What you should know
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- The New York Cosmos’ attempt to popularize soccer in the U.S. by signing Pele in 1975 initially showed promise but ultimately did not sustain widespread interest outside of New York.
- Major League Soccer (MLS) was established in 1996, and in recent years, international stars like David Beckham and Lionel Messi have been brought in to boost the league’s popularity in the U.S.
- Apple, holding exclusive streaming rights for MLS, offers a subscription service called MLS Season Pass, with special pricing for Apple TV+ subscribers.
- Apple is targeting former MLS Season Pass subscribers with a one-month free trial offer, aiming to rekindle interest, but the strategy raises questions about whether new potential subscribers should also receive such offers.
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Full Story
Oh, it’s a story that’s been told time and time again. Picture this: a massive soccer star gets a boatload of money to play in the U.S., aiming to make soccer the next big thing here. It’s like déjà vu, right? Back in ’75, Pele landed in New York, and boy, did he cause a stir. Suddenly, the New York Cosmos were the hottest ticket in town, pulling in crowds of over 77,000 at Giants Stadium. It seemed like soccer was on the brink of breaking through in the States.
But, here’s the kicker – outside of New York, it was a different story. Take it from me; I’ve seen the Fort Lauderdale Strikers play in front of just 13,000 folks. Despite the Cosmos snagging a title, the league eventually fizzled out. Fast forward to 1996, and the MLS kicks off, hoping to reignite that soccer spark.
Enter David Beckham in 2018, buying the Inter Miami team. And just last year, he brought Lionel Messi into the mix. Suddenly, there’s a buzz around soccer in the U.S. again. And guess who’s thrilled? Tim Cook, of all people.
Now, onto something a bit different. Apple’s got this deal going on. They’re offering a free month of MLS Season Pass to some past subscribers. It’s all part of their plan, given they’ve got exclusive streaming rights for MLS. For $14.99 a month or $99 for the season, you can catch all the action. And if you’re an Apple TV+ subscriber, you get a bit of a discount.
But here’s a thought – maybe Apple’s barking up the wrong tree with this offer. Why not give newbies a taste of the MLS Season Pass for free? It could hook them for the long haul. If you’ve had the Season Pass before and let it lapse, check your emails (even the spam folder, just in case) or Apple TV+ notifications. You might just find a golden ticket to a free month of soccer.
But, and it’s a big but, don’t forget to cancel if you’re not keen on continuing. Otherwise, your wallet’s going to feel it with a recurring charge. And nobody likes those surprises. Oh, and you’ve got until April 6th to grab this offer. So, maybe don’t dilly-dally too long, yeah?
