Ok, so i haven't posted here for a couple weeks....i could blame several things: certainly the writers strike has to be near the top. Time on the road at the NSCAA Convention in Baltimore made it hard to find time to post. A wicked cold set me back for a week (ok, it wasn't really wicked, but i have a low threshold for discomfort and played it up to the max). And the League name, logo and website announcements created tremendous activity that set me back and i'm just now getting back to the routine...Truth is, i hate excuses and in reality it only takes fewer than 30 minutes for a post. i just haven't made it the priority i told you i would at the beginning of the year. i'm sorry.
On the topic of excuses, the Women's Professional Soccer Town Hall at the NSCAA Convention seemed to be full of them as panelists tried to explain why the WUSA didn't survive and WPS will. The most popular one was "It's the media's fault". That excuse was phrased a dozen different ways in the 90 minute forum. Suffice to say that room 338 at the Baltimore Convention Center was not a safe place for Barbaro, Sea Biscuit, Whirlaway or any other dead horse. We can not blame others for any lack of exposure and attendance. It is the responsibility of the League and its member teams to reach out to our audiences in other ways - new media and grassroots direct marketing - to connect our League and teams with people who are already emotionally and economically connected to the sport.
The other theme seemed to be the social cause of gender equity. You've heard the argument, "You must support this league, BECAUSE it's a women's sport and our daughters are entitled to role models and a place to play when they grow up." I'm sorry, but that is NOT a solid basis to support any league or sport. It may be a convenient byproduct of a women's pro sports league, but it is not a primary reason why anyone should attend WPS games. WPS will provide competitive, entertaining games featuring the best women's soccer teams in the world at a fair price - THAT is the reason this League should be supported.
About Me
- peter
- i've been a sports junkie my whole life (fan of the White Sox, Blackhawks, Bulls and Sting as a kid) and have been lucky to make a career out of my passion. i've promoted soccer (mostly in Chicago) since 1987 and have been fortunate to work with some really talented people who have helped me earn six championship rings in three pro soccer leagues. i'm now working to make it seven and four with the Chicago Red Stars of Women's Professional Soccer (WPS).
2 comments:
I agree.
Got hat-tipped my way over by the good people at Pitch Invasion.
Amazing takes. As if we expected anything less.
I think all of us who've ever had anything to do with soccer have been overly forceful evangelists for the game, as if we really don't trust the game to sell itself. There is a way to promote the game of soccer that opens it up to the masses and reveals it without shoving it down their throats. I hope in this cycle that WPS finds it - the women's game in America is too good for us not to have "a league of their own"...
(Obligatory MLS smack: YOU'LL NEVER BEAT COLUMBUS)
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