Portland Thorns to start girls youth academy program

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To have a successful professional league, one where you can pay full time wages to all the players you have to have a meaningful TV contract and to do that you have to demonstrate that you can deliver eyeballs not buts in seats. That requires marketing partnerships with national retailers and sports manufacturers to jointly advertise and market the league and personalities of the NWSL. How many Alex Morgan ads have you seen even here in PDX? The fact that we don't see her shoe and clothing commercials and local car commercials tells you how clueless the league marketing department is? Even the LPGA does a better job marketing it's players and establishing league personalities and marketing them with in their sport.

The NBA was a money pit until they focused on the personalities of the game like Dr. J, Magic, Bird, Jordon and the Bad boys in Detroit. When you see the NWSL market their stars to each market and nationally they will not be able to deliver eyeball hence not TV contract therefore no financial stability.

ESPN will be televising NWSL games starting tomorrow. Fox will be doing the same starting next year as it leads into the Women's World Cup. Alex Morgan will be a household hame by June of of next year, whether we like it or not.

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ESPN will be televising NWSL games starting tomorrow. Fox will be doing the same starting next year as it leads into the Women's World Cup. Alex Morgan will be a household hame by June of of next year, whether we like it or not.

She already is moron.

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ESPN will be televising NWSL games starting tomorrow. Fox will be doing the same starting next year as it leads into the Women's World Cup. Alex Morgan will be a household hame by June of of next year, whether we like it or not.

That's good news. Hopefully they will have some quality announcers. The Thorns online broadcast is decent but sleepy.

To make soccer fun on TV, you really need good camera angles and interesting announcers.

The EPL is the gold standard. Of course they have great soccer and stadiums, but still the announcers really help build the brand and connection with the "names".

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They should have them wear bikinis. I bet that would drive attendance up. A mud wrestling pit for yellow card recipients.

Well, we'd hate to see your ECNL dd in a bikini much less the wife. I understand your fascination with women that are attractive given what you have at home. The mud part is disturbing however. You might want to seek help.

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Women's professional soccer has a long way to go to be viable financially.

WUSA 2001-2004 3 seasons
WPS 2009-2012 3 seasons
NWSL 2013- ???

It must be for the love of the sport
Average salary $15,000
Range $6000-$30,000
Most have second jobs
Many live with host families

That's chicken feed
Is it too late for my DD to take up tennis?
Top female professional athletes

Rank Name Earnings (USD) Sport
1 Maria Sharapova..... $25.0 million Tennis*
2 Caroline Wozniacki... $12.5 million Tennis*
3 Danica Patrick........ $12.0 million Motorsport
4 Venus Williams....... $11.5 million Tennis*
5 Kim Clijsters......... $11.0 million Tennis*
6 Serena Williams.... $10.5 million Tennis*
7 Kim Yun-Na......... $10.0 million Figure skating
8 Li Na.................. $8.0 million Tennis*
9 Ana Ivanovic....... $6.0 million Tennis*
10 Paula Creamer...... $5.5 million Golf

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That's chicken feed
Is it too late for my DD to take up tennis?
Top female professional athletes

Rank Name Earnings (USD) Sport
1 Maria Sharapova..... $25.0 million Tennis*
2 Caroline Wozniacki... $12.5 million Tennis*
3 Danica Patrick........ $12.0 million Motorsport
4 Venus Williams....... $11.5 million Tennis*
5 Kim Clijsters......... $11.0 million Tennis*
6 Serena Williams.... $10.5 million Tennis*
7 Kim Yun-Na......... $10.0 million Figure skating
8 Li Na.................. $8.0 million Tennis*
9 Ana Ivanovic....... $6.0 million Tennis*
10 Paula Creamer...... $5.5 million Golf

Than your dd should be playing tennis or golf since she stinks at soccer.

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She already is moron.

Wow. You need to get out more. Alex Morgan a household name?! Are you frickin kiddin? Ask anyone who doesn't follow soccer and they won't have a clue who Alex Morgan, even if you give them strong hints. Mia Hamm became a household name after years and years, culminating in the 99 World Cup. Abby Wambach has gotten there. Alex Morgan is not even close, but there will be intense soccer coverage leading up to the Women's World Cup, much more than the last one, which will help her get there. I sure as hell hope you have a job that doesn't require analytical or marketing skills.

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Most folks in Oregon know who the Timbers are but most (even many w/girls who play soccer) have no idea who "The Thorns" are.... Women's soccer is simply not very tv popular yet.

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Women's sports in general is a hard sell unless a major sporting event. WNBA all-star game was on yesterday.... I'm certain they let people in for free there were so many empty seats in the arena. Watched a few minutes....then zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

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Women's sports in general is a hard sell unless a major sporting event. WNBA all-star game was on yesterday.... I'm certain they let people in for free there were so many empty seats in the arena. Watched a few minutes....then zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

The WNBA needs more players like this:

http://www.makers.com/lisa-leslie?ic...6pLid%3D504695

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Pure Speculation

So in the spirit of 'fairness" in the wild speculation category how are the Thorns going to be making up the travel rosters when players exhaust their $2,350 travel allowance and start eating into the club fee? Are we going to see forced rotations?

Any experienced parent can see that the schedule is going to eat up the whole $3,600 so how are any overages going to be covered for a player going to all events? Are we talking cash rebates.

Gaad I luv wild speculation!

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So in the spirit of 'fairness" in the wild speculation category how are the Thorns going to be making up the travel rosters when players exhaust their $2,350 travel allowance and start eating into the club fee? Are we going to see forced rotations?

Any experienced parent can see that the schedule is going to eat up the whole $3,600 so how are any overages going to be covered for a player going to all events? Are we talking cash rebates.

Gaad I luv wild speculation!

As has been stated humorous times...the travel budget maxs out at $3,600 IF you attend all of the events on the schedule

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As has been stated humorous times...the travel budget maxs out at $3,600 IF you attend all of the events on the schedule

So funny that some people can't understand that concept. It's the same people who think that the ECNL "estimates" are accurate. Its so funny that they will take an estimate at face value but a firm committed cost as a variable. $10,000 is a reasonable estimate for what ECNL is going to run this year, but they choose to pray that it will be less.

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So many unanswered questions. Better get them before deciding!

As has been stated humorous times...the travel budget maxs out at $3,600 IF you attend all of the events on the schedule

The "participation" cap is $3,600 not the travel budget. Just how are the Travel arrangements being handled? Are the Timbers fronting all the costs? If so they are going to be eating into the club fee before Regionals roll around for 18 players unless they rotate who goes.

They way it is set up they will get to pocket the club fee for 7 player equivalents who do not max out the cap with travel. I want to know what happens if every body wants to go to the show cases? Will they take 20 and rotate? Will the girls with commits volunteer to stay home for those two events?

Just how fair is this "opportunity' going to be when it comes to exposure in this critical year?

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Well, I plan to go watch my daughter play in the ECNL so I guarantee my out of pocket cost will be substantial. But that is not the point is it? Cost? The point is that I really enjoy going to watch her play so we will go.