ARENA SOCCER ASSOCIATION
2035 CLEVELAND AVE. N.W.
CANTON, OHIO, 44709
PHONE: 330-455-4625
FAX: 330-497-6904
George Veras Brings Award-Winning Broadcasting Expertise To ASA
CANTON, Ohio -- George Veras, the winner of 12 National Sports Emmy Awards for television excellence, is bringing his special brand of broadcasting and marketing expertise to the Arena Soccer Association.
ASA President Steve M. Paxos announced today that Veras is the new league’s Executive Vice President of Broadcasting, Television and Marketing “George was a huge part of the growth and sustained success indoor soccer achieved throughout the decade of the 1990s,” Paxos said. “We are proud to announce he has rejoined our experienced management team that will once again make the sport available to millions on TV and in exciting new ways on the worldwide web of the Internet.
“His decades of experience in sports and entertainment programming puts the ASA on a television par with any professional league in the world.”
Veras took indoor soccer into the national television spotlight on a regular basis by securing a three-year contract for the National Professional Soccer League on ESPN and ESPN2 in the mid-1990s. He also put together several multi-network broadcasts of that league’s All-Star games through 2000.
“Indoor soccer ratings in the 90’s exceeded those of hockey and there is no reason not to believe it won’t happen again," Veras said. "You can see the players, their emotion and their speed and the scoring system allows a team to be in the game until the very end. It is a terrific television product and great family night out. We might even look at instant replay for the fans at the arena, on line and for television."
Veras is President/CEO of Pro Football Hall of Fame Enterprises and President/Executive Producer of Veras Communications Inc. He founded VCI in 1994 after 19 years of network distinction at ABC and CBS. Veras also completed a sponsorship deal with Van Heusen for the first fan vote for the Pro Football Hall of Fame and a recent deal with Diamond Foods.
From 1981-94, Veras produced more than 500 events for CBS Sports, including “The NFL Today” and the 1992 Winter Olympics. He was senior producer for Universal Sports TV coverage of the 2010 Winter Olympics and won an Emmy for his work at the 2004 Summer Olympics for NBC Sports.
He produced the critically acclaimed ESPN 30/30 documentary "The Legend Of Jimmy The Greek", which was nominated as one of the five finalists for the 2010 Sports Emmys.
Veras returned to his northeast Ohio roots as the Cleveland Browns' Vice President of Production and Broadcasting from September 2004 until February 2007. He was responsible for producing and selling all television shows, including preseason football games, Internet TV and radio, stadium scoreboard presentations and produced the historical two hour special "60 Years of the Cleveland Browns".
For further information e-mail: chuck@arenasoccer.net
