SLsoccer.com – the official site of the United Soccer Leagues (USL) – will be taking soccer a step further this coming season. Today, UMBRO.COM – rights holders to USLsoccer.com – announced that 20 of this season’s USL A-League games will be broadcast exclusively live online on www.USLsoccer.com.
The USL consists of six soccer leagues, including professional, development, youth and women’s divisions. The USL covers 36 States as well as 4 Canadian provinces making the USL is the second largest sports organization in North America in terms of reach. The A-League represents the pinnacle of the USL with 21 teams participating in three regional conferences. The reigning A-League Champions, Rochester Raging Rhinos, defeated a number of Major League Soccer teams on their way to claiming the US Open Cup in 1999.
The online season kicks-off on 19 May 2001 with the first Saturday Night Soccer broadcast, as Pittsburgh Riverhounds entertain the Hershey Wildcats. This is one of 20 games already scheduled, with plans for more games from the play-offs and finals.
Both USLsoccer.com and UMBRO.COM are committed to bringing people around the world closer to the game and the live webcasts will give viewers a fantastic insight in to the A-League. They will include exclusive interviews with players and coaching staff as well as pre and post-match analysis. Viewers can chat during the match sharing their views on the match being played, increasing the interaction with the site and using the community features available on the net.
Neil Meadows, President of USLsoccer.com, comments: ‘As the official site of the USL we see webcasting as one of the key services for existing and new fans. It opens up doors to commercial partners to be part of the phenomenal growth of soccer in North America. We are talking to a number of organizations who want to be part of Saturday Night Soccer via sponsorship or in-stream advertising, which will allow us to keep this service free to our users.’
Dave Askinas, Associate Commissioner of United Soccer Leagues says: ‘This innovative step reflects the continued expansion of the USL in terms of support, play and commercialisation. Now supporters from all over the world can visit our ‘chapels, churches and cathedrals’ from the comfort of their own home.’
For those wishing to take part in this exciting development in US soccer, all you need to do is register at USLsoccer.com (www.uslsoccer.com/webcasting) from Thursday (17/05) onwards, sit back and enjoy your favourite teams in action in the fastest-growing league in the world.
For further information about USLsoccer.com please contact:
Neil Meadows,
President of USLsoccer.com
Tel: +1 305 777 2230
Email neil@umbro.com
Paul Holland,
Head of Marketing at UMBRO.COM
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7571 6014
Email: paul@umbro.com
USLsoccer.com 2001 Webcast Schedule:
CONFIRMED
5/19 – Pittsburgh Riverhounds v Hershey Wildcats
5/26 – San Diego Flash v Portland Timbers
6/2 – Milwaukee Rampage v Vancouver Whitecaps
6/9 – Cincinnati Riverhawks v Indiana Blast
6/16 – Hershey Wildcats v Rochester Raging Rhinos
6/23 – Charlotte Eagles v Richmond Kickers
6/30 – Milwaukee Rampage v Seattle Sounders
INDICATIVE
7/7 – Connecticut Wolves v Long Island Rough Riders
7/14 – Rochester Raging Rhinos v Toronto Lynx
7/21 – Portland Timbers v Seattle Sounders
7/28 – Milwaukee Rampage v Portland Timbers
8/4 – Nashville Metros v Charleston Battery
8/11 – El Paso Patriots v Minnesota Thunder
8/18 – Charleston Battery v Atlanta Silverbacks
8/25 – Minnesota Thunder v El Paso Patriots
9/1 – Hershey Wildcats v Montreal Impact
9/8 – Rochester Raging Rhinos v Long Island Rough Riders