shows matches from the English FA Cup, but what I never knew or ever thought of seeing was a preview show discussing the next round of matches for the FA Cup. I was amazed and stunned that there was such a program being shown not just on FSC but in England as well. At the moment this is the 125th running of the famed FA Cup in England while this season will be the 92nd running of the US Open Cup.
The popularity of soccer in the United States has been up and running for the last ten years, but with the technology that’s available to us right now and the fact that ESPN, FSC, as well as other channels dedicated to showing and producing soccer inside the USA you can’t help but think that somehow all the FA Cup tournaments in every country inside the continent of Europe that gets all the publicity and press here in the States, why can’t the US Open Cup get the same treatment?
With all due respect to the Copa Del Rey in Spain, The French Cup, Copa Italia, German Cup, Scottish FA Cup, and to all the other FA Cup tournaments in Europe it’s high time that this country start discussing and give equal time to the US Open Cup. Silverware is silverware no matter how high or how low the tournament is. Right now the only place you can find tons of information on the US Open Cup is this website and on US Soccer's website. But if FSC only produces MLS Wrap, a soon to be preview show, MLS match of the week, USL First Division match of the week, why can’t FSC produce a preview and wrap up show on the US Open Cup? There will be more interest and everyone will be fixated with delight to see more coverage of US Soccer’s version of the FA Cup.
Fox Soccer Channel says they are the best when it comes to promoting the sport here in the USA on television, but now it’s time to put up that moniker and show the US Soccer faithful. Not just MLS & USL but every round of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup has to be included. It's about time for Fox Soccer Channel and the US Soccer Federation to step up in their commitments to the cup. Right now this is the final year of a three year deal between US Soccer and Gol TV showing the US Open Cup Final. If Gol TV resigns then they are the ones who have to step it up and show more matches besides the final. If not them, then FSC has to reclaim the US Open Cup and do more than what they did before. There must be more publicity and information when talking about the clubs that will participate in the 2006 edition as well as the future of this cup competition in years to come.
If you wish tro contact Daniel with questions or comments, e-mail him at daniel_feuerstein@hotmail.com
