MISL's Deal With Fox Soccer Channel Marks Most Exposure Ever

By Terry Lefton, Editor-at-Large

The Major Indoor Soccer League, which opens its season October 19, has inked a multi-year deal with Fox Soccer Channel, which will begin a 20-game MISL Game of the Week schedule on Friday, November 16, at 8:00pm ET.  MISL Commissioner Steve Ryan said that under the new deal, the MISL will pay production costs, with the network and league splitting commercial inventory, which each will sell.  It's the most national TV exposure the league has ever had. Last year's schedule on Versus had two regular-season games, a playoff game and the MISL Championship Game; for the two years prior, the MISL Championship was on ESPN2.  Fox Soccer Channel package does not include post-season games, although the net does have first option for the playoffs. The year's MISL Championship will be held in Milwaukee on April 26.

ROOM TO EXPAND: The MISL expanded this season from six to nine teams, including new clubs in Newark's Prudential Center, a franchise owned by Devils ownership; in Orlando, owned by real estate developer Buena Vista Corp.; and in Monterrey, Mexico, partly owned by TV Azteca, which is looking at its own Thursday night MISL package throughout Mexico.  "We're getting some traction from TV, and we're attracting quality ownership [both the Newark and Orlando groups own the buildings they play in] and expect two more [expansion] teams next year -- we're looking hard at Kansas City, St Louis, Louisville, and in the Northeast in Hartford or Providence,'' Ryan said. Expansion fees for the next two franchises will be $750,000, thereafter they will be a $1 million, he added.

LOOKING FOR NEW SALES AGENCY: Ryan said he was looking for a new agency to sell the league's commercial inventory, which had been handled by Penfield Marketing.  Two target areas for sponsorships are QSR and rental car, he said. Puma, which supplies the league's ball, has added uniform rights to include the California and Orlando franchises to Detroit, which it already provided. Other uniform deals are at the option of local teams. The MISL will not have an all-star game this year, as it looks to expand international "friendly'' matches for its clubs.

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