We all know BigSoccer.com, don’t we? We’ve all got it Bookmarked in our browsers. We scroll and post, scroll and post, read rumors and get our fix of soccer news…daily. But where did it start? Where is it going? We interviewed the creator of it all, Jesse Hertzberg. Check it out…

SoccerLoop: Bigsoccer.com has become a huge source for soccer news and discussion over the years. How did it all start? Were you soccer fans that just wanted a forum to discuss soccer?

Jesse Hertzberg: It started because I'm a soccer fan.  I lived in Brazil until I was five, a 90 second walk from Flamengo's grounds in Rio.  When I came back to the States, my grandfather and I had season tickets to the Cosmos.  Giorgio Chinaglia was the first sports star I ever disdained, and Franz Beckenbauer was my first sports hero. Think about it - I moved home to the States from Brazil, where Pele is God, and got to watch his entire 1977 retirement season.  Too bad the NASL blew it. They had me at hello.

The predecessor of BigSoccer was created in August of 1995. It was a web site that I ran as a hobby to compile news and information about the soon-to-arrive US pro soccer league. Once the league finally arrived, my interest was primarily focused on the New York franchise.  I created message boards for the other NY fans out there, and eventually Boston fans joined in, then DC fans, then Columbus fans, and BigSoccer was birthed.  A little trivia for you: we were briefly called SoccerBoards.com. It was too boring a name. That was in 1997 if I recall.

SL: Was the website simply put together as a part time fun adventure or was it meant to be a money earner all along?

JH: Things changed at the same time as we focused on getting a national audience to replace our NY-centric one. We incorporated in 1998 as BigSoccer, Inc., with the intention of building a national online brand for US-based fans of soccer, be it MLS, US Nats, or European and other foreign leagues.  Once we incorporated and quit our jobs, our goal was, yes, to make some money. And enjoy ourselves immensely.

SL: What caused the site to explode into the phenomenon it has become?

JH: We became the default. The media ignored soccer. Fans couldn't talk about it with many folks at the local bar. And online we were the first to recognize that these fans needed an outlet, and the first to create an easy-to-use forum where they could congregate.  Newsgroups had been around for ages, and I was an active participant in them and some mailing lists. But the inherent Internet-savvy nature of those forums made them inaccessible to the broader public.  We brought a solution onto the web, and the rest was history.

SL: Was it difficult to deal with the growth of the site, due to its quickly increasing popularity?

JH: Unfortunately yes. Today, while continuing to experience massive audience growth, we have these issues under control. But in the past, we were unable to increase our spending on technology to keep up with the growth in demand. This became burdensome on "event days" - MLS draft, US Nats team announcements, etc.  It took a lot of hard work to rebuild trust with some users. Likewise, in the early years of the company we had to allocate our human resources, our time, between internal customer-related issues and external business-related issues, such as building new partnerships and, of course, raising necessary funds.  We were spread thin at times.

SL: Without mentioning any specific numbers (if you don't want to) how well does the site do financially for you?

JH: We are thrilled with where we are and how we've grown.  Over 250,000 different people use our site each and every month, from over 30 countries. The site has been a financial success since the 2000 Holiday shopping season.  Our investors are pleased.

SL: Has it become a full-time endeavor? Are you able to earn enough through ads?

JH: BigSoccer became a full-time project in early 2000, and we've learned a lot since then.  While our partnerships with Fox Sports is a major driver of ad revenue, you should also note that we have a successful retail operation, and drive additional revenues through licensing of our community technologies and content, as well as through licensing of our brand name.

SL: What do you see as the future direction of the site? Will there be any new changes or new categories for 2004?

JH: Our focus is on building the BigSoccer brand as the ubiquitous brand for US-based soccer fans to turn to, online and off.  All our efforts in 2004 are toward that end.  BigSoccer Radio is a good example of that growth.

SL: There are always rumors of MLS execs reading the site, but are there any front office personnel or players that read your site on a regular basis that you know of? If so, who?

JH: I've been sworn to secrecy! No, I'm just kidding. They nearly all do. Some, like Peter Wilt, actively communicate with their supporters on our site. Others just use as a market research vehicle.  Players come too.  But I'm always pleasantly surprised in nearly every meeting I have with MLS, US Soccer, and CONCACAF execs their ability to quote something very recent off of the BigSoccer Boards.

SL: What are your thoughts on the state of soccer in the U.S. at present?

JH: Despite all the criticism and missteps over the years, the sharp minds, deep pockets and patient investors we have running the commercial side of the sport in this country today will succeed in making MLS a viable institution financially, continue to grow the competitiveness of the US Nats and American soccer players internationally, and ensure that my kids have a regular dosage of soccer on TV to enjoy and heroes on the ground to idolize.  Rabid fans in this country have a lot to feel good about, so long as they let go of their dreams that the MLS Cup will be the Super Bowl some day.