Where to watch the U.S. men's national soccer team's World Cup qualifying game at Guatemala
You may have heard that the U.S. men's national team's World Cup qualifier at Guatemala next Tuesday will only be available on pay-per-view television and online.
Where to watch the U.S. men's national soccer team's World Cup qualifying game at Guatemala
Jonathan Tannenwald
You may have heard that the U.S. men's national team's World Cup qualifier at Guatemala next Tuesday will only be available on pay-per-view television and online.
This is because national federations within CONCACAF, which oversees soccer in North and Central America, own the broadcast rights to their home game.
Guatemala's federation demanded a rights fee for the game that no American television network was willing to match. Although I do not know the exact number, I have heard rumors from people I trust that it was somewhere in the mid-six figures.
Tack on to that a few hundred thousand dollars in production costs from labor, equipment, transportation and satellite transmission feeds, and you're talking a pretty big number. I think you can safely assume that it's a lot more than most players in MLS make in a year.
So while I'm as disappointed as anyone that the game won't be easily accessible, I can also understand the argument that there are better ways for TV networks to invest that kind of sum in broadcasting American soccer.
(Saving up for a similar scenario in the Hexagonal round of qualifying, for example.)
In addition to being able to watch the game at home, bars and restaurants are able to show the game for an additional fee.
Over the course of this week, I'll be compiling a list of establishments across the Philadelphia region that will have the game. So be sure to check back here regularly for the latest updates.
If you are a bar or restaurant owner, or if you know of a place near you that will have the game, please e-mail me and let me know. Also please let me know if there will be a cover charge.
Philadelphia
Fado: 1500 Locust Street (215-893-7900)
Brauhaus Schmitz: 718 South Street (267-909-8814) - no cover charge
Tir Na Nog: 1600 Arch Street (267-514-1700)
Pennsylvania Suburbs
Dominick's Side Door Pub: 3337 County Line Road, Chalfont (215-716-3071)
South Jersey
None yet.
Delaware
Stoneys: 3007 Concord Pike, Wilmington (302) 477-9740
Buffalo Wild Wings: 2062 Limestone Road, Wilmington (302-999-9211)
Buffalo Wild Wings: 100 Elkton Road, Newark (302-731-3145)
Buffalo Wild Wings: 1887 Pulaski Highway, Bear (302-832-3900)
Buffalo Wild Wings: 540 W. Main Street, Middletown (302-285-0000)
Buffalo Wild Wings: 680 Bay Road, Dover (302-346-9464)
Hey now, don't forget to mention our old friend Carlos Ruiz will be striking for Guatemala//— JoeinSouthPhilly- Wow, Delaware sure loves their Buffalo Wild Wings.— Pelti
- HA. I didn't know there could be 5 of anything in Delaware?!
Carlos Ruiz sucks.— ragecage22 - Delaware: Come for the soccer, stay for the... the... um... what else is there in Delaware?— BigBrain61
- For all the gruff Tannenwald gives Brotherly Game on twitter, he's not exactly pumping out hard-hitting journalism.— billchuck
- If you think this list is trivial than your experiences with bars either never showing soccer or being annoyed to show it must be at a minimum. I think journalists biggest complaint about BroGame is the enthusiasm to report any and every rumor.— Jmcurto
Reach Jonathan at jtannenwald@phillynews.com or 215-854-2330.
