NBC’s peculiar ‘Championship Sunday’ is a misnomer

[mvcg66b3r]

For the second year in a row, NBC has decided to market its Premier League season finale as “Championship Sunday.”

We already know the relegation race is done and dusted except for the miraculous chance that Hull City can beat Manchester United and hope that Newcastle drops points against West Ham. But FOX’s choice of the Survival Sunday theme for its final day of the 2012 Premier League season was, in my opinion, a better name.

While the ratings for today’s matches may do well, the reality is that only two of the games really matter (the aforementioned Hull-United and Newcastle-West Ham games). The battle for Europa League between Liverpool, Spurs and Southampton only matter to fans of those clubs. And even then, some of the fans of those clubs don’t care either except for bragging rights of who finished above whom.

The whole concept of a ‘Championship Sunday’ or ‘Survival Sunday’ theme (or whatever future rights holders want to call it) is a bit silly in my opinion because it’s so rare that the final day of the season culminates in a lot of excitement. It’s almost as if the TV broadcasters are thinking that the end to the 2011/12 season is the norm (the day when the league title, Champions League qualification places and relegation were all decided on the final day).

http://worldsoccertalk.com/2015/05/...hip-sunday-is-a-misnomer/#BKMx76chTEcOzQ1e.99

 

[landtuna]

The dozen or so households tuned in to Premier League soccer probably agree with you.

 

[TheBigA]

It's marketing. Not particularly great marketing, but marketing nonetheless.

 

[CTListener]

The dozen or so households tuned in to Premier League soccer probably agree with you.

The games have been doing 0.5 to 1.0 numbers nationally, occasionally mid 1s. Not sure how the relegation fight resonated with US viewers, but the Premier League actually has found a niche audience here.

 

[landtuna]

The games have been doing 0.5 to 1.0 numbers nationally, occasionally mid 1s. Not sure how the relegation fight resonated with US viewers, but the Premier League actually has found a niche audience here.

And, like tennis, golf and X-games a niche audience is probably all it will ever draw despite the number of kids who are playing soccer today. I was involved with all three of my boys who began playing at age 5-6. I coached, refereed and was a league administrator for about 15 years and found, just like my boys, they all switched to other sports as they reached their teen years. The oldest boy (40 now) doesn't play sports but the younger two (35 and 30) both still play adult hockey. All three said soccer was too slow and boring once it became a defensive game as they grew older. The professional game is even more defensive and boring (to watch at least). Like baseball and golf, it is a passive spectator activity and because of that I don't think the adult game will ever grow beyond a niche in the USA. I cannot explain the rest of the world's infatuation with it (and you can include cricket in that as well). Perhaps the one reason it remains so popular world wide is because it is super cheap for kids to play. All you need is a ball.

 

[ixnay]

The dozen or so households tuned in to Premier League soccer probably agree with you.

And maybe the dozen or so VCRs taping one or another of the games. I taped Newcastle hosting West Ham off USA while I was at church and played it back when I got home, before turning on the Indy 500 on ESPN on ABC.

ixnay

 

[ixnay]

And, like tennis, golf and X-games a niche audience is probably all (soccer) will ever draw

FWIW my boss wore an Arsenal shirt to my workplace one day recently. The store where I work for her had a wear-your-favorite-sports-team gear day that day (I found about it too late to participate). And she's USA born and bred. Where she got the idea to wear Football League gear, I know not.

ixnay

 

[landtuna]

And maybe the dozen or so VCRs taping one or another of the games. I taped Newcastle hosting West Ham off USA while I was at church and played it back when I got home, before turning on the Indy 500 on ESPN on ABC.

ixnay

A VCR? How quaint.

 

[landtuna]

FWIW my boss wore an Arsenal shirt to my workplace one day recently. The store where I work for her had a wear-your-favorite-sports-team gear day that day (I found about it too late to participate). And she's USA born and bred. Where she got the idea to wear Football League gear, I know not.

ixnay

Just like sports merchandise in other sports, soccer clothing has many outlets, especially online.

 

[CTListener]

FWIW my boss wore an Arsenal shirt to my workplace one day recently. The store where I work for her had a wear-your-favorite-sports-team gear day that day (I found about it too late to participate). And she's USA born and bred. Where she got the idea to wear Football League gear, I know not.

ixnay

I wore my Hull City cap to work all last week -- I have a friend in England who's a longtime fan of the club. Fat lot of good it did. They were relegated today.

 

[ixnay]

Just like sports merchandise in other sports, soccer clothing has many outlets, especially online.

What does that have to do with the idea of wearing BPL gear rather than North American Big Four or college gear?

ixnay

 

[landtuna]

What does that have to do with the idea of wearing BPL gear rather than North American Big Four or college gear?

ixnay

My favorite hockey team is from Canada but I am an American. So what? Maybe the explanation for your boss was the Arsenal shirt was the only one in her size.