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re: soccer is getting bigger in america...
Posted on 6/24/14 at 1:18 pm to goldennugget
Posted on 6/24/14 at 1:18 pm to goldennugget
quote:
the businessmen who would need to make it happen
You mean like Falcons owner Arthur Blank? Or the Yankees ownership? Or New England's Robert Craft? Or David Beckham? ESPN? Fox?The investments are being made. You just haven't heard about it yet. You will in 4 years when MLS is mainstream.
Posted on 6/24/14 at 1:59 pm to DreadDub
quote:
I'm afraid that 2018 and 2022 World Cups being on the opposite side of the world may slow up some of the positive momentum here in the States...hope I'm wrong.
That's a solid point. Honestly, I've never seen excitement like this before. I guess individual cities/team see this for championship games but this is unprecendented in terms of a national level. In Birmingham, Iron City was packed to capacity (1300) two hours before the match on Sunday. I doubt you'd even see that if Alabama or Auburn played for a national title and I bet that was the case at a lot of establishments all over the country. Its easy for the casual fans to turn out when the match is in the afternoon. However, its another thing when it could be on in the middle of the night. So the US needs to capitalize this year.
I agree that once the WC is over, the soccer excitement will die down dramatically. That's why you want to see the US have continued improvement/success in the World Cup. Over time, the passion will carry over to non-WC events. I don't think there's any doubt that soccer is growing in the US.
This post was edited on 6/24/14 at 2:03 pm
Posted on 6/24/14 at 3:15 pm to Westlakeguy10
Soccer is the #2 support among 15-25 year olds. It will continue to grow. Especially as we get better and better on the international stage
Posted on 6/24/14 at 3:47 pm to a want
Happens every 4 years.
In 3 months the same people who follow soccer regularly will follow it.
And everyone else will go back to not caring till 2018.
In 3 months the same people who follow soccer regularly will follow it.
And everyone else will go back to not caring till 2018.
Posted on 6/24/14 at 3:56 pm to SportsGuyNOLA
Nah. It gains fans every four years. Of course, most people don't keep watching. That's fine. Some people do. Most people on this very board can point to a specific WC where soccer really captured their interest.
Posted on 6/24/14 at 4:06 pm to fightingtiger2335
did you and neck have fun pretending to be soccer fans?
Posted on 6/24/14 at 4:13 pm to SportsGuyNOLA
quote:
Happens every 4 years.
In 3 months the same people who follow soccer regularly will follow it.
And everyone else will go back to not caring till 2018.
From my point of view, you have to look a little deeper than that.
It's a cycle. Big events that feature the US like this World Cup inspire kids to play in their local rec leagues. And some of them stick with it (same as with baseball, basketball, etc.) Then if these kids stick with the sport long enough they become the viewers of professional and international games. And their kids in turn get exposed to the game and want to play.
At the young youth levels the game enjoys great popularity. And the number of high schools that offer soccer is growing. (and the growth seems to be among the public high schools). Heck, their are even thriving indoor leagues and some outdoor leagues for after they have finished high school. Kind of the soccer version of men's softball I guess.
The main gaps I see are from the oldest rec ages until high school. I don't think Jr. High Schools have many soccer programs. And of course the lack of either college programs or some sort of affordable club system from high school age on for those who might have the talent to go on.
So I see the sport growing but it's not like flipping a switch and after this world cup the sport will be ultra popular in the country overnight. It's a long process with peaks and dips but I think the trajectory is upwards.
Posted on 6/24/14 at 4:53 pm to SportsGuyNOLA
quote:
Happens every 4 years.
In 3 months the same people who follow soccer regularly will follow it.
And everyone else will go back to not caring till 2018.
This was me after WC 94, 98. Watched it b/c of nationalism and what not, but I was mostly a soccer hater. Tried watching the MLS, but I never got into it. After WC 2002, I started following some of the European leagues and the Champions League and was able to appreciate the high level of play that you'll find in the top level leagues. I'm sure most will go back to not caring after the WC, but there is no doubt that soccer will pick up some fans after this WC cycle.
Posted on 6/24/14 at 5:43 pm to Anfield Road
It is getting more popular as we get more immigrant communities.
The problems with American Soccer are two fold to me from an outsiders viewpoint. (played one year)
1) There is no where to go for a 18 year old Soccer player. If you are a great athlete it is better to be a 5 Star anything than a Soccer player. There are no scholarship opportunities here for boys. If you are a girl you are golden. My son is a great Youth goalie in Alabama, that an five dollars gets you a cup of Coffee at Starbucks. Anywhere else in the world and he would be a celebrated player with lots of opportunities. not here.
2) Youth Soccer is an expensive suburban sport in this country. It cost 2k plus per season even here in bama. Youth Coaches get paid, tournaments are expensive and their is a lot of money in Youth soccer in America. Anyone can play Youth baseball and football, it it cost a few hundred bucks and fees are waived every where and coaches rarely get paid, travel is not that bad except for Baseball Allstar teams, etc. What % of our great sports athletes are white kids from the suburbs?
3) To prove my point, on River Monsters last year Jeremy was going on a trip deep into the Amazon hundreds of miles past civilization with no power lights etc guided by local tribes man. These people were living in hunts off the land etc. National geographic shite.
He had to stop one day as the local village that was hosting him had a big soccer match with a neighboring village. They did have shite but they had a soccer field, and a ball and a team. I looked to my son as said "That is why we suck at soccer."
Like our Brit Coach says "Everywhere else in the world the best athletes are Soccer Players. (He Said Football of course) Here they are baseball, American football, and basketball, and everything but Soccer."
We can't even get fields built for the whole freaking city of Mobile, and have almost no poor kids in any league. And yes Title IX is part of it, even the colleges with Soccer teams usually only have a few scollys a year and that almost always goes to foreign strikers.
How many players on the US team are really from here or learned their skills here.
So to me it is really amazing that we are even competitive at the world level at all.
The problems with American Soccer are two fold to me from an outsiders viewpoint. (played one year)
1) There is no where to go for a 18 year old Soccer player. If you are a great athlete it is better to be a 5 Star anything than a Soccer player. There are no scholarship opportunities here for boys. If you are a girl you are golden. My son is a great Youth goalie in Alabama, that an five dollars gets you a cup of Coffee at Starbucks. Anywhere else in the world and he would be a celebrated player with lots of opportunities. not here.
2) Youth Soccer is an expensive suburban sport in this country. It cost 2k plus per season even here in bama. Youth Coaches get paid, tournaments are expensive and their is a lot of money in Youth soccer in America. Anyone can play Youth baseball and football, it it cost a few hundred bucks and fees are waived every where and coaches rarely get paid, travel is not that bad except for Baseball Allstar teams, etc. What % of our great sports athletes are white kids from the suburbs?
3) To prove my point, on River Monsters last year Jeremy was going on a trip deep into the Amazon hundreds of miles past civilization with no power lights etc guided by local tribes man. These people were living in hunts off the land etc. National geographic shite.
He had to stop one day as the local village that was hosting him had a big soccer match with a neighboring village. They did have shite but they had a soccer field, and a ball and a team. I looked to my son as said "That is why we suck at soccer."
Like our Brit Coach says "Everywhere else in the world the best athletes are Soccer Players. (He Said Football of course) Here they are baseball, American football, and basketball, and everything but Soccer."
We can't even get fields built for the whole freaking city of Mobile, and have almost no poor kids in any league. And yes Title IX is part of it, even the colleges with Soccer teams usually only have a few scollys a year and that almost always goes to foreign strikers.
How many players on the US team are really from here or learned their skills here.
So to me it is really amazing that we are even competitive at the world level at all.
Posted on 6/24/14 at 5:55 pm to SportsGuyNOLA
quote:
Happens every 4 years.
In 3 months the same people who follow soccer regularly will follow it.
And everyone else will go back to not caring till 2018.
I don't know about that.
I'm pretty good friends with a few bar owners in NY (I organize music events) and there's literally an arms race to open more soccer centric sports bars.
They cite the huge amount of growth from 20-30ish year olds who mainly began following the 2010 World Cup but then immediately jumped to following those familiar players and watching EPL, La Liga and Serie A (the 3 European leagues with the best TV exposure in the USA).
I would imagine that a lot of younger regulars board had a World Cup jump start their interest.
Posted on 6/24/14 at 6:00 pm to Westlakeguy10
Team USA soccer is growing. People like following the US in an international competition. Most won't give a rats arse about the MLS after the World Cup is over.
Posted on 6/24/14 at 6:09 pm to The Boat
I love international soccer... I have no real dog in the club level fight but I love cheering for the against the world... esp. since it's really 1 of the few major sports we're an underdog in
and since I'm off work tomorrow... I think I'm going to go to Finn McCool's... esp. to watch Les Bleus (since that's my "other" side in this)
and since I'm off work tomorrow... I think I'm going to go to Finn McCool's... esp. to watch Les Bleus (since that's my "other" side in this)
Posted on 6/24/14 at 6:15 pm to rt3
quote:
since I'm off work tomorrow... I think I'm going to go to Finn McCool's... esp. to watch Les Bleus (since that's my "other" side in this)
Good call. I'll be there Thursday bright and early.
Posted on 6/24/14 at 7:21 pm to glassman
The ratings for the Gold Cup last year were pretty good when Fox decided to air games on network tv instead of FSC which was for most people a premium channel.
Posted on 6/24/14 at 7:25 pm to wm72
i will keep saying it until someone actually believes me, but the FIFA video game is the biggest driver in soccer fans in the 16-25 age group.
Posted on 6/24/14 at 7:32 pm to petar
quote:
Its bigger than it was 4 years ago. viewership average per game is up. Univision already matched its ratings from 2010. ESPN is up 28%
Being in the same hemisphere as the games helps.
Posted on 6/24/14 at 7:48 pm to glassman
quote:
Good call. I'll be there Thursday bright and early.
wish I could go Thursday... but I'll be working
Posted on 6/24/14 at 8:01 pm to rockchlkjayhku11
quote:
i will keep saying it until someone actually believes me, but the FIFA video game is the biggest driver in soccer fans in the 16-25 age group.
Truf!
Posted on 6/24/14 at 8:56 pm to Duckie
Tell you guys this, it is a BIG damn deal here in Miami and has been for weeks leading up the the world cup.
Electronic billboards on the interstates broadcasting scores.
Cars and people everywhere all day displaying their countries colors everywhere.
Huge watch parties all over from noon till night every day.
Hell, a big group about caused a wreck at an intersection when I was trying to leave the office today. Some clowns in a car startedwaving hysterically at a group in brazil colors going down the street. Car had Brazil flags on it and ran the red light trying to yell, wave and honk at the group.
Also, my office building has a viewing area set up on the 30th floor for people to watch during the work day.
Electronic billboards on the interstates broadcasting scores.
Cars and people everywhere all day displaying their countries colors everywhere.
Huge watch parties all over from noon till night every day.
Hell, a big group about caused a wreck at an intersection when I was trying to leave the office today. Some clowns in a car startedwaving hysterically at a group in brazil colors going down the street. Car had Brazil flags on it and ran the red light trying to yell, wave and honk at the group.
Also, my office building has a viewing area set up on the 30th floor for people to watch during the work day.
Posted on 6/24/14 at 9:04 pm to Tiger n Miami AU83
considering I just called France my "other" team earlier...
let's say USA gets through as the runner-up to Germany in the group (either by draw w/ GER or other tiebreaker)... and get passed the round of 16 (more than likely over Belgium in this scenario)... that sets up a potential USA/France Quarterfinal
let's say USA gets through as the runner-up to Germany in the group (either by draw w/ GER or other tiebreaker)... and get passed the round of 16 (more than likely over Belgium in this scenario)... that sets up a potential USA/France Quarterfinal
This post was edited on 6/24/14 at 9:05 pm
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