Women’s Professional Soccer Commissioner Tonya Antonucci held a media conference call ahead of WPS First Kick 2010. More details to come later, but here are some of the quick highlights from the call:
- Season ticket sales are up 20% across the league for returning teams and local sponsorship is up 150% on average.
- The goal for attenance is to raise it by a “modest” 5 percent to 10 percent. The league expects the extended season to add more September group sales. Read more on all of that here.
- 50 foot “Defend Your Turf” projected ads are about to go up in a major grassroots marketing effort. More here.
- Expansion, as we knew, will be focused on the West Coast. At least two ownership groups are interested in Los Angeles and Denver, Dallas, San Diego and Seattle (with Vancouver further down the line) are all options. Stadiums, infrastructure, ownership and community support are all factors.
- Teams will be required to stream at least two games online this season.
- In 2009, WPS created 200 jobs for players and coaches, 100 front office jobs and 300 part-time jobs.
- WPS is putting the “finishing touches” on a cross-marketing campaign with the U.S. Women’s National Team.
- Most teams are on approximately a five year plan to break even. In general, the “metrics are trending in the right direction.”
- WPS will look to honor the 2010 World Cup by avoiding conflicting games and potentially even hosting viewing parties to watch games from South Africa.
More to come later. Click the Blogs section for full team previews of the 2010 season.
