I know what my old pal Mike Mulligan will be doing Sunday. The morning drive co-host for WSCR-AM 670 in Chicago is a huge soccer fan. He will be parked on his couch, working his remote overtime in watching Survival Sunday.
For the first time ever, all 10 games from the Premier League’s final day will be shown live in the U.S. Even a non-soccer fan like me will check it out because of the sheer volume of games.
That’s the whole idea of this exercise; to lure non-fans fans like me.
Here is yesterday’s post with all the details.
Fox will air nine of the games on its various platforms. Here are the excerpts from the Survival Sunday and UEFA Champions League Final on FOX preview press call featuring FOX Sports Media Group Co-President and Co-COO Eric Shanks, FOX Soccer Executive Vice President & General Manager David Nathanson. FOX Soccer Lead Studio Host Rob Stone and American National Soccer Hall of Famer & FOX Soccer Analyst Eric Wynalda previewed the matchups and coverage across FSMG’s outlets.
Nathanson on the strategy behind programming Survival Sunday: “We take more risk, not just with the Barclays Premier League, but with the UEFA Champions League and a number of our other soccer rights, and as we’ve seen the audience grow across FOX Soccer and the other FOX Sports Media Group platforms, it justifies taking on more risk and trying new things. We’ve done a lot this year with the delayed and live games in conjunction with the NFL on FOX. ‘Survival Sunday’ is an extension of that. Beyond that, it is the right thing to do for viewers. In the past, people who are a follower of a particular team, and not necessarily the most popular team, are waiting to see where they end up at the end of the season and particularly those that risk relegation. They are some of the most dramatic and interesting stories that are told the entire year. The ability to showcase that across our properties is really unique, and we all couldn’t be more excited to be a part of that.”
Shanks on how viewers will be updated from the games being played simultaneously on Survival Sunday: “As soon as a goal is scored, scores will drop down from the FOX Box and about every ten minutes we will run through all of the scores to keep you up to date on every channel.”
Nathanson added: “This is a first for us and a first for the Premier League in any territory. The goal is to show each game live, and everyone will have the same pregame show that will lead directly into each individual game which will not be carried on any delay. For the first time we’re going to be able to show highlights in-game. If you tune into Manchester United vs. Sunderland on FX, you’re going to be able to see every single goal that matters. That coverage will be complimented on www.foxsoccer.com/survivalsunday where we will showcase how each team is progressing in near real time, as they vie for the Champions League, the Europa League, relegation or for the league title.”
Shanks on the magnitude behind the production of Survival Sunday across FSMG properties: “This is a new high point for European soccer here in the U.S. and the Premier League specifically. This is a better experience of Survival Sunday for fans than even what they’re getting in the UK. I still don’t believe that you can watch all of these matches, all at once, in the UK. We may have a flood of tourists coming into the U.S. just to have access to all of these games this weekend.”
Stone on whether or not Bayern Munich is a heavy favorite because they are playing at home: “Without a doubt Bayern Munich is the favorite. They would have been the favorite even if it was held at a neutral site. With the form that Bayern Munich is in, and the offensive capability that they have, and with the suspensions that are hitting a majority of the Chelsea starting players, it is beyond fair to say that Bayern Munich are the favorite.”
Wynalda on the Champions League matchup: “They are both very good teams, but there is one more game that weighs into this, and that is the German Cup, which Bayern Munich has against Borussia Dortmund. We really have to wait on our opinions of what the Final is going to look like until after that one is over. On paper right now, with the suspensions that both teams have, it’s going to be a very offensive game. Regardless, it’s going to be a great game and either way there are going to be a lot of goals in this one.”
Stone on the growth of soccer in US and the EPL’s role: “It’s tradition passed down through the generations. It’s like baseball here in the States. Your dad, your grandfather, your grandmother, your mother grew up a Cardinals fan, a Yankees fan or a Tampa Bay Rays and they pass it down. You get that in England. It’s starting to happen now in the States, you’re seeing more and more kids wanting jerseys. Not being handed the jersey by dad saying, ‘wear this Messi jersey.’ It’s a kid saying, ‘dad, go get me this Messi jersey.’ You’re starting to see the culture and the generations change in embracing the sport more and more in the States. What the Premiership does and the tradition and drama they provide, is all part of the force that drives the growth of soccer.”
Wynalda on the future of American soccer player Clint Dempsey: “I would love nothing more than to see Clint Dempsey play in the Champions League. With the season that he has had, not only does he deserve the opportunity to play in a greater platform, but he deserves a lot of money. He should break every record there had ever been for an American player as far as his market value because he is an amazing commodity right now and we’re lucky to also have him playing for the U.S. National Team. By far, hands down, this is the best season any American has ever had.”
Stone on Dempsey’s success: “Rarely have we seen an American field player play on a high-profile team. To see “Dempsey” on the back of an Arsenal jersey or a Liverpool jersey is big news in my eyes and big news in the States. Goals are sexy, goals are what sell and he’s scoring goals. That is where you base your judgment. It’s hard to say is has not been the greatest season an American player in Europe has ever had.”