Breaking: Seventeen Union Matches On WIP Next Season

by Ben Feldman on Oct 20, 2011 3:03 PM EDT in News

Well, talk about unexpected. The Philadelphia Union and CBS Radio property SportsRadio WIP have announced a major deal that will see 17 select home and away Union matches broadcast on local radio starting next year, in addition to a weekly hour-long show dedicated to soccer, also starting next year that will run through the end of the MLS season in November.

This is, sensationalism aside, an absolutely remarkable achievement for the young team. WIP is no upstart -- it is established local radio, that for years has appeared to have no interest in soccer. As recently as last month, a local media source told the Brotherly Game that the chances of seeing the Union on WIP were about the same as a snowball's chance in hell. Well, times have changed, it turns out. A growing buzz around the team with their upcoming playoff run and (we're told) a desire on the part of WIP's management to have original programming on its 610 AM feed instead of just simulcasting from their new 94.1 FM flagship station led to interest in a deal.

Despite getting negative vibes from WIP hosts and management alike over its first two seasons of existence, the Union and its CEO & Operating Partner Nick Sakiewicz tried to leave an olive branch available to CBS Radio just in case there was ever any interest down the line, often going out of their way to be kind. Those extra efforts have paid off.

We'll have much more on this over the coming days. For now, Union fans, congratulations: a deal with WIP is about the furthest proof you can get that this team is breaking into the mainstream.

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Was in the car for the original announcement.....

Gargano made the announcement and then that schmuck Macnow (sp?) poo-poo’d the whole thing. Aside from being a soccer basher, he is such an obtuse hack! I hope he gets hit by a SoB bus on the way back from a win in Harrison tonight!

by dangeroo on Oct 20, 2011 3:18 PM EDT reply actions

Poo-poo'ed it how??

I just don’t get it! Why this attitude towards Soccer? I just don’t listen to these… people enough to understand what their problem is with the Union and Soccer in general…

by Joseph Shenk on Oct 20, 2011 3:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Some people find it boring or uninteresting, that's all

The same way I find golf and tennis boring, or others find baseball boring. It’s all a matter of personal taste, really.

Editor at SB Nation's Philadelphia Union blog, The Brotherly Game. Follow me on Twitter.

by Justin F. on Oct 20, 2011 3:51 PM EDT up reply actions

I was one of them

until I went to the first game at the Linc. Why did I go? My daughter was interested. For a while now, I’ve used sports as a way to keep the proverbial lines of communication open with her. Tickets were cheap and it was a chance to spend a couple hours alone with her. And then the Sons of Ben created a raucous, fun environment and Le Toux scored an exciting hat trick, and I was hooked. Now I’m a season ticket holder and added Fox Soccer to my cable package.

I actually like Macnow when he talks about sports (rather than his often-lame self-promotion). I do wish he’d give it a chance live. Because, honestly, I was quite a bit like him before the start of last season. At least in my experience, soccer is a far better experience live.

by Zherog on Oct 20, 2011 4:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Absolutely fantastic news

I’m not even overly concerned at the quality of the coverage at the moment. The fact that the Union will get this exposure is ginormous beyond words.

Editor at SB Nation's Philadelphia Union blog, The Brotherly Game. Follow me on Twitter.

by Justin F. on Oct 20, 2011 3:45 PM EDT reply actions

Great news

More exposure is always good.

It’s also going to bring haters out of the woodwork, and I’d remind everyone that you are ambassadors from outside of the mainstream, and to focus on positives, don’t bash other sports or fans, and go easy on the soccer elitism.

Flyers, Phillies, Union, Eagles, Phantoms, Wings.

by Pelti on Oct 20, 2011 4:09 PM EDT reply actions

To be clear

Will the games only appear on 610? Or will they be simulcast on 94.1?

Or is the weekly show the only programming that will be 610-specific? I could see them limiting that show to 610, but I don’t see why they wouldn’t put the games on 94.1 as well.

Philadelphia Union beat writer at Soccer By Ives. Madridista de corazón. Be sure to follow me on Twitter @joeysamuel

by Joey Samuel on Oct 20, 2011 6:08 PM EDT reply actions

i guess it will depend if other things are on at the same time, like the phillies or flyers since they will most likely get the 94.1 stream. But if they are not on i dont see why it should get limited to 610 for a game broadcast.

by Rhayes on Oct 20, 2011 7:32 PM EDT up reply actions