Photo by Soobum Im/USA TODAY Sports
By SBI SOCCER
The upcoming CONCACAF Cup is a big game meant for the big screen.
Fathom Events announced Thursday that the Oct. 10 clash between the U.S. Men’s National Team and Mexico will be broadcast at over 200 movie theaters across the United States. Fathom Events is teaming with Fox Sports 1 to broadcast the event, and tickets will go on sale Friday.
“We’re really excited to be working with Fathom Events to bring the huge match between the U.S. and Mexico to big screens throughout the country,” David Nathanson, Fox Sports head of business operations, said in a press release. “Live sports are the ultimate shared community experience, and the electric scene at what will be a jam-packed Rose Bowl will no doubt have fans in theaters feeling as if they’re in Pasadena too.”
The Oct. 10 clash, which is to be played at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif., will determine CONCACAF’s representative for the 2017 Confederations Cup in Russia.
What do you think of the broadcast plans? Where is your ideal place to watch a soccer game?
Share your thoughts below.
I wish that they play the game in the east bay is brilliant idea to bring soccer in to the big screen I really find the closest place to watch the game
Thank you
I bought four tickets for my 14 year old son and his club teammates. Two of the parents have now backed out due to things they’ve heard about fan behavior at Mexico/USA matches, especially at the Rose Bowl. Maybe sending them to a movie theater is a better idea.
If you wanna sell those tickets, I’m your man.
Behavior @ Mex/US matches (especially in the South West) can be fairly bad unless you are in a designated area (supporter group). Even then there are a lot of pre/post game confrontations. US fans are usually fairly good natured chants and jawing, but if the Mexican team is doing poorly the Mex fans can become Belligerent and aggressive…usually throwing things towards the field or supporters of the other team.
American soccer podcasts are now in a lull. They are very factual and cover a lot of ground but the people doing them all see themselves as journalists now so they aim for that measured, careful middle ground. That’s why the rants are the only really interesting bits. It was all the opposite a decade ago, they were all passion and nobody took it as serious journalism and it was entertaining as hell. The old World Soccer Daily was the best of the lot and got as many as 300,000 downloads a day and more during the World Cup. They once topped ALL of ITunes for most downloaded show (again that we as during a World Cup).
But like Icarus flying too close to the sun, the unbridled passions and not giving a damn about jurnalism standards burned them and cost them everything when the host stuck to his guns about a stupid comment/attack on Liverpool fans.
Hopefully these things are cyclical or someone can strike a better middle ground.
Rory, BOD
“They are very factual and cover a lot of ground but the people doing them all see themselves as journalists now so they aim for that measured, careful middle ground. That’s why the rants are the only really interesting bits. It was all the opposite a decade ago, they were all passion and nobody took it as serious journalism and it was entertaining as hell. The old World Soccer Daily was the best of the lot …”
It’s funny you say that. Not very long ago, on the old Soccernet website, I actually used to be able to exchange e mails with real writers like Jeff Carlise of ESPN.
Then I noticed that Bleacher Report used to solicit readers to serve as writers on soccer. Many responded and wrote articles. The results were predictably uneven but then I noticed a lot of those people continuing to write for BR. Or at least their style lives on.
And that model seems to have been followed by many of the current media outlets on the internet. A lot of those writers are about as well informed as what you will find on the average SBI thread.
“Hopefully these things are cyclical or someone can strike a better middle ground.”
Don’t hold your breath.
I guess Fox sports1 is not easily available to some folks. What about bars? Hard to imagine someone paying for a game that will readily available for free.
Louie Z.
It depends on if you have access to a bar that is set up for what you want. I’d say a bar that advertises some kind of “event” around the game would be the best.
Not all bars have sympathetic audiences.
In some bars I’ve been to it can be hard to hear the commentary and the post and pre game shows.
Since I’m tired of hearing Alexi talk about how set pieces are so important, I often turn that stuff off at home but some people like it and may not get to hear/see it at a bar.
Even if you don’t get FS1 or Univision at home, why buy a ticket when you can go to a bar or restaurant?
Let’s face it, bars are obviously a blast but a lot of times they don’t offer the best viewing. It’s packed and loud and you can’t always focus on every minutiae of the game. The vantage point and sound would be distraction free at a theatre.
Me? I’ll be getting drunk at the bar. But I can definitely see the pros.
That’s a really cool thing they’re doing. I know fathom does this stuff with boxing PPVs and other events, so I imagine they’ve got a successful platform.
I’m going to the game though so I don’t care. Suck it
lol… just go to a sports pub / bar. better atmosphere and food/drinks.
and if an USA supporter, go to your local American Outlaws bar/pub.
Here in Dallas, unless you show up hours before the match at the local AO bar (Trinity Hall), you are not finding a seat, and you may not even find standing space with a view of a screen.
Brilliant.
What could go wrong?
I guess it depends on whether or not they sell beer. If I show up at a dry theater I know I’ll be rioting.
Depends on where you are. Here in Phoenix things can be a little heated between the 2 fan bases. Last time I went to the game here there were a number of altercations.
+1