Evan Posted April 13, 2005 Share Posted April 13, 2005 http://www.misl.net/news/?cat=1&id=4036-OR-WESTPORT, Conn. (Tuesday, April 12, 2005) - The Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) and ESPN, the worldwide leader in sports, jointly announced today that an agreement has been reached which places the League's 2005 MISL Championship Series Finals live in prime time on ESPN2. The exclusive agreement features MISL Championship Series Finals Game One from U.S. Cellular Arena in Milwaukee on Saturday, May 14 at 9:00 p.m. EST and Championship Series Finals Game Two from Savvis Center in St. Louis on Saturday, May 21 at 7:00 p.m. EST."I am very pleased to announce our relationship with ESPN," stated MISL Commissioner Steve Ryan. "I applaud the foresight of the MISL Management Committee for their unanimous support last month in revising the format of our Championship Series Finals and enhancing the marketability of the Finals for national television. I would also like to thank ESPN for recognizing the value of indoor soccer as a television product. There's no better national platform to showcase our world-class players and expose the appeal of our game to sports fans across the country."The 2005 MISL Championship Series Finals is a two-game, "home and home" series featuring the winners of the Championship Series Semifinals. Should the finalists split their two games, an overtime period with a "Golden Goal" will determine the 2005 MISL Champion."This agreement with the MISL represents a natural extension of ESPN's commitment to the growth of soccer in the United States," said Leah Buhl, ESPN senior director for programming. "MISL is a great addition to ESPN's portfolio of marquee soccer programming that includes Major League Soccer, the NCAA championships, UEFA Champions League and FIFA World Cup."Tickets for Championship Game One in Milwaukee may be purchased through the Milwaukee Wave Box Office, online through TicketMaster, or by phone at 414-224-9283. Tickets for Championship Game Two in St. Louis may be purchased through the St. Louis Steamers Box Office, online through TicketMaster, or by phone at 314-241-1888.The 2005 MISL Championship Series is scheduled to begin the weekend of April 29 through May 1. The Championship Series consists of four teams. The MISL Regular Season Champion receives an automatic bid to postseason play and earns the No. 1 seed as determined by regular season win percentage. The other postseason spots are allotted to the three teams with the next best regular season win percentage, determining the No. 2, No. 3, and No. 4 seeds.The Championship Series Semifinal Round is a two-game "home and home" series, with the No. 4 seed meeting the No. 1 seed and the No. 3 seed drawing the No. 2 seed. The higher seed reserves the right to choose home field for either Game One or Game Two. Should the semifinalists split their two games, an overtime period with a "Golden Goal" will determine the series winner, which will advance to the MISL Championship Series Final.About ESPNLaunched October 1, 1993 in 10 million households, ESPN2 currently reaches nearly 89 million. The network offers more than 4,800 live and/or original hours of sports programming annually, including MLB, NBA, NHL, college football and basketball, soccer, golf, tennis, auto racing and more.About MISLThe Major Indoor Soccer League is a single-entity organization featuring a coast-to-coast presence with seven teams located across the United States. The MISL is the single major league of indoor soccer. In February of 2004, the League announced an expansion team in Stockton, CA, that will begin play in 2005-06. On May 4, 2004, the League announced plans for an expansion team in Newark, NJ, that will begin play in 2007-08. The 2004-05 regular season concludes on Sunday, April 24. The top four teams in the standings qualify for the 2005 MISL Championship Series, which commences with the Semifinal Round on the weekend of April 29-May 1. The 2005 MISL Championship Series Finals are scheduled for Saturday, May 14 at U.S. Cellular Arena in Milwaukee (Game One) and Saturday, May 21 at Savvis Center in St. Louis (Game Two). For more information on the MISL, visit the League's website at www.MISL.net. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Discrim Posted April 13, 2005 Share Posted April 13, 2005 indoor soccer? on TV? that's the craziest load of bull I've ever heard A strong mind gets high off success, a weak mind gets high off bull Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeneralW91 Posted April 13, 2005 Share Posted April 13, 2005 This is a big victory for the league, but it doesn't change the fact that they are down to 7 teams, and one is on the verge of collapsing(Cleveland). www.ABAsite.tk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJTank Posted April 13, 2005 Share Posted April 13, 2005 did someone mention MISL www.sportsecyclopedia.com For the best in sports history go to the Sports E-Cyclopedia at http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CZzyzx41 Posted April 13, 2005 Share Posted April 13, 2005 Finally now that the San Diego Sockers are gone they televise the finals. Oh how I wish some rich MISL fan would purchase the rights to the name, the colors, and would rebuild that winning team we enjoyed in the 80s and early 90s. -DanielCheck Out My Podcast! Latest Episode 273: The Color BlinkyLatest Photo Upload: January 7, 2012 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ez Street Posted April 13, 2005 Share Posted April 13, 2005 Kansas City Comets BABY! @DavidStreeter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-kj Posted April 13, 2005 Share Posted April 13, 2005 Wait... if it hasn't been determined what teams are in, how can they have it scheduled for Milwaukee and St. Louis? ...unless they're dumb enough to have a neutral-site "home-and-home" series. That would be insanely stupid; attendance would be horrible. Buy some t-shirts and stuff at KJ Shop! KJ Branded | Behance portfolio  POTD 2013-08-22 On 7/14/2012 at 2:20 AM, tajmccall said: When it comes to style, ya'll really should listen to Kev. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mac the Knife Posted April 13, 2005 Share Posted April 13, 2005 Gasp!Last gasp! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Discrim Posted April 13, 2005 Share Posted April 13, 2005 yep mockba, it'll be neutral site. A strong mind gets high off success, a weak mind gets high off bull Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evan Posted April 13, 2005 Author Share Posted April 13, 2005 Wait... if it hasn't been determined what teams are in, how can they have it scheduled for Milwaukee and St. Louis? ...unless they're dumb enough to have a neutral-site "home-and-home" series. That would be insanely stupid; attendance would be horrible. like Discrim said, yea its a neutral site. I think they had to do this to get onto ESPN2. I suppose im happy about the television coverage but unsure of the neutral sites. Right now I'd prefer just a regular 5 (or 3) game series with the home team hosting 3 or 2 games. We will see how this new format turns (and how quickly they ambandon it!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OMMF Posted April 13, 2005 Share Posted April 13, 2005 What possible reason would anyone have to go to Milwaukee when nothing can be decided there? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaolinaJoe Posted April 13, 2005 Share Posted April 13, 2005 What they should have done is a 7 game series, with one game at each of the 7 active team arenas. "It is the soldier, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of thepress. It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us freedom ofspeech. It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, who has given usthe freedom to demonstrate. And it is the soldier who salutes theflag, serves beneath the flag, whose coffin is draped by the flag, andwho allows the protester to burn the flag."Marine Chaplain Dennis Edward O' Brien Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-kj Posted April 13, 2005 Share Posted April 13, 2005 So, why not a home-and-home at the two actual teams' arenas? Neutral-site is a horrible, horrible idea. Buy some t-shirts and stuff at KJ Shop! KJ Branded | Behance portfolio  POTD 2013-08-22 On 7/14/2012 at 2:20 AM, tajmccall said: When it comes to style, ya'll really should listen to Kev. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yh Posted April 13, 2005 Share Posted April 13, 2005 Wait... if it hasn't been determined what teams are in, how can they have it scheduled for Milwaukee and St. Louis? ...unless they're dumb enough to have a neutral-site "home-and-home" series. That would be insanely stupid; attendance would be horrible. Except, perhaps, in Milwaukee and St. Louis where there are enough indoor soccer fans to float a moneymaking attendance figure. I think the conventional wisdom suggests Milwaukee will be playing in the finals, so Game 1 shouldn't be a problem, attendance wise. And St. Louis will certainly put up a great crowd for the title match, even if the Steamers don't make it. I'm already planning on going regardless of whether the hometown boys make the match.Incidentally, it's interesting that as things stand right now, the Steamers and Wave would meet in the league semis, and if that holds, at least one of these two teams will have a true home game in the finals. And with the Steamers in the #4 spot, if they beat the #1 Wave in the semi's, they'd play a higher seeded team in the finals but hold the home field advantage in that Game 2 and the golden goal OT period would be at home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Discrim Posted April 14, 2005 Share Posted April 14, 2005 What possible reason would anyone have to go to Milwaukee when nothing can be decided there? even tho I don't drink, beer! and brats! and if you drop by Racine, kringle! A strong mind gets high off success, a weak mind gets high off bull Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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