Television ratings aren’t the only (or even primary) measure of success for the USL, but they’re a quick and easy way to see how the league is making inroads to the average soccer fan. The more people that watch the USL on CBS or ESPN, the more advertisers and investors will buy in. Ratings can signify that the league is succeeding in getting its message – on prioritizing player development, providing community connections, and opening the pyramid – out to new supporters.
This Sunday marked the first nationally televised match of the USL year, featuring San Antonio FC and Phoenix Rising as a Sunday afternoon lead-in to the nightly news and 60 Minutes on CBS. We won’t know what the ratings looked like for another week or so, but every viewer counts, and league headquarters will be looking for a jump as compared to a roughly 400,000 average from last season.
Of course, San Antonio and Phoenix played an actual soccer game, and that’s what we’re here to discuss. After Week 5, how do those clubs and the rest of the USL Championship stack up? Let’s dig in.
1. Louisville City
Trending: No change
Result: 1-1 draw at Sacramento
Watching Louisville play on the back foot and absorb pressure is an out-of-body experience. It just doesn’t feel right! For large swathes of their match in Sacramento this weekend, LouCity was forced to sit back and let someone else set the terms for the first time all year.
