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SPORTS Friday 13 OctOber 2017
A23

U.S. World Cup absence could have wide-ranging effects

By NOAH TRISTER have the Americans, and
AP Sports Writer ratings for the 2022 event
The 2018 World Cup will in Qatar could be affected
be a unique test of soc- by the fact that it is set to
cer’s appeal in the United be held in November and
States. December to avoid the
Will Americans still watch searing summer desert
if their national team isn’t heat, instead of its usual
there? Fox certainly is hop- calendar spot midway
ing so. through the year.
The U.S. failed to qualify The U.S. team’s failure to
for next year’s World Cup qualify for 2018 dented
in Russia when it lost at shares of Twenty-First Cen-
Trinidad and Tobago on tury Fox Inc. on Wednes-
Tuesday night, and the ef- day. The stock fell 66 cents,
fects of that defeat may or 2.5 percent, to $26.11.
be felt for quite some time. But concerns over Fox’s
The team, and indeed the outlook may be over-
whole U.S. Soccer Federa- blown, according to a re-
tion, faces a period of soul port from Pivotal Research
searching — but broad- Group. According to the
casters, sponsors and tour- group’s study, the U.S.
nament organizers also team accounted for about
could feel the impact of 20 percent of ESPN’s total
the Americans’ absence. In this June 8, 2017, file photo, United States coach Bruce Arena watches during the first half of the viewing for the 2014 tour-
Fox, which broadcasts next team’s World Cup soccer qualifying match against Trinidad & Tobago in Commerce City, Colo. nament — a significant fig-
year’s World Cup, offered Associated Press ure but not an overwhelm-
only a brief statement teams ranging from Mexico major draw as well. But a do, promotion of the U.S. ing one. Fox certainly will
Wednesday — which did to England that have mas- U.S.-Portugal match in the team on Fox properties like miss having the Americans
provide some insight as to sive fan bases in America.” group stage of the 2014 baseball or other spring in 2018, but the U.S. played
how the network likely will Fans in the U.S. are familiar tournament had 24.7 mil- stuff they might have. ... only four games in Brazil
promote a World Cup with- with stars like Messi, Ron- lion viewers — and that’s The U.S. matches were last time.
out the U.S. aldo and Neymar. Top Eu- the type of interest that some of the strongest au- “While it might make a dif-
“Last night’s World Cup ropean club teams now might be absent from ear- diences for ESPN-ABC the ference for the lay viewer
qualifying results do not have American followings, lier games in 2018. last couple of iterations of who is only going to watch
change FOX Sports’ pas- which suggests that soccer “It’s going to hurt a little the tournament. The final the U.S. games, that’s just
sion for the world’s biggest in the U.S. can withstand a bit,” said Austin Karp, an will still be OK.”Fox broad- a small subset of the total
sporting event,” the state- short-term slump for the na- assistant managing edi- cast the Women’s World viewing,” said Brian Wieser,
ment said. “While the U.S. tional team. tor of SportsBusiness Daily. Cup in 2015, but next year a senior research analyst
was eliminated, the big- An estimated 26.5 million “You’re not going to have will be its first time carry- for Pivotal Research Group.
gest stars in the world from people in the U.S. watched any buildup there toward ing the men’s tournament So the show must go on for
Lionel Messi to Cristiano Germany’s victory over Ar- the summer, with the U.S. since winning U.S. English- broadcasters — and spon-
Ronaldo stamped their gentina in the 2014 World team playing either friend- language World Cup rights sors are trying to make the
tickets to Russia on the Cup final in Brazil, and the lies — or talk about how back in 2011. Now Fox’s best of the situation as well.
same day, and will battle 2018 final figures to be a the U.S. team is going to 2018 tournament won’t q
IndyCar returns to Oregon in change to 2018 schedule

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Port- Mayor Ted Wheeler said. “I motes the IndyCar events of our return couldn’t be victory. It was the first win
land International Race- remember well the excite- at St. Petersburg, Toronto better given the bold new for PacWest Racing.
way is back on the IndyCar ment and thrills that INDY- and Mid-Ohio. look our cars will have in Currently active IndyCar
Series schedule in 2018. CAR racing bring to a city Portland replaces Watkins 2018. We expect this will Series drivers who compet-
The Sept. 2 race on the and to race spectators. The Glen, New York, on the be a show fans won’t want ed in the last race held at
1.967-mile permanent road return of INDYCAR racing schedule. to miss,” Mark Miles, CEO PIR include Sebastien Bour-
course will be IndyCar’s first to Portland will give us ter- “Portland International of series owner Hulman & dais (winner), Will Power,
trip to the Oregon track rific international exposure, Raceway has produced Company, said in a state- Simon Pagenaud and Gra-
since races were held from a great deal of revenue, thrilling road racing ment Thursday. ham Rahal.
1984-2007 under CART and new jobs, and an exciting throughout Indy car history The 1997 race became There were no other ma-
Champ Car sanction. experience for race fans.” — the 1997 finish still stands memorable when Mark jor changes on the 17-
“As a young man, I had The race will be operated as the record for the clos- Blundell passed Gil de Fer- race schedule as IndyCar
the opportunity to attend by Green Savoree Racing est finish on a road or street ran — who celebrated too sought stability in assem-
the Indy 500,” Portland Promotions, which also pro- course — and the timing early — for a photo-finish bling its 2018 calendar. q