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Post by Draco_MN on Mar 30, 2021 23:07:05 GMT -5
If there will be more players interested to play in the next season, I think these will work: 1. The first picks each draft will be a permanent player of the team. That way there is a sense of direction ans progression as each team is slowly built while respecting the player's freedom to choose. 2. They have a very good set of coaches, and I think they should be drafted as well. Draft the coaches in the first week, then draft the players the following weeks. That gives the players two full weeks to settle down. 3. Five sets instead of three. Starting lineup A for sets 1/3/5 and starting lineup B for sets 2/4. Bench players should be empowered too. I thought everyone wanted this league to be less complicated lol |
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Post by reformate on Mar 30, 2021 23:44:11 GMT -5
It's the scoring system that was complicated. If the sole purpose of the scoring system is to select the captains per week, then I think it's not worth all the trouble. They can select the captains by simply voting for the MVPs per week.
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Post by huskerrob on Mar 31, 2021 0:33:49 GMT -5
I found it attracted me less and less as each week played on. The initial hook was players I supported, but those quickly delved into broken allegiances, as I was forced to pick which I favored. I then had it narrowed down to 1 player to avoid the negativity. After that, I found the lack of cohesion among the team really demonstrated a weakness as there isn't time to fix, to adapt, to address the very things causing those lackings, like block formations, set timing, placement, lane coverages, & how to keep weeker passers from being in the serving crosshairs, among many others. If the player I supported was on a bad team, it was recognized right off the bat in the first match & then not worth following for the week. When I started seeing the same players having the same issues causing things to be a lower level of play than one would think of regarding athletes calling themselves pros, it was a hurdle I wasn't able to get over. It became obvious that it is a hitters league, much like watching football being played 5 on 5 or 7 on 7, not really football, just a system to throw the ball around, this was more a system to watch hitters hit.
Just my opinion based on 5 weeks of nearly watching it.
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Post by metrotheme on Mar 31, 2021 6:15:58 GMT -5
It would be fun if they took the league on a barnstorming tour next year. Maybe four to six different cities. I was part of today's Zoom meeting with the AU commissioner. I asked him this exact question. I asked if his plan was for the league to "play in Lincoln, then Chicago the next weekend, then Seattle, then Provo, etc. Or if his vision is to keep the league in one location for the entirely of the season?" He answered that his plan as of right now is one location. I like the traveling from week to week idea. I imagine they'd sell many more tickets, get more press coverage, and gain more fans if they visited four or five cities where volleyball is popular, especially if they were cities where some of the top AU players played collegiately. But I'm also able to see that logistically, one location makes more sense and would be much easier for the players. Ultimately, this is a league for the players. They want the players to enjoy the experience. Hard to argue with that. I don't think the league's financial model is based off of ticket sales. I think the cost of jumping from city to city would really raise expenses. I think the AVP covers all of the traveling with massive sponsorship in each city, as they don't charge admission except for their VIP seating / club experiences.
I think they're going to derive most of their revenue from streaming, ad sales, TV partnerships (although I don't know if there is much money to be made on Fox Sports 1,2, etc.), subscriptions, merch, etc.
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Post by metrotheme on Mar 31, 2021 6:24:16 GMT -5
I assume they’ve been playing somewhere other than just pickup games at the local Y. Sybeldon’s bio says she’s been working a high tech marketing job for a couple years. Very impressive showing. King played for Dresdner last season and Crocker played in Peru; I would like to see them both move up (and agree that it would be nice to see the others overseas too!)
For someone like Crocker, was this league enough of a showcase for better foreign teams to pick her up?
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Post by ajm on Mar 31, 2021 8:31:26 GMT -5
I was part of today's Zoom meeting with the AU commissioner. I asked him this exact question. I asked if his plan was for the league to "play in Lincoln, then Chicago the next weekend, then Seattle, then Provo, etc. Or if his vision is to keep the league in one location for the entirely of the season?" He answered that his plan as of right now is one location. I like the traveling from week to week idea. I imagine they'd sell many more tickets, get more press coverage, and gain more fans if they visited four or five cities where volleyball is popular, especially if they were cities where some of the top AU players played collegiately. But I'm also able to see that logistically, one location makes more sense and would be much easier for the players. Ultimately, this is a league for the players. They want the players to enjoy the experience. Hard to argue with that. I don't think the league's financial model is based off of ticket sales. I think the cost of jumping from city to city would really raise expenses. I think the AVP covers all of the traveling with massive sponsorship in each city, as they don't charge admission except for their VIP seating / club experiences.
I think they're going to derive most of their revenue from streaming, ad sales, TV partnerships (although I don't know if there is much money to be made on Fox Sports 1,2, etc.), subscriptions, merch, etc.
If you follow the beach board, it’s been reported that the AVP had its most profitable season in years in 2020 with their single location and no fans. So it does seem that the overhead of a touring league with ticket sales might not be sustainable. I do think the AU digital streams (non-cable) could do a lot better job at getting sponsorships, advertising, etc. It would be great to see AU partner with a major streaming platform like Amazon Prime, ESPN+, or Peacock. |
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Post by metrotheme on Mar 31, 2021 8:39:21 GMT -5
If you follow the beach board, it’s been reported that the AVP had its most profitable season in years in 2020 with their single location and no fans. So it does seem that the overhead of a touring league with ticket sales might not be sustainable. I do think the AU digital streams (non-cable) could do a lot better job at getting sponsorships, advertising, etc. It would be great to see AU partner with a major streaming platform like Amazon Prime, ESPN+, or Peacock.
It seems there is a delicate balance between the fan experience and just providing the overall content, in this case, the game. I still think it is a small percentage of fans, even with AVP who attend versus consuming it online, whether it is streaming the matches or watching highlights.
Was AU running ads for their main sponsors during their streams - Geico, etc?
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Post by beachindoor on Mar 31, 2021 21:04:12 GMT -5
So next season is confirmed. Does anyone have numbers on the finances and how well the league did? Or on views etc.
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Post by werka on Mar 31, 2021 22:29:00 GMT -5
Sheilla's recent interview with Globoesporte. She talks about her decision to join AU, her experience playing here, and her outlook for Tokyo. linkWhen she first arrived in Texas and had to quarantine her immediate thought was, "My God, what am I doing here?" She thought about leaving, but decided to stay and said she has no regrets. "It was a really cool experience, I really liked it. It was very crazy at first, but I really liked the system, how it is done. It's all new." Her plans on the Olympics before the pandemic and now moving forward: "It was not an easy decision to make mainly because of the Olympics, because I knew it would be a very short period. When I decided to return, in 2019, I focused on the Olympics. They were my priority. I really put that as a very focus. Then the pandemic came, plans changed. Did I discard the Olympics? No, I didn't. But I did not put it as the main focus. If the preparation I have done is not enough, it is not something that will eat at me, it will not kill me. I am very calm with this decision." "I arrived here very late, in the cold week, without training. So, I'm certainly not in my best shape, so much so that I hurt my calf in the first week. I think, yes, that Brazil has a chance to fight for a medal. So, I just want to go if I know I have a chance to be there to contribute on the court, not just outside. Outside I know I can contribute. I know that mentally I can help the selection a lot. I think that in maturity, I am far above the majority. Nor is it finding me, or anything, you can ask anyone who's going to say that. But if I don't know that I can help technically, physically, I don't want to go. And I know that Ze roberto would think like me." "People may think: Wow, but it's the Olympics, aren't you going to do anything to go? It's not that I'm not going to do anything to go. The Olympics are fantastic, so much so that I decided to play again. When I came to 2019 tring to go to the Olympics in 2020, training and traying to go, I had plans for my family to go, watch, understand? There were a thousand things that today are not going to happen anymore." Her thoughts about the drafting process: "It's super fun and I like to try to understand the mind of whoever is choosing, because who is doing that, at that moment. And many times people make mistakes (laughs)." Why she wants volleyball to grow in USA: "Although I am not one of the organizers, I also want to grow the league. It is a country that we know that likes sports, that values spiorts, that invests in sports. So, if you can make volleyball as big as, in a word, not as big as basketball and football, but if it's half of what they are, it's already great. But it is difficult to speak (if it will continue). Because here are two months, right? If I play in Brazil, for example, I would not be able to play here. The only place I could play to play here is China, which ends in January. I could come here soon after, as Jordan did. But, going to China, for sure, me, mother, with two girls is not my will now. So, that would have to be it, not playing again all year to come here." "I came here with the goal of making this league perpetuate and grow. If we managed to do that, it will be good. Very good for Americans and very good for the whole world. Because it's more of a place to play. And it is a beautiful market." Damn this interview made me appreciate Sheilla so much and how she wants the league to grow because it's something that will really help volleyball grow as well. |
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Post by alohavball on Mar 31, 2021 23:07:55 GMT -5
Sheilla's recent interview with Globoesporte. She talks about her decision to join AU, her experience playing here, and her outlook for Tokyo. linkDamn this interview made me appreciate Sheilla so much and how she wants the league to grow because it's something that will really help volleyball grow as well. She really does have the best interest in helping volleyball develop and expand here which I think is very thoughtful of her considering this isn't even her home country. She sees potential and wants to use her knowledge and experience to add to it. Another thing I appreciated was her comment regarding making the Tokyo Olympic roster. She knows what condition she is currently in and if she can't contribute on the court then she doesn't want to be part of it. If she wanted to Ze Roberto could easily save a spot for just for her, but she realizes that there are other players who deserve it and can help them more than she can. |
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Post by jkvolley13 on Mar 31, 2021 23:36:01 GMT -5
Damn this interview made me appreciate Sheilla so much and how she wants the league to grow because it's something that will really help volleyball grow as well. She really does have the best interest in helping volleyball develop and expand here which I think is very thoughtful of her considering this isn't even her home country. She sees potential and wants to use her knowledge and experience to add to it. Another thing I appreciated was her comment regarding making the Tokyo Olympic roster. She knows what condition she is currently in and if she can't contribute on the court then she doesn't want to be part of it. If she wanted to Ze Roberto could easily save a spot for just for her, but she realizes that there are other players who deserve it and can help them more than she can. Imagine if CT would've said this to Karch a few years ago, you can bring me, but bring me on the staff bench... lmao at least some players are noble... no shade |
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Post by werka on Apr 1, 2021 1:10:55 GMT -5
She really does have the best interest in helping volleyball develop and expand here which I think is very thoughtful of her considering this isn't even her home country. She sees potential and wants to use her knowledge and experience to add to it. Another thing I appreciated was her comment regarding making the Tokyo Olympic roster. She knows what condition she is currently in and if she can't contribute on the court then she doesn't want to be part of it. If she wanted to Ze Roberto could easily save a spot for just for her, but she realizes that there are other players who deserve it and can help them more than she can. Imagine if CT would've said this to Karch a few years ago, you can bring me, but bring me on the staff bench... lmao at least some players are noble... no shade It’s always the silver medalists who think they have so much to prove. If she said this, we could have had Fawcett or Gibby. |
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Post by metrotheme on Apr 1, 2021 6:38:58 GMT -5
Aury Cruz and Lindsay Stalzer spoke about their experiences playing in the league this season, and gave some insight on what life is like for a volleyball player abroad. They're two of the older players who this league gave a chance to finally play professionally in the US before they put a wrap on their careers. From this article, it doesn't seem like either of them have plans to stop any time soon. They both played pretty well, especially for athletes who are in the second half of their 30s.
“The competition is actually even higher than I expected,” Stalzer said. “I've been playing in the Philippines the last six years. It's a great league; I love it, but the height of the players on average is much, much lower than here. There are some big, strong players in this league. The competition is super hard, super high and these three match weekends are pretty intense. … You're kind of drained after each weekend and then you only have three days with your new team before you do it all over again.”
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Post by jkvolley13 on Apr 1, 2021 11:36:48 GMT -5
Imagine if CT would've said this to Karch a few years ago, you can bring me, but bring me on the staff bench... lmao at least some players are noble... no shade It’s always the silver medalists who think they have so much to prove. If she said this, we could have had Fawcett or Gibby. amen... 1, i dont how fawcett was never USA's top opp... karch really screwed her... and gibby wouldve done so much better than dietzen when foluke went down |
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Post by coachneeley on Apr 4, 2021 11:37:43 GMT -5
Jon (the CEO of the league) told us today the networks were super pleased with the league. They went above and beyond their contractual duties when it came to total broadcast time given to the league. Great news overall for the future of the league. Would you say that the league exceeded expectations in every way? I'm asking everyone not just you but would welcome your opinion. I don’t know what their expectations were, but he stressed that the tv networks were happy. And, it obviously was good enough that they were able to announce season 2 only 12 hours after season 1 ended. That leads me to believe the tv networks had already confirmed they were on board. Good news, in my opinion. |
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