Philly and Salt Lake Gain Greater Exposure

Philly to Host MLS All-Star Game

On Monday, there was a lot of speculation that Philadelphia would be the host for the 2012 MLS All-Star game. Don Garber was in Philly and had scheduled a press conference where he would be joined by Philadelphia Union representatives along with the mayors of Philadelphia and Chester, Pa. The rumors were confirmed, and it was announced that Philly would host the match. Hosting this event will provided both national and international exposure, due to the intense star-power that this game usually contains.

Philadelphia is a good choice for host, considering the attendance figures that PPL Park had last year. It averaged over 19,000 fans per game, maintaining a 99% full capacity average throughout the season. The Sons of Ben are sure to be vocal in an All-Star setting, as they are one of the best supporters groups in the league. Besides the great attendance and supporters in Philadelphia, the location of the stadium is quite eye catching, with many seats boasting a view of the Delaware River. PPL Park also has a very European stadium feel, and is one of the best looking venues in MLS.

The opponent for the MLS All-Stars will be announced in the next few months, but we can expect another Manchester United caliber team. United beat the MLS squad 4-0 in last year's game.

MLS has released this promotional video to showcase both PPL Park and the MLS All-Star match.
(Philly Hosts) The Match will be played July 25.


Real Salt Lake will not be getting the same audience that the All-Star game does, but they have something that no MLS team has currently, an agreement with local networks to broadcast all non-nationally televised games. Fans in the SLC area will be able to see an additional 30 games broadcast on local television this season.

These stations aren't just throwing Real Salt Lake a bone either, they plan on producing quality telecasts. How much quality? It was announced that all the local broadcasts will all be available in HD. This is
something I personally envy, having watched the Galaxy play in what looked like 240p on local channels. Telecasts are scheduled to be 2 1/2 hours in length, with some including pre/post game analysis. RSL is part of the smallest TV market in the league, but that isn't stopping them from making the most of it.

This TV deal will help establish a broader fan base for RSL throughout Utah, providing greater exposure for RSL and the league as a whole. Hopefully this will act as a precedent for other MLS teams to follow.