MLS on NBC Pursuing Arlo White, Other National Broadcasting Changes

For me, half the appeal of Arlo is that he has a one-man booth all to himself, so he can let the game breathe when necessary. Just say no to the two-man booth.

Does anyone know how long we have Arlo for? I know we don’t have exclusive rights as he still does NFL games for the BBC and I think he announced a game or 2 for us on fox soccer or ESPN, can’t remember.

Thankfully we don’t have a salary cap for non-player personnel so we can sweeten the pot if needed. I dread anytime our matches aren’t on KONG/KOMO as inevitably it means I’ll have to listen to either John Harkes (who definitely confirmed after last night’s call of the MLS Cup that he’s in love with Landycakes) or Christopher Sullivan (will someone please tell that guy to stop pronouncing “Fucito” like it’s a Hispanic name!). When that happens I mute the TV and crank up the radio. Even though there’s a delay it’s worth hearing someone who knows our team and cares about the result.

it’s just not the same hearing FSC or ESPN carrying a Sounders game without his call — quite frankly, other US announcers stink in comparison. Arlo is truly a treasure and a great asset to the game. But this move would also be potentially great for Arlo. I just hope that if he is interested in the national broadcasts that there’s a way for him to do both, even though we would lose him for a few matches during the season. I would still take 80% of Arlo over anybody else at this point.

if it meant never having to hear JP Dellacamera or John Harkes ever again. Or most American announcers. My (least) favorite moment came when Zakuani broke his leg, and the comment was, “Of course, we have to wonder how being down a man will affect Colorado,” while Zak had clearly had his leg broken and was being carted off the field.

I do not like this news at all. Seattle should not be treated like a vassal state to NBC. Let them find their own announcers.

I agree the rest of MLS national announcing crew is terrible. I also agree having something of a ringer on the national scene can’t hurt Seattle. But…

HANDS OFF ARLO HE’S OURS.

Thats pretty much my comment on it.

I hope Arlo gets the job. The chance to be the premier national voice for a growing sports league? Its the opportunity to create a legacy for himself, look at how all the other great announcers for other sports are looked at. I hope some day to look back and say Arlo White was the voice that defined the game and helped carry it forth into the American psyche.

If Seattle wants to continue to grow its brand, having a voice synonomous with its soccer should be a primary force. IE Dave Niehaus. You want someone to hear Arlo’s voice and associate it with Sounders FC. There is no option here, you have to do whatever it takes to keep him as a primary announcer.

not unlike St. Louis was for years in baseball (Jack (not Joe) Buck, Harry Caray, Bob Costas, and some other regional guys all came out of St Louis in the 50s, 60s and 70s.

If Seattle could become this, our deep ties to MLS would be stronger, and of course we’d have friendly voices nationally, as opposed to the new york-los angeles centric horror show we get now. So it could work out…. assuming we could get another Arlo quality voice to maybe split duties with Arlo if he moves up to national.

There is plenty of precedent; Marv Albert for years was the voice of the New York Knicks locally as well as NBC basketball nationally. If we somehow could keep Arlo here while he provides national game of the week coverage too… then we could groom a whole roster of top flight Seattle-based soccer-literate announcers.

I’m still emotionally 100% against it happening, just looking for a strategic benefit. I think the Sounders brand depends in no small part on Arlo’s literate, fun, engaged thoughtful comments. We’d need to have at least that in replacement. If this just turns into a “NBC raids regional market for top talent” then MLS is robbing a 40,000 a game market to appeal to a 25,000 a game market (NYC). And can go eff themselves. Seattle’s had more than enough east coast raiders over the years, we should start some sort of fan effort to raise enough money to keep him.. :)

Most of the ESPN games of the week were midweek games. Would NBC be much different? He could do the game of the week midweek and then do the Sounders’ game on the weekend.