I know we had a thread that dug into the fiscal challenges around the Superliga (specifically, the non Big Three clubs) faced ahead of Euro 2004. This article from www.sportsnet.ca was very interesting...



I know it's not a silver bullet, but I just don't understand why the powers that be for the FPF/Superliga haven't figured out that any TV deal(s) needs some sort of blackout restrictions. Obviously the "regional telecast" model wouldn't work a la the NFL due to the relatively small size of the country, but I don't care if it's Porto going to Moreirense or Sporting playing at Nacional; if the game's not sold out then it shouldn't be on TV. I guarantee you that if they stopped showing the games, you'd see sellouts; if for no other reason than you'd see a spike in Big Three supporters filling visitor's stadia to support their team.

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"Not that I know but I can send you texts with key updates. For example, Balotelli misses a goal, Balotelli with a rash tackle on Bellamy and gets a red card. Throws his shirt at Rafa and goes directly to the City locker room" - England66 in response to Razor's question "Will the Inter-Manchester City game in Baltimore be televised?"

What about the wacky television times?

9:30 start time?

What kind of promotion model do they follow? Anything beyond "Malhao-Malhao!!!"

It seems to me that the league's bottom line suffers from the fact that clubs are run more like a family business, rather than a profit/loss corporation.

There is no John Henry or Robert Kraft in the Supaliga, not even PDC.

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"I wake up every morning, clap my hands in the air and say, 'Today's going to be a great day!'"

-Chris Biello

"Red gets a pass in his absurdity, it's his charm."

-Pila

Futebol in Portugal is run by idiots. It's the only business where demand does not impact the price of the supply. Why are they selling 15 Euro tickets in Leiria to see them play Rio Ave? They should sell them at 5 Euros.

Asking the TV to black out games is not going to happen. Too much money involved there.

However the true key...is quality of the product. And Portugal does not offer it. The game is always bogged down by the players hacking each other, refs who call everything seen and unseen. There's no flow, little artistry and imagination in our game. Improve the quality of the sport, lower the prices, market the teams regionally, to youth groups, senior citizens, etc., and you'll see a boost not only in attendance, but revenue as well.

Maybe we can get a group here to purchase Leiria, and make it happen the way it should.

Oh yeah...and put all the games on earlier in the day.

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There was indeed a conspiracy to have Benfica and Braga challenge for the title until the last week of the season. There was also a conspiracy against Sporting to keep them out of 1st place by 26 points. The conspiracy is about to be revealed in a public judicial forum soon enough. It's hasn't anything to do with Golden whistles, but with Golden Showers, as Sporting Administration and coaching have conspired to piss all over themselves this season.-RedEagle

on the tack of diversifying income streams...

every one of these stadiums should be opening the gates early each morning to host an open air feira - with parking for the donkeys and carts that bring the live chickens and rabbits to market. Also fresh pao de milo, local produce and pinga. They could even butcher the meat on the spot for freshness and clean fish. A tarp could protect the field.

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É a minha filosofia de futebol. O futebol é isso: assumir o risco. O futebol é dos valentes.

Whadda ya say? I volunteer to get the ball rolling in the Portuguese community up here. We can get a Yank/Canuck business cadre established lickety split.

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É a minha filosofia de futebol. O futebol é isso: assumir o risco. O futebol é dos valentes.

I respectfully disagree that the quality of the game would have a direct/positive impact on the attendance at the games; although it would be a positive impact on the relative strength of the league overall in comparison to other European leagues.

It seems to me that the average diehard fan is going to go to every game whether the reffing sucks or not. I don't think that if Anders Frisk married Collina's daughter and had 16 sons who all became Portuguese citizens and were world class officials who worked every SuperLiga game, that you'd have people in their cafes in the Serra Estrella getting into their cars and making the trek to Lisboa to see a game live versus staying at their local club playing cards/staying in staggering distance from their homes.

The only way they get off their asses is if the game's not sold out and is not made available on TV.

I agree with all your other points re: price points, lack of target marketing to specific age demographics, etc.

As for the group - I nominate Penguin for Head of Futebol Operations. Red will be the CBO (Chief Bribing Officer) and Tinto can tap into his socialist networks to get us a sweetheart deal with the camara where they pay us for keeping the club there. I will be in charge of ensuring hot chicks are always available in the President's Box.

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"Not that I know but I can send you texts with key updates. For example, Balotelli misses a goal, Balotelli with a rash tackle on Bellamy and gets a red card. Throws his shirt at Rafa and goes directly to the City locker room" - England66 in response to Razor's question "Will the Inter-Manchester City game in Baltimore be televised?"

I agree completely with blackouts, though they wouldn't need to black them out on condition of selling out the stadium. Just at 50% capacity would be a huge boost.

Red is also correct that they simply have zero imagination when it comes to marketing the sport. And there's absolutely no reason to have Saturday and Sunday night games. That's just plain stupid.

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"Not even a contest. Sa. Even with the 6-year old girl's headband.

However, I think Joao Pinto's puppet from Contra Informacao would give the real Sa a good fight. Or Chucky from the Child's Play movies, for that matter."

~ Razor, on who would win in a fight between Joan Pinto and Sa Pinto

The Detachable Pilas - 2009 FinalFootball Fantasy Football Champion!

The Detachable Pilas devastate the whateva pucks

Ive always said that I wanted to buy Leiria....Im down.

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"This is Gregoriava from Bulgaria....I saw her snatch this morning and it was amazing."
-Pat Glenn - Weightlifting commentator

BWA-HA-HA-HA...I don't know why this struck me so funny..

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"Not that I know but I can send you texts with key updates. For example, Balotelli misses a goal, Balotelli with a rash tackle on Bellamy and gets a red card. Throws his shirt at Rafa and goes directly to the City locker room" - England66 in response to Razor's question "Will the Inter-Manchester City game in Baltimore be televised?"