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North of the 49th | Amway

A Lifetime of Moments

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Category: Amway, Canada, Montreal Impact, North America, Nutrilite, Nutrilite Canadian Championship, Toronto, Toronto FC, Vancouver Whitecaps FC, soccer

Yesterday we kicked off the third annual Nutrilite Canadian Championship. Perhaps you watched the game live on SportsNet (if you weren't flicking back and forth to watch the Habs send the Caps packing!) or maybe you followed along on-line either on the Nutrilite Canadian Soccer Facebook page or on Amway Canada's Twitter feed.
Either way, you were treated to a spectacle. The hometown fans went home happy as Toronto FC dispatched the visiting Montreal Impact 2-0 in a game that was closer on the scoresheet than it was on the field. Regardless, this tournament is growing by leaps and bounds — and we're delighted to be the title sponsor, as we have been since the tournament's inception.
I was there and tried to capture as much of the off-field action as possible. You can check out the photos and videos on the Facebook page. Seeing as my wireless was acting up on the ol' iTouch, the in-game Tweets were less frequent than I would have liked (really, I'm just one person, and juggling a DSLR, a hi-def video cam, a laptop, and the iTouch was challenging enough), I hope you still got a feel of what it takes to put on an event like this.
Before I continue, let me assure fans of Canadian soccer that your sport is in great hands. Kevin and Dominic from the Canadian Soccer Association went above and beyond the call of duty in helping me get access to what I needed. Everything you see is thanks to them, and seeing first-hand their commitment to the sport and their diligence in doing things the right way, I can assure you that if pro soccer fails in Canada, it's certainly not going to be from lack of talent, intelligence, or effort. They, along with the rest of their team, are incredible and are a credit to their organization.
Over 21,000 crazed fans packed BMO Field. The majority were adorned with the red and white of the home squad, although a hardy contingent made the trip up the 401 from la belle province. 
And I'm going to admit something here (which will probably have my grandfather turning in his grave), but I'm not a soccer fan. Sure, I watch the World Cup (I have a lot of Brazilian friends and I used to live in Montreal — I still remember how much fun it was back in '98 when the company for which I worked shut down its doors so we could head to a local purveyor of adult beverages to watch the final. It was electric), and I'll while away a few minutes on the weekend watching previews and highlights of Champions League and international competition — including my grandfather's beloved Everton.
But day-to-day? Soccer's just not my thing. Hockey, yes. Football, absolutely. Basketball? Sure. But soccer and I just don't have that relationship. However, a few more experiences like last night and I may be a convert.
Soccer is an amazing spectator sport. The fans are passionate, entertaining, and just darn funny. The orchestrated chants and cheers are a spectacle in themselves, and the way these fans throw themselves behind their teams is far and away greater than any other team sport.
For years we've heard that soccer is the number-one sport in North America. I qualify that by using the term participatory. Thousands upon thousands of kids play (including the amazing Cindy Droog from The Mothership!), because the sport is easy to learn, easy to play, and relatively inexpensive — especially compared with hockey. But once they've hung up the cleats, the sport just doesn't seem to retain its hold on these kids.
I firmly believe it's because of the lack of a viable professional organization that lends itself to developing idols. Growing up, I played both ice and road hockey. And when I was on the ice I was Guy Lafleur or Wayne Gretzky. In road hockey, as a goalie, I was Ken Dryden (and, for a brief unfortunate period, Steve Penney. Don't ask.) The point is that Canadian youth had someone to look up to and emulate. They played (and continue to play), then could come home, turn on the TV, and listen to Danny Gallivan (a personal hero of mine, to whom I owe any present-day involvement in radio that I have), Howie Meeker, or — more recently — Jim Hughson describe the actions of their heroes on the world's biggest stage.
Soccer? It doesn't have that same cachet. Yes, we know our Pélés and Ronaldinho's (especially around these AG parts!), but there's not that same attachment.
Hopefully that's changing. Toronto FC is an out-and-out success. The Impact draw solid interest in Montreal and are expecting to join the MLS in the future. The Vancouver Whitecaps FC have already announced that they will be making the jump to the top ranks of North American soccer and joining Toronto in MLS in 2011. And by pitting the country's three top professional clubs in a round-robin tournament only heightens their exposure.
We love when the best of the best compete head to head. The Canada Cup was long a Canadian favourite event (surpassed in popularity only by the World Junior Hockey Championships now, another tourney that features the best of the best in head-to-head competition); the Olympics draw both the die-hard and casual fans alike; and the World Cup (which just happened to be in Toronto yesterday — we've got the pics on Facebook, hint, hint) of soccer is another event that transcends normal sporting boundaries.
Yes, the Nutrilite Canadian Championship brings us added exposure as a brand. But, more importantly, it also serves to raise the profile of the sport as a whole in this country. And, in the end, that means more kids will see soccer as a viable, long-term sporting option. They'll get attached to their local club teams and that attachment will deepen with
each passing year.
I'm just proud to be able to see the sport's growth first-hand. Maybe it's time for me to head out and buy myself an Impact (or Everton) kit.
I ask you to join us on this ride. The Nutrilite Canadian Championship continues for five more weeks, with each game falling on Wednesday night. I encourage you to visit our Facebook page, become a fan (actually, 'like' it in Facebook parlance), and see for yourself what all the buzz is about. I know you won't be disappointed.
Feel free to share your thoughts on the sport or the Nutrilite Canadian Championship in the comments section below!
All the best,
Jay
 

Força — 2010 Edition!

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Category: Amway, Canada, Montreal Impact, Nutrilite Canadian Championship, Toronto FC, Vancouver Whitecaps FC, soccer

Sure, the ground may be covered with snow, but the spring's not that far off — and with it comes the third edition of the Nutrilite Canadian Championship!

There will be a press conference starting at 1 p.m. ET today, which will include our very own Managing Director Jim Hunking. Essentially, they'll be announcing the tournament schedule and the coaches of all three clubs: the Montreal Impact, Toronto FC, and the Vancouver Whitecaps FC, will be there.

Click here to be taken directly to the site to watch the streaming feed of the press conference. You can also go to the Canadian Soccer Association Web site and click on the banner ad (which features the Nutrilite Canadian Championship logo!) to view the press conference.

The Nutrilite Canadian Championship is a round-robin soccer tournament that pits the top three Canadian professional clubs against each other. The winner receives the Voyageurs Cup and earns the Canadian bid into the CONCACAF regional tournament, which can lead to a spot in the national FIFA Club World Cup.

And feel free to share your thoughts on the Nutrilite Canadian Championship in the comments. What does this tournament mean to you? Have you seen increased interest/awareness in your business resulting from it? Or, as a customer, did this sponsorship impact your opinion of the Nutrilite or Amway Global brands?

Remember to tune in at 1 p.m. ET today as we kick off another exciting tournament!

 

Forca! — Take Two

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Category: Amway, Canada, Canadian, Montreal, Montreal Impact, Nutrilite, Nutrilite Canadian Championship, Ronaldinho, Toronto, Toronto FC, Vancouver Whitecaps FC, soccer

I'm sure you've already got it booked in your social calendar, but I just wanted to remind you that tonight marks game two of the Nutrilite Canadian Championship!

Tonight's game will again take place in Toronto's BMO Field and will see the hometown club host the defending champion Montreal Impact, in a rematch of last year's tournament finale.

Now, I know you've been frantically scouring your TV listings to see when and where you can catch the game — unfortunately, there's no TV broadcast. But all hope is not lost! You can watch the game live on-line. 

Starting at 8 p.m., simply log onto either torontofc.ca or corrussports.com and you'll be able to catch all the action live in all its streaming glory! The feed will be the same one shown on the Toronto FC video scoreboard, so you'll also get to catch the Nutrilite advertising, featuring soccer superstar Ronaldinho!

Tonight's game should be stellar. Toronto FC's coming off a tournament-opening victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps FC, but the club is still licking its wounds (and salving its bruised ego) after last season's crushing loss to Montreal in the tourney's final match. From all the media reports, it's clear that redemption is on the club's collective mind. And Montreal comes in wanting to prove that last year's tournament victory wasn't a one-time deal. The Impact went on to enjoy great success in the CONCACAF regionals, and is looking to repeat that feat this year.

So it's the World's Greatest City (oh, is my bias showing?) facing off against the Centre of the Universe (self-proclaimed). Log on tonight and watch live. And don't forget to share your thoughts on the tournament or tonight's game right here!

All the best,

Jay

Two for the Show

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Category: Amway, Montreal Impact, Nutrilite, Nutrilite Canadian Championship, Skate Canada, Toronto FC, Vancouver Whitecaps FC, soccer

So what are you watching tonight? NHL or NBA playoffs? Lost? May I offer another option — one that's got the NUTRILITE brand all over it?

That's right, tonight marks the kickoff of the second annual NUTRILITE Canadian Championship! This tournament pits Canada's three top professional clubs against each other in a round-robin tournament designed to crown Canada's representative in the CONCACAF region, en route to the FIFA Club World Cup.

Oh, and they get the snazzy Voyageurs Cup as well.

Tonight features MLS' Toronto FC hosting the USL's Vancouver Whitecaps FC. These two teams will also play the tournament's defending champion USL's Montreal Impact in upcoming matches. The tournament culminates June 18th at Montreal's Saputo Stadium in a rematch of last year's tourney finale between Toronto and Montreal.

I'm not a huge soccer fan. I'd say soccer and I have a casual-to-friendly relationship. Like if we saw each other on the street we'd nod and say, 'How are you doing? Not bad… Cool. Talk to you later." But we're not best buds or anything. 

That said, I was at last year's finale and it was no less than awesome. As a Montrealer, it was great to wander into the self-proclaimed Centre of the Universe and watch these Toronto fans, who assumed they'd walk away with the trophy since they play in a superior league, lose to this scrappy Montreal club. I'll give Toronto its props, though. This is a city that's long been beat up for its passive nature at sporting events — and Leafs and Jays fans warrant that label (are there any Argo fans?). But the atmosphere at BMO Field was unbelievable. Fans were into it, they were chanting, and the spectacle was unbelievable.

I think this year's going to be even better. Last year was the first time something like this was tried. It was new and no one knew what the calibre of play was going to be. This year's different. We've set the bar and now we're going to leap over it.

As you may know, we've inked a three-year deal with the CSA to serve as title sponsor of the NUTRILITE Canadian Championship. The NUTRILITE brand is going to be everywhere — on the side boards, on the jumbotron, on the TV ads, during the half-time entertainment… even on the kids that walk out with the athletes (well, on their jerseys at least — it's not like we branded them or anything. That's for Year 2 of this contract.)

If you get Rogers SportsNet, you can catch tonight's game starting at 8 p.m. Eastern (5 Pacific). And if you're in Toronto (first off, accept my apologies), why not head on down to the field and check out the game?

I've got a few requests for you! First, if you're at the game tonight, feel free to send me your thoughts on the event. Maybe, if I'm feeling generous, I'll relinquish control of this blog long enough to allow a guest post!

Second, I'd love to hear your thoughts on these sponsorships (we'll throw ARTISTRY/Skate Canada in the mix here too).  As an IBO, what do they do for you? Do they make it easier for you to get your foot/cleat/skate in the door? Do they make you feel more proud of your association with Amway & NUTRILITE? Are they worth the investment?

As a customer or visitor, do brand sponsorships impact the way you look at a business or product? How much of an impact do they make on you? If you see a sponsorship does this make you feel more comfortable about buying a product, or trust in the brand/company?

Share your thoughts and don't forget to follow our Twitter feed (@AmwayCanada) for updates all throughout the tourney! The ball gets rolling tonight!