andy4efc
Player Valuation: £60m
Portland's probaly the best atmosphere in MLS, but this is based on what ive seen online adn via internet stremas of the games. Their support really is fantastic though
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Sir Landon Of Donovan
- Thread starter ford_uk
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Portland's probaly the best atmosphere in MLS, but this is based on what ive seen online adn via internet stremas of the games. Their support really is fantastic though
K
Kay20
Guest
Not true any more after World Cup 2010. Yes, he is not Michael Jordan. But he IS recognized outside of LA and in LA now. No he is not mobbed, but his name and face are recognized a lot more than 4 years ago. I hear what you're trying to say though, he's not a "household name" perse (though I don't think that's what chriswho was getting at and we're probably all agreeing).
He is the lone USMNT player that we can say this about due to him being in front of the press all the time before/after/during games, Nike (in a TV commercial with Kobe Bryant) and Gatorade (same). No offense to Clint Dempsey, Michael Bradley or Tim Howard.
With that said, among the US soccer watching fans, having all three would be a GIANT deal - which is what chriswho was referring to.
Announcing LD's loan last year took the OS down. Announcing LD and CD together? Hoo boy.
Correct. He himself has said in the last year that he has lost some of his anonymity due to "THE" goal against Algeria. Hell, remember the coverage on TMZ (that's when you know you've hit the big time) about his divorce?
He and David Beckham are two of the most recognized soccer players in the US. Beckham due to his fashion and wife in addition to his playing soccer. Landon Donovan > Henry to the casual soccer fan in the US.
Not sure how LD ranks against Ronaldo and Messi among very casual American fans. I think Ronaldo may be higher, again due to his modeling and dating of several starlets.
K
Kay20
Guest
I believe Average League attendance right now is 18K, but that's dragged down by some clubs (cough Chivas USA cough)
Most of the soccer specific stadiums seat 18-25K, and several of them sell out every game.
The average is also dragged up by Seattle, who regularly seat 40k+.
League attendance is also on the rise and in the past year has started to beat other averages in other American sports. Not NFL mind you.
There is now a core base of MLS fans that attend games week in and week out and have started to make the league profitable. What continues to trouble MLS (and the national team) is TV ratings. EPL games still beat MLS, though large national team games beat the EPL.
The top 5 advertisers during MLS games spent 95% of their budget on the Spanish speaking networks...THAT'S the kind of stigma you're dealing with in this country when it comes to this sport.
Landon was a household name for about 2 days in 2010... Outside of LA, other cities with MLS teams and people who actually follow this sport (which is miniscule compared to NFL,MLB & NBA) Donovan is a non-entity.
If the club decide to pursue Landon on a permanent contract it should be based solely on football reasons, not advertisement or marketability.
Tim signing with the Red Bulls shut this site down and I can guarantee it wasn't from New Yorkers trying to log in...
Landon was a household name for about 2 days in 2010... Outside of LA, other cities with MLS teams and people who actually follow this sport (which is miniscule compared to NFL,MLB & NBA) Donovan is a non-entity.
If the club decide to pursue Landon on a permanent contract it should be based solely on football reasons, not advertisement or marketability.
Tim signing with the Red Bulls shut this site down and I can guarantee it wasn't from New Yorkers trying to log in...
paulashcroftefc
Player Valuation: £8m
Had an offer for his house according to this:
http://www.heraldonline.com/2012/07/29/4146708/hot-property-soccer-star-landon.html?
Seriously if we got him and Pienaar and lost nobody, we will deffo be in Europe next season..
http://www.heraldonline.com/2012/07/29/4146708/hot-property-soccer-star-landon.html?
Seriously if we got him and Pienaar and lost nobody, we will deffo be in Europe next season..
tasslehoff
Player Valuation: £10m
Is this even on? Seriously? Can't see it?
Iggy I need a percentage, stat
Iggy I need a percentage, stat
K
Kay20
Guest
Out of curiousity, where did you get that stat about advertisers? Cause it doesn't apply to nationally televised games. And the vast majority of games in MLS aren't on the spanish networks.
And there are more companies sponsoring the league than ever, most stadiums are now soccer specific and MLS ratings are up double digits this year (and large double digits, not like 11%).
As for a "household name for 2 days" - USMNT ratings are also...up.
When Dancing with the Stars considers you for its show it indicates you've somewhat hit the mainstream. Even if it's for "two days." Two days more than you had before.
LD is a non-entity outside of LA, blah blah blah - nope, and I've seen quantitative market research to prove it. Soccer is not NFL, MLB, NBA. I have no idea why it needs to be or why this tired statement gets trotted out all the flipping time. Americans support a CRAP TON of sports in the US. Soccer is growing and doing just fine for those of us that don't expect it to become the #2 sport tomorrow - which is unrealistic. If someone has a passing knowledge about soccer, they on average know Landon Donovan. I mean the ones that catch maybe like 2 games a year...if those were included in your "follow the sport" statement, then I hear you.
I have written a ton about his marketability, his sponsor support, his draw for fans in the US, and the fact is that THIS SITE has drawn Americans due to both Tim Howard and LD being here. The "miniscule" support in the US would still represent a sizeable percentage growth in the Evertonian fanbase (and has represented sizeable growth for other notable EPL clubs - maybe they know something we don't.)
Didn't see the Jelavic signing shutting the OS down. Yeah, LD did...same as Cahill. Huh. That's an interesting comparison.
Yes, he should be here due to footballing ability because that is the primary need of course. Or we could go sign Michael Jordan to show up at 1 game every year. Hell, Ochocinco did that in Kansas City and probably gave the club it's biggest marketing moment...ever.
But to argue LD has no marketability value is BS. Sorry. I'm pretty passionate about this as a marketer and someone who is passionate about seeing the brand of soccer grow worldwide. And I DO think that should be factored into signing someone. Not as 90% of the reason of course, but it sure helps rather than hinders. This sport is also a business. And we need revenue.
I don't know how many times we can have this argument in this thread. Why on earth do we have to trot out the same tired inferiority complex "no one cares about soccer in the US" statements. It's just not true anymore. Relish in the fact the sport is growing and talk about that *adding* to our fanbase because even that "miniscule" amount of fans are able to pick a team to support. Have you seen Arsenal America lately? And they haven't even come to the frigging US!
There are several people here who have said they might watch a NYRB game or two now due to Cahill. Hope they stick around and enjoy some MLS action. It is so hard to think that maybe LD would cause the same effect?
http://www.forbes.com/sites/prishe/...-big-goals-financially-post-mls-championship/
ijjysmith
Calm
Hmmm tough one this as there is a lot to take into account. And lots of conflicting info.
I'd say something like this currently:
There is a 52.4848383737272727% chance of Sir Landon joining us on a perm this transfer window.
But there is a 83.488383838% chance Sir Landon will be back for his usual loan stint in January.
However, as a disclaimer, these percentage are correct at 10:51am on Sunday. They can change at anytime.
When Dancing with the Stars considers you for its show it indicates you've somewhat hit the mainstream. Even if it's for "two days." Two days more than you had before.
Fantastic, if he hits a bad run of form he can dance for us instead.
Fantastic, if he hits a bad run of form he can dance for us instead.
Arteta's Girl
Player Valuation: £950k
To be fair, it was during the middle of a game when that signing was announced so I'm guessing people's attention were more on that at the time, particularly for those who were there (like me). But yeah..
Cena
Player Valuation: £70m
[video=youtube;UhAZD5XCucY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhAZD5XCucY[/video]
I think,a goal was scored..the commentator is not too sure
My favourite non-Everton goal that. USA USA USA USA
Cena
Player Valuation: £70m
chriswho
Player Valuation: £5m
Come on, it was Tim Howard to Landon donovan. May as well have been an everton goal. (Dempsey was in there too, but I don't need to open that can of worms...)
As an American and an everton fan, that will likely always be my favorite goal in any competition ever.
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