As we close in on three days until the win-and-you're-in World Cup qualifier between the United States and Honduras on Saturday, it is time to start discussing where U.S. national team fans will be watching the match.
This question is a more important one for this match than most thanks to the fact that the match is only being shown via closed circuit, forcing U.S. fans to find a place to watch it.
SBI will be in San Pedro Sula covering the match and for those of you either can't watch the match, or find viewing options on the internet, feel free to make SBI your place to follow the match. I will be doing a live commentary of the match on ESPN.com on Saturday night so be sure to check that out as well.
The number of venues showing the match in English on closed circuit is now up to 29, while there remain almost 200 Spanish-language viewing opportunities throughout the country.
Where will you be watching the match? Planning to make the trip down to Honduras? If so, let us know. If you have already settled on a viewing option via closed circuit, or if you want to drop a plug for a venue showing the match, please share the info in the comments section below.
Danny Coyles in SF
You know, this is a pain in the azz to have to travel three hours round trip to see this match—BUT it should be a lot of fun to see the USMNT in a sports pub with fellow US fans these days. I watched a US game this summer at Shakespere’s in SD and another game at Kezar Pub in SF (2002 WC) and both times were a blast! In the not too distant past, I have had to go out and watch games at a location in another city because the game wasn’t on a station I could receive (and pre-internet) and I might be the only one, or one of three, interested in the US game, sometimes in a full place, sometimes in an empty place.
Detroit?
holy crap, there’s a watering hole in Indianapolis now signed up to show the match. I’ll be heading there.
I’ll be trying my luck with the spanish feed and questionable neighborhood at Billar la Raza in Fort Walton Beach, FL.
Pizza Hut Park Free English Showing
at a bar or online – hard to find a place that wont be playing college football instead. i sure wish i was near a big ass metro area or AO spot
I’ll be going to Farmers Branch Texas at a latin restaurant on Josey lane with family.
We are central American decent, but we are all U.S fans to the heart. Anyone who thinks that they might feel out of place, feel free to join us.
The media company makes a profit selling it to the bar. The bar makes a profit by charging people a cover fee.
If the bar fails to make a profit, they are much less likely to buy this sort of thing next time.
If the media company cannot viably sell it to bars, because they have not made money in the past, they will bid less to acquire the rights for it.
So I know you’re having a hard time wrapping your head around it, but some of us feel it is in the LONG TERM best interests of fans of soccer on TV to NOT support this PPV broadcast. I am one of those people.
This is a massive game. I’m a big USMNT fan… I saw them in Philly and Giants Stadium this summer… but I can skip this one and watch the equally important Costa Rica/T&T match on GolTV. I’d rather support a channel that always provides me with socccer from around the globe over a once-in-a-while cash grab from some random media company.
Posted by: ga-gone | October 07, 2009 at 09:16 PM
Exactly. I don’t know why the concept of capitalism seems so difficult for some people to understand. The PPV broacasters are likely to buy these games again in 2013 if they think they can make a profit on it. And they will think they can make a profit if the bars and other venues showing it this year make a profit.
You don’t really expect that the PPV broadcasters buy this sort of thing without doing their due diligence first – approaching the venues they want to sell to and determining what can be charged – right? Same will happen in 2013 – the PPV will approach the bars before purchasing the rights to find out if buying the rights will likely be profitable. If the bars tell the PPV broadcaster “no” in 2013 – because the bars losst money in 2009 – then the PPV broadcaster will be less likely to buy the rights.
I wonder if Mexican restaurants with TVs in my area have it
Still pissed at ESPN for being cheapskates, but it does give me another reason to hate ESPN and avoid their programming. I’m so glad Fox Sports has the rights to the Champions.
I guess I could drive from Eugene to Portland, but I just can’t get excited about driving almost 2 hours to a random bar that may or may not be filled beyond capacity — Portland is “soccer city” right? And yet there is only 1 english and 1 spanish broadcast in the area?
still deciding between smallbar and globe pub here in chicago.
NEW ENGLAND TIL I DIE, NEW ENGLAND TIL I DIE, I KNOW I AM, I’M SURE I AM, NEW ENGLAND TIL I DIE! I’ll be watching the US win after I watch the Revs beat Columbus in MA! Vamos, gringos!
Charlotte, NC @ Don Pedro on Independence Blvd. It’s a private Honduran party, but Queen City Outlaws has gotten them to agree to have us join them for $20 per person. 10 confirmed Outlaws attending per our Facebook invite. It should be a good “away game experience”.
Unfortunately, the PPV guys have already “got” their money. Therefore, boycotting will not make any difference at all — not even in 2013, because the PPV guys have already been paid. 2009 was a success for them.
A 2009 boycott *may* reduce the number of bars who buy this game in 2013, which *may* determine if Honduras wants to continue this path in 2017. Or it may not.
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They’ve already got their money this time around, but they’ll certainly know about it if the bars take a bath and will realize that the money won’t be coming from the bars in 2013 so I disagree with the idea that a boycott would be ineffective. However, I strongly agree that we should make our feelings known to the USSF re using the rights to the U.S. game as a bargaining chip next time around.
Adam the Red, thanks for what you’re doing in Afghanistan! Those of us watching will do a little extra cheering on your behalf! Take care over there!
Just saw the $15 cover at Cock n’ Bull. Could be worse.
To those in Los Angeles, Cock n’ Bull in Santa Monica / Venice area confirmed via person answering the phone that they will be showing the game.
Posted by: JMart | October 07, 2009 at 04:05 PM
GREAT news. I was going to go to El Catracho in Sherman Oaks, but this is much closer to where I’m at. Any idea as to the cover?
Planning to be at MSG.
Let’s clinch this thing!
If your in LA, the best deal is at the Off Campus Pub in Carson, Cal. Around the corner from the Home Depot Center. $15 gets you the game in English, a complimentary beverage AND a ticket in the supporters section for The Galaxy’s final season home game against San Jose on October 24th. Like I said, it is the best deal around!
@bill the only close place there would be the Philly bar.
As for me, I will be watching in Pittsburgh…thank god someone was smart enough to get an english feed there haha
kinda wish I was at home to watch this with all the fans in NYC
Unfortunately, the PPV guys have already “got” their money. Therefore, boycotting will not make any difference at all — not even in 2013, because the PPV guys have already been paid. 2009 was a success for them.
A 2009 boycott *may* reduce the number of bars who buy this game in 2013, which *may* determine if Honduras wants to continue this path in 2017. Or it may not.
We had a PPV game like this in 2001, when there wasn’t nearly as much attention on the USMNT as there is now. In fact, I can almost guarantee that everyone who wants to do this boycott this Saturday actually ended up boycotting the 2001 game without even knowing it. :-O
And a lot of good that did, didn’t it? 😉
A better strategy, in my opinion, would be to petition the USSF to use the rights we have for *our* home games as bargaining chips to ensure the USMNT away qualifiers will be widely available for viewing in the USA.
OK, should have read thru the comments. FC Dallas has stepped up. Awesome, but that web site still sucks!
I guess on my computer since this shitty soccer town I live in (Dallas) is not showing it. God I miss the Richmond Arms.
P.S. That website sucks monkey balls.
Does anybody read anything above before posting and wasting people’s time? The bars pay a flat fee to the media company. That is why there is a cover charge; so that the bar can try and make its money back. The media company doesn’t get a cut of the cover charge.
Posted by: RS | October 07, 2009 at 08:08 PM
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The media company makes a profit selling it to the bar. The bar makes a profit by charging people a cover fee.
If the bar fails to make a profit, they are much less likely to buy this sort of thing next time.
If the media company cannot viably sell it to bars, because they have not made money in the past, they will bid less to acquire the rights for it.
So I know you’re having a hard time wrapping your head around it, but some of us feel it is in the LONG TERM best interests of fans of soccer on TV to NOT support this PPV broadcast. I am one of those people.
This is a massive game. I’m a big USMNT fan… I saw them in Philly and Giants Stadium this summer… but I can skip this one and watch the equally important Costa Rica/T&T match on GolTV. I’d rather support a channel that always provides me with socccer from around the globe over a once-in-a-while cash grab from some random media company.
Let me begin the key key quotation for saturday, “LINK???”
I’ll be boycotting.
cock n bull in santa monica its 15$ to get in anyone know if under 21 can go im 20 faaaak ???????????????????
MSG. Just easier than Nevada’s.
I am thinking the US should play a 4-5-1 & then drop back to a 4-6-0 at half time regardless of the score.
Also, Altiodore should play in goal.
Tir Na Nog in Center City, Philadelphia.
Chuck:
Ich Verstehe nicht. If nobody buys it, the pay per view people will lose their money and won’t screw over American fans by outbiding espn next time. If they make money it will encourage them or others to pull this stunt again w/ other international matches.
Watch it on the internet.
Posted by: KungFuSoccer | October 07, 2009 at 07:28 PM
Does anybody read anything above before posting and wasting people’s time? The bars pay a flat fee to the media company. That is why there is a cover charge; so that the bar can try and make its money back. The media company doesn’t get a cut of the cover charge.
WHERE TO WATCH IN DETROIT:
It’ll be in Spanish, but it’s better than nothing. Details here: http://tinyurl.com/y99vvcj
DC Josh,
I think Malone’s is the AO/DC chapter’s “official location.” Whatever that is worth.
http://dc.theamericanoutlaws.com/
Watching it on the internet if that’s a possibility. If any justin.tv feeds or any other feeds come my way I’ll be sure to post them on here. I hope everyone else will do the same.
I’d go to Small Bar or Globe, but there’s no way they’ll also have the Michigan/Iowa game on TV given how much they paid and whatever cover everyone pays and rightfully would want the US game on all the TVs.
And it’s my friend’s birthday and while he’d also like to watch both it will be much easier to get everyone out to a bar with no cover since not everyone’s a soccer fan. So I’ll be following Ives’ commentary on the mobile as long as ESPN makes it mobile-accessible.
Chuck:
Ich Verstehe nicht. If nobody buys it, the pay per view people will lose their money and won’t screw over American fans by outbiding espn next time. If they make money it will encourage them or others to pull this stunt again w/ other international matches.
Watch it on the internet.
Fado’s in Austin
I would go to an English- or Spanish-speaking bar, but none within 4 hours of me are showing it. And I don’t live out in the middle of nowhere.
Watching from my computer in Baghdad, Iraq. Proud to Serve! Go USA!
Posted by: Der Amerikanische Kaiser | October 07, 2009 at 04:35 PM
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America! Eff Yeah!
I’ll either be at Fado’s or Molly Malone’s. Screaming Eagles are heading to both, as well as Summers in Arlington, VA. Anyone know where the AO and Sams Army are heading?? I just want to be around loud passionate fans. See you guys there. Get off your asses and get to a bar and support your team.
Support your local pub, if you can.
Should the Honduran Federation choose to do this again in the 2013 hexagonal, your support on Saturday will make it more (not less) likely your pub will pick up the game in 2013.
By not going, you make it less likely your pub will buy the game in 2013.
But at this point, boycotting will have absolutely no bearing on what the Honduran Federation will choose to do in 2013.
Verstehen Sie?
The George and Dragon
Seattle
Can’t deal w/ the crowd at Nevada Smith…
Going to the MSG bar w/ hopefully less folk!
Nowhere! >:{
I seriously doubt a decent feed, if any at all, will be available online. It is usually people in the US and Europe that use justintv. I doubt many people in Honduras will be interested in streaming the video for us.
no idea. more than likely illegal internet viewing. ah yeah.
810 Sports Zone in KC. One eye on USA, the other on KC @ Chivas.
planning on heading to CBS Scene in Foxborough for the match… I think.
Since FCD is hosting a party. i am going to Pizza Hut Park. It is one of the few things they got right this year as far as the Fans are concerned.
From what I’ve heard here and elsewhere, the game is on an ESPN-affiliated station in Vietnam.