FA Cup Final should score huge aud

Here's the reason why soccer fans won't be heading to the cottage this long weekend: English Premier League rivals Arsenal and Manchester United vie for the FA Cup on Saturday, May 21 at 10 a.m. ET, 7 a.m. PT on Rogers Sportsnet. The two clubs are the only ones left from over 600 teams originally in the competition and the broadcast is expected to draw big numbers.
By Staff 
May 10, 2005

Here’s the reason soccer fans won’t be heading to the cottage this long weekend: English Premier League rivals Arsenal and Manchester United vie for the FA Cup on Saturday, May 21 at 10 a.m. ET, 7 a.m. PT on Rogers Sportsnet. The two clubs are the only ones left from over 600 teams originally in the competition.

The 2005 quarter finals drew 81,000 viewers, up 11% over last year and the 2005 semi-finals drew 58,000, an increase of 36% from last year. The 2004 finals drew 78,000 viewers and Andy Shapiera, a spokesperson from Rogers Sportsnet, projects that the number will be much larger this year, based on the popularity of the teams that are playing.