Gold Cup ratings & more
The Gold Cup may not have done much for the reputation of the USMNT program, but it did wonders for broadcasters.
Los Angeles-based Fox Soccer Channel drew the largest audience in its history - 954,000 viewers - for the Mexico-U.S. final.
From FSC:
"(That's) by far a new Fox Soccer record and the most-watched soccer match on English language cable television since the 2010 World Cup. The telecast more than doubles Fox Soccer's previous record of 418,000 viewers for this year's Chelsea vs. Liverpool "Game Before the Game" pre-Super Bowl telecast on Feb. 6 2011."US-Mexico delivered a 1.43 household coverage area rating, becoming the first FOX Soccer telecast in the network's history to break a 1.0. The 1.43 nearly doubles FOX Soccer's previous record HH rating of 0.77 for the 2009 Gold Cup final between the same two countries.
Spanish-language network Univision similarly did well with its 10.8 million viewers who tuned in to all or part of the broadcast making it the No. 1-ranked program the entire day in any language and in key demographic groups. It was the top-ranked program in LA Saturday, too.
*The Wednesday, Aug. 3 Galaxy game against the Timbers in Portland has been picked up for national broadcast by ESPN2 and will now kickoff at 7:30 p.m. rather than 8 p.m.
*Want to see the Galaxy's third jersey, which the team will wear for the first time Monday, when its unveiled Friday at a party at Staples Center? It will cost you $75 to attend (not including a ticket to the game).
*Chivas USA closed practice to the media today and will do so again on Thursday. A cynic might suggest they're learning new ways to lose after three consecutive losses, so I won't do that. Chivas USA hosts the Chicago Fire Saturday at home Depot Center, a game that will be followed by a "Fireworks Fiesta."
*The Chicago Fire today waived waived rookie midfielder Davis Paul of Upland, who played just 45 minutes this season - against the Galaxy April 17 in Chicago.
*The U.S. Under-17 team will play Germany in the quarterfinals of the World Cup in Mexico at 1 p.m. Thursday live on ESPNU.
*Finally, former USC striker Amy Rodriguez is playing in the World Cup - and planning her wedding at the same time. Good thing there's lots of down time between games.
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About 100 Percent Soccer
Sportswriter Nick Green has written the 100 Percent Soccer column since 2005 for the Daily News, Daily Breeze and other Los Angeles area newspapers. The blog of the same name began in 2007. A native of England, he began writing about soccer in the mid-1980s and in 2000 permanently exchanged a seat in the stands for one in the press box. He lives six miles from Carson's Home Depot Center, home of the Los Angeles Galaxy, Chivas USA and the training headquarters for U.S. Soccer and is married to a long-suffering soccer widow. Join Nick on FaceBook and follow him on Twitter.
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