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The Talon Times
Summer 2014In This Issue: p.1 MLS TV Rights p.1 D.C. Uniteds
Results p.2 World Cup in Reston p.2 D.C. Watch Parties p.3 Target
Activation p.4 Stadium Update p.4 Latin Fest
MLS, U.S. Soccer sign $90 million deal with 3 major sports
television networks
On May 12, 2014, Major League Soccer and U.S. Soccer made a
grand announcement that they will partner with ESPN, Fox and
Univision to televise MLS and U.S. Soccer matches until 2022. This
$90 million deal will allow the three networks to broadcast more
than 125 matches throughout each year.
Each network will feature an MLS Match of the Week:
Univision
will broadcast the Match of the Week games on Fridays while ESPN
and Fox Sports 1 will televise back-to-back games each Sunday
evening. Individual MLS clubs will have exclusive rights to games
on Saturdays.
Along with MLS games, all three networks will broadcast U.S.
Mens National Team and U.S.
Womens National Team games until 2022 as well. Univision is now
the
Spanish language hub of U.S. Soccer and plans to broadcast all
USMNT games and at least four USWNT games.
MLS began its broadcasting partnership with ESPN in 1996 for the
leagues first season and their partnership will now continue until
the leagues 27th season.
During the press conference announcing the deal, MLS
Commissioner Don Garber stated, The commitment from our television
partners in terms of structure, length and magnitude is
unprecedented, and these new partnerships are another strong
indicator of the Leagues continued growth and the overall fan
interest in our sport.
Don Garber announced the television partnership at a press
conference with representatives from ESPN, Fox and Univision.
Match Results at RFK Stadium: May 17-August 31, 2014
Upcoming Matches this Fall at RFK: Sept. 24, 8:00PM CONCACAF
Champions League: vs. Tauro FC
Sept. 27, 3:00PM MLS: vs. Philadelphia
Oct. 3, 8:00PM MLS: vs. Sporting KC
Oct. 18, 7:00PM MLS: vs. Chicago
May 17, 2014MLS: vs. Montreal1-1
May 21, 2014MLS: vs. Houston2-0
May 31, 2014MLS: vs. Sporting KC1-0
June 7, 2014MLS: vs. Columbus0-0
June 28, 2014MLS: vs. Seattle 0-1
July 20, 2014MLS: vs. Chivas USA3-1
July 30, 2014MLS: vs. Toronto3-0
August 17, 2014MLS: vs. ColoradoSCORE
August 31, 2014MLS: vs. New YorkSCORE
Non-MLS Games:August 20, 2014CONCACAF Champions League: vs.
WaterhouseSCORE
Check out dcunited.com for highlights, videos and more
information on our talented team!
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2 The Talon Times
D.C. United partners with Leidos for USMNT event
Hundreds of fans watched the game on the big screen from inside
the beer garden sponsred by Bud Light.
Thousands of residents in the DMV area came out to Reston Town
Center to cheer on the U.S. Mens National Team against
Portugal.
World Cup: watch parties, Brazil Bracket Challenge
I believe that we will win! is a phrase that you simply couldnt
ignore at Reston Town Center on June 22. Fans chanted all
throughout the evening induring D.C. United and Leidos World Cup
Watch Party as the U.S. battled it out against Portugal.
The Reston audience
turnout was tremendous: more than eight-thousand fans showed up,
many of them decked out in red, white and blue. Fans were eager to
support the USMNT and these numbers solidify how much of an effect
the 2014 World Cup has on American soccer fans.
The event began in the early afternoon for the Belgium vs.
Russia and Korea Republic vs. Algeria games. Fans wandered around
the center checking out different booths which featured food
samples, information on D.C. Uniteds Kids Club and a family
friendly bouncy house. The player meet and greets also
Aside from watching the game, fans had the opportunity to eat
and
relax at the Leidos tent behind the center screen. Not only was
food available, but fans took part in snapping fun pictures in the
sponsors photobooth to share on social media sites as well.
Despite the hot June temperatures, fans thoroughly enjoyed
watching the big game together. This community get together was
quite the unforgettable experience for any fan of U.S. Soccer.
Just a few of our D.C. United Partner Bars: *Bens Next Door
*Capitol City Brewing Co. *Cantina Marina *Elephant & Castle
Pub *Fado *Irish Whiskey Public House *The Laughing Man Tavern
*Lous City Bar *Lucky Bar *Penn Social *The Pug *RiRa *The Queen
Vic *Tonic *Ventor Sports Cafe
When the World Cup began on June 12, the world tuned their
televisions to games all day long. The U.S. viewers really
surprised the soccer community in how dedicated they were to
watching games, especially the USMNT.
To promote the World Cup fever taking over the country, D.C.
United hosted watch parties at numerous bars in the
D.C. area. No matter what time of the day, each game had these
bars packed. People came with their colleagues on their lunch
breaks, people came after work before dinner.
Aside from watch parties throughout D.C., D.C. United
participated in the MLSs Brazil Bracket Challenge. Our fans had the
chance to fill out brackets and compete against other fans of
D.C.
United as well as other MLS teams.
The bracket winner of the D.C. United fan group had the chance
to win a USMNT jersey and four tickets to the July 20 match against
Chivas USA.
The Bracket Challenge also provided the opportunity for fans to
connect with players as they could see the players brackets on our
website.
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The Talon Times 3
Target take-over at RFK for Seattle Sounders match
During the half-time show, three fans participated in an
on-field competition in hopes of winning Target gift cards.
Excited for the game, Targets mascot, Bullseye, roamed the FLIA
as well as the tailgate.
On June 28, D.C. United fans who attended the match against the
Seattle Sounders were in for a treat. They had the chance to
experience the Target brand in unique and interactive way.
Target activated at the pregame tailgate, in the Field Level
Interactive Area (FLIA) and after the game as fans exited.
Before the game began, Targets mascot, Bullseye, roamed the
tailgate posing for photos while brand ambassadors from Target.
With Bullseye at their side, the brand ambassadors handed out 5,000
cinch bags and related promotional items.
Once fans entered the stadium, they interacted with Target even
more. Three specialized grocery themed Target inflatables at the
FLIA drew in 2,000 D.C. United fans. The inflatables included
obstacle courses and games for both youth and adult fans.
In addition to Targets physical presence, individuals could
tweet at custom vending machines which would reward them with DCU
gear, Target sunglasses and Target gift cards. Picnic tables and
promotional
item distribution tables surrounded the vending machines and the
inflatables.
During half time three contestants were selected at random from
the stands to compete in a #TargetRun competition. All three fans
had to collect inflatable versions of favorite Target items and put
them in a basket attached to them before running into the goal.
After the match finished, the brand
ambassadors handed out 5,000 specialty breakfast kits for fans
to take home. These kits included Target brand oatmeal, raisins,
tea bags and plastic to-go containers.
The Target brand ambassadors had a blast working with our fans
and uniting soccer with Target and its products Fans had plenty of
opportunities to walk away with exciting giveaways after this
match.
Our favorite Target activation moments from June 28:
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Do you have questions about how you can enhance your partnership
with D.C. United? Please reach out to our team! We are here to help
maximize every element of your partnership!Corporate Sponsorship
Team:
Mike SchoenbrunChief Revenue
[email protected]
Brennan FeldhausenDirector of Corporate
[email protected]
Jennifer ParksDirector of Corporate Partnerships
[email protected]
Maureen DowlingManager, Corporate
[email protected]
Paige GreenbergAccount Executive, Corporate
[email protected]
4 The Talon Times
The future of D.C. soccer: the latest on Buzzard Point
Bill Hamid, Bobby Boswell, Sean Franklin selected for MLS
All-Star Game in Portland
On June 26, Washington, D.C. residents along with D.C. United
employees and fans, attended a D.C. Council hearing for the
proposal of the D.C. United Stadium at Buzzard Point.
D.C. Mayor Vincent C. Gray spoke with the teams coach and
ownership about the future benefits of the stadium. At the hearing,
This is the design for the future D.C. United Stadium at Buzzard
Point. For more pictures visit
dcunited.com/new-stadium-fresh-look.
Coach Olsen spoke highly of D.C.s soccer community and soccers
future in the Nations Capital.
There is no city in this country that is more global or
influential or has thrived more on the growth of soccer, Olsen told
the D.C. Council.
The stadium deal will require $119.5 million from the District.
Over the course of a 30-year
period, the new stadium will generate a positive impact of $385
million for D.C. This stadium
project has the power to create more than 2,400 jobs for D.C.
residents and local businesses.
After weeks of campaigning for votes to play in the MLS All-Star
Game on Aug. 6, three of D.C. Uniteds best traveled to Portland to
play with the leagues top players against FC Bayern Munich.
Goalkeeper Bill Hamid and defenders Bobby Boswell (captain) and
Sean Franklin made the cross-country journey to represent D.C.
United and its successful season.
Hamids MLS success
began in 2010 when he was the youngest goalkeeper to win an MLS
game. This was his first All-Star appearance and he was named the
Homegrown Hero after multiple stunning saves. Hamid played with
game saving effort and helped the MLS team to keep their lead.
D.C. United brought Boswell back just in time for the 2014
season. Like Hamid, this was Boswells
first All-Star appearance. Boswell cleared the ball to teammates
up front and helped boost the MLS to a lead with the first
goal.
In an interview with dcunited.com, Boswell commented on his
selection: Anytime you have defenders receiving nominations, its a
testament to the guys around us doing the hard work to set us up
for success in the back.
Unlike these All-Star rookies, Franklin is a two-time All-Star,
a champion of the MLS Cup and the 2008 Rookie of the Year. He did
not expect to be selected, but is looking forward to participating
in such an exciting game against such a talented team. Franklin
played well as the crowd expected from a veteran All-Star.Hamid,
Franklin and Boswell got together to take a photo shortly after
beating Bayern Munich FC 2-1 in Portland (photo from
@mlssoccer).