Why soccer will never be big in the USA....... (3 Viewers)

[Norman Paperman]

Safe bet that the NFL will be #1 for the rest of our lifetimes. It's never been bigger and continues to grow. Let's see one year of diminishing revenue before we start writing eulogies.

And soccer will never approach football or baseball in our lifetimes. At best it may equal hockey in a few decades (but I even doubt that).

The NFL is going to decline - it will go the way of Boxing imo. A slow painful death.

Soccer, Lacrosse, and Basketball will be the Big-3 sports inside of 50 years.

 

[McGarnicle]

And soccer will never approach football or baseball in our lifetimes. At best it may equal hockey in a few decades (but I even doubt that).

It will take many decades for MLS to catch the NHL and even that is likely very optimistic.

However soccer (EPL, MLS, World Cup, Euro Championship, Copa America, Liga MX, Champions League etc) is probably already equal to hockey as a whole in the US.

The most common mistake people continue to make is trying to equate MLS to the entire sport in this country. That is a huge mistake.

I'm interested to see the US TV ratings for the World Cup. I would expect that to be a pretty good barometer.

 

[NewlyRetired]

And soccer will never approach football or baseball in our lifetimes. At best it may equal hockey in a few decades (but I even doubt that).

It will take many decades for MLS to catch the NHL and even that is likely very optimistic.

However soccer (EPL, MLS, World Cup, Euro Championship, Copa America, Liga MX, Champions League etc) is probably already equal to hockey as a whole in the US.

The most common mistake people continue to make is trying to equate MLS to the entire sport in this country. That is a huge mistake.

I'm interested to see the US TV ratings for the World Cup. I would expect that to be a pretty good barometer.

They were great in 2010, they will be even better this time around (on the average) in 2014 due to better time slots in Brazil vs South Africa and due to the obvious growth of the sport in the previous 4 years.

The 2010 final drew 24.3 million viewers and this final should surpass that unless we end up with a very strange match up.

 

[Cliff Clavin]

NHL is 2.5 hours.

Let me preface this. I really like hockey. When I lived in the US I would go to games several times during the season.But, my experience with watching it on tv is not good. I find it borderline unwatchable. I simply cannot follow the puck with certainty. Maybe I should get a wall screen or something once they start showing it in 4K mode.

Maybe write a letter to the cable companies and ask them to bring the glowing puck back?

In seriousness, I can see how a first time watcher might have a difficult time following the puck but for someone who "really likes hockey" I find this baffling.

 

[msommer]

NHL is 2.5 hours.

Let me preface this. I really like hockey. When I lived in the US I would go to games several times during the season.But, my experience with watching it on tv is not good. I find it borderline unwatchable. I simply cannot follow the puck with certainty. Maybe I should get a wall screen or something once they start showing it in 4K mode.

Maybe write a letter to the cable companies and ask them to bring the glowing puck back?

In seriousness, I can see how a first time watcher might have a difficult time following the puck but for someone who "really likes hockey" I find this baffling.

It's not as if I've had many opportunities to watch the past 20 years any way.

But if I had the chance I'd go to a NHL game tomorrow (also if it wasn't the Stanley Cup finals)

 

[Dentist]

Safe bet that the NFL will be #1 for the rest of our lifetimes. It's never been bigger and continues to grow. Let's see one year of diminishing revenue before we start writing eulogies.

And soccer will never approach football or baseball in our lifetimes. At best it may equal hockey in a few decades (but I even doubt that).

NFL has nearly peaked.

They have already done a number of things to compromise the sport that many of us enjoyed 10-20 years ago.

When the big hits are completely taken away by the ensuing lawsuits and what not we'll be left with canadian football or outdoor arena football... and at some point people are going to gravitate their interests elsewhere.

Almost nothing stays on top forever... I doubt it's the dominant sport in 30 years... but by then maybe nothing will be truly dominant as niches will continue to fracture audiences to the point where nothing is king.

 

[Franknbeans]

I have the solution...

lose the goalies

 

[roadkill1292]

Safe bet that the NFL will be #1 for the rest of our lifetimes. It's never been bigger and continues to grow. Let's see one year of diminishing revenue before we start writing eulogies.

And soccer will never approach football or baseball in our lifetimes. At best it may equal hockey in a few decades (but I even doubt that).

NFL has nearly peaked.

They have already done a number of things to compromise the sport that many of us enjoyed 10-20 years ago.

When the big hits are completely taken away by the ensuing lawsuits and what not we'll be left with canadian football or outdoor arena football... and at some point people are going to gravitate their interests elsewhere.

Almost nothing stays on top forever... I doubt it's the dominant sport in 30 years... but by then maybe nothing will be truly dominant as niches will continue to fracture audiences to the point where nothing is king.

The longest run of sports dominance somewhere probably belongs to soccer. Football and baseball were tied in popularity in the U.S. as recently as something like 1985 but nothing has challenged the supremacy of soccer in Europe and South American in over a century. And popularity has recently taken a sharp upward turn, too, as Indian and Chinese viewers have signed on in a big way.

There's plenty of room for both sports for most fans, as noted by Simon Kuper, co-author of Soccernomics, but he went on to say that there will probably be more New York Giants fans becoming Arsenal fans too than there will be Arsenal fans also becoming NY Giants fans.

 

[CBusAlex]

If anything is going to halt the growth in American soccer, I think it will be time zones. The best leagues and players are six or seven hours away from us. Waking up at 7 AM to watch the game in your pajamas or streaming it in your office at 2 PM on a Tuesday are just objectively inferior ways to watch sports.

If MLS grows to the point that they can compete with teams in England and Spain on a talent level, that won't be a problem. But there may be a chicken/egg issue here, where MLS won't be able to afford that unless the sport becomes more popular, but the sport will hit a point where it won't get more popular unless people can watch it on a reasonable schedule.

 

[Norman Paperman]

If anything is going to halt the growth in American soccer, I think it will be time zones. The best leagues and players are six or seven hours away from us. Waking up at 7 AM to watch the game in your pajamas or streaming it in your office at 2 PM on a Tuesday are just objectively inferior ways to watch sports.

If MLS grows to the point that they can compete with teams in England and Spain on a talent level, that won't be a problem. But there may be a chicken/egg issue here, where MLS won't be able to afford that unless the sport becomes more popular, but the sport will hit a point where it won't get more popular unless people can watch it on a reasonable schedule.

MLS could do it, but it has to be timed perfectly.

Right now it is viewed as a retirement community for some aging players to come cash a last check. MLS need to capitalize on a publicity bounce surrounding a WC - maybe in 2018, or 2022 - if the US could land the WC - and attract players in their prime. Then it becomes a self-feeding entity - good players = more advertisers = more money = more players = more advertisers = more money, etc.

But its a delicate move - if you time it too soon, you overspend on a couple of players and you don't get the revenue bounce, and then the league ends up taking a few steps back.

I think one of the other elements that is missing in the US - is the distinction between college sports and pro sports - and their fans. College fans are passionate about their school, in the same way Europeans are passionate about their teams - it is part of the fabric of their society. Most fans of Pro sports in the US - don't have that same passion, or sense of identity tied up with their favorite team.

You also have teams in closer proximity to each other - building up tremendous rivalries, and the ability to travel with your team across the league. You see some of that attitude with college fans, but not nearly as much as with professional fans. The north-east rivalries Philly-NY-Boston are close, but its not really present across leagues - the Packers don't have to allocate whole sections of the stadium for Patriot fans who are traveling to the game.

 

[roadkill1292]

Newly Retired, a poster here who commands respect in a way that LSucks could only dream about, is gonna hate me for saying this but I think Sheik Mansour and his billions have arrived on our fair shores to blow up MLS. Without a strong national federation as is found in other countries, we are the wild west of soccer, allowing him influence not available elsewhere, and I don't think our franchise system with its salary caps and drafts will have much appeal to him.

I have more crackpot theories about this but crackpot theories is mostly what I'm all about.

 

[NewlyRetired]

I think Sheik Mansour and his billions have arrived on our fair shores to blow up MLS. Without a strong national federation as is found in other countries, we are the wild west of soccer, allowing him influence not available elsewhere, and I don't think our franchise system with its salary caps and drafts will have much appeal to him.

You are not the first to say this. I can't really make any predictions but we won't have to wait too long to see what affect he might have. The new CBA will be negotiated this winter. We will be able to figure out which way it is leaning from the salary cap/budget and other numbers that will come out.

There is most certainly a new guard vs old guard battle that may happen at the ownership level in MLS. The Sheik, Arthur Blank, Becks and his money men could all start to tilt the balance towards the the more aggressive teams like Seattle, LA, Toronto etc.

But if Blank turns out to be just Kraft #2, the old guard may still have enough pull to keep the wallets closed.

Note that everything changes if FIFA fixes the WC mess in Qatar and gives it to US.

 

[massraider]

We have more options, that's what I think the major reason is why soccer will never approach its worldwide popularity here.

I agree that Americans might not watch US soccer as much, because we aren't the best at it, but I don't think America is alone in that. Other countries have access to other sports, but watch soccer. Why? it's what they grew up with, what they are passionate about, and the one sport they can compete on a worldwide level.

Not too dissimilar from America, except we dominate multiple sports.

It's a weird thing to me, the continued discussion of soccer, and why hasn't it approached global popularity?? The annoying part is that sentiment, underlying everything, that Americans are somehow lagging, missing out, don't get it, are too boorish, or not sophisticated enough to get the subtle beauty of blah blah blah blah........ The US fan isn't lacking because soccer isn't as popular here, we are just a different country. Do Canadiens wring their hands over why soccer hasn't approached hockey? I doubt it.

Hey, give a bunch of Brazilian kids a hundred years ago some basketballs, turn the best soccer player of all time into a shooting guard, and history would be different.

For a LOT of countries, the only homemade superstars they can see on a regular basis are in soccer. So soccer is the sport they care about.

The US is different. We have LOTS of homegrown stars, playing several sports at the highest level in the world. Between baseball, hockey, football, NASCAR, it's pretty tough for a sport to horn its way into the forefront. Frankly, I think soccer is doing pretty well, all things considered.

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

Newly Retired, a poster here who commands respect in a way that LSucks could only dream about, is gonna hate me for saying this but I think Sheik Mansour and his billions have arrived on our fair shores to blow up MLS. Without a strong national federation as is found in other countries, we are the wild west of soccer, allowing him influence not available elsewhere, and I don't think our franchise system with its salary caps and drafts will have much appeal to him.

I have more crackpot theories about this but crackpot theories is mostly what I'm all about.

I don't think that's the plan at all. They want to do some brand extension in emerging soccer markets (which is why they have Melbourne as well). I imagine they probably want to be able to eventually develop players while still being able to market and make some money on them. I don't think they want to operate super teams in every league.

 

[IC FBGCav]

Not trying to troll.

They're just hoping in to your boat.

Not because of me, this thing took on a life of it's own.

 

[Steve Tasker]

I think one of the other elements that is missing in the US - is the distinction between college sports and pro sports - and their fans. College fans are passionate about their school, in the same way Europeans are passionate about their teams - it is part of the fabric of their society. Most fans of Pro sports in the US - don't have that same passion, or sense of identity tied up with their favorite team.

I'll kinda piggyback on this but with a little bit of a different take. In my mind, the problem is a real lack of tradition. If you're a fan of almost any team in an American major professional sports league, odds are that team has a long tradition. It may not be a winning tradition or even a good tradition, but there is a tradition following the team. People grew up with the team. Their fathers and uncles and grandfathers and friends supported that team. I am a born and bred Bills and Sabres fan. My dad, my friends, their parents, etc.....we're all Bills fans. It's a long-standing culture.

That's the problem with trying to just create a sports league out of nothing like MLS did in the mid-90s and the NASL before it. You can't make people care with flashy players, big money deals, etc. like NASL tried to do. It needs to start from the ground up.

One of the things that seems to get glossed over a bit - though it has been mentioned in here - is the apparent demographic of soccer fans. When I was a kid, the semi-pro indoor games were more geared towards children than adults. But around here, and seemingly everywhere soccer thrives in the US, it's led by a younger demographic. People in their late 20s, early 30s. People who are about to start having children and passing down their traditions. When I have kids someday, I look forward to watching Arsenal and USMNT and Toronto FC games with them, just like my dad loves watching Bills games with me. The culture will grow....but it takes a long time.

 

[Insein]

I'd like to point out that the OP started this thread on the premise that soccer wont be popular because of bananas. Just wanted to bring this back on topic here.

 

[McGarnicle]

I'd like to point out that the OP started this thread on the premise that soccer wont be popular because of bananas. Just wanted to bring this back on topic here.

In a nation where the Tomahawk Chop is widespread and accepted, the banana thing would actually fit right in nicely. We should make farting noises when a Latino player comes up to bat too, just to keep the racism equal.

 

[comfortably numb]

We have more options, that's what I think the major reason is why soccer will never approach its worldwide popularity here.

I agree that Americans might not watch US soccer as much, because we aren't the best at it, but I don't think America is alone in that. Other countries have access to other sports, but watch soccer. Why? it's what they grew up with, what they are passionate about, and the one sport they can compete on a worldwide level.

Not too dissimilar from America, except we dominate multiple sports.

It's a weird thing to me, the continued discussion of soccer, and why hasn't it approached global popularity?? The annoying part is that sentiment, underlying everything, that Americans are somehow lagging, missing out, don't get it, are too boorish, or not sophisticated enough to get the subtle beauty of blah blah blah blah........ The US fan isn't lacking because soccer isn't as popular here, we are just a different country. Do Canadiens wring their hands over why soccer hasn't approached hockey? I doubt it.

Hey, give a bunch of Brazilian kids a hundred years ago some basketballs, turn the best soccer player of all time into a shooting guard, and history would be different.

For a LOT of countries, the only homemade superstars they can see on a regular basis are in soccer. So soccer is the sport they care about.

The US is different. We have LOTS of homegrown stars, playing several sports at the highest level in the world. Between baseball, hockey, football, NASCAR, it's pretty tough for a sport to horn its way into the forefront. Frankly, I think soccer is doing pretty well, all things considered.

Yea, that is a big one.

Some countries only have soccer as their primary sport. This allows the whole country to gravitate to 1 sport. The country is either a die hard or causal fan.

20 years ago playing in a basketball league in France was like playing in a lacrosse league here.

 

[Ned]

We have more options, that's what I think the major reason is why soccer will never approach its worldwide popularity here.

I agree that Americans might not watch US soccer as much, because we aren't the best at it, but I don't think America is alone in that. Other countries have access to other sports, but watch soccer. Why? it's what they grew up with, what they are passionate about, and the one sport they can compete on a worldwide level.

Not too dissimilar from America, except we dominate multiple sports.

It's a weird thing to me, the continued discussion of soccer, and why hasn't it approached global popularity?? The annoying part is that sentiment, underlying everything, that Americans are somehow lagging, missing out, don't get it, are too boorish, or not sophisticated enough to get the subtle beauty of blah blah blah blah........ The US fan isn't lacking because soccer isn't as popular here, we are just a different country. Do Canadiens wring their hands over why soccer hasn't approached hockey? I doubt it.

Hey, give a bunch of Brazilian kids a hundred years ago some basketballs, turn the best soccer player of all time into a shooting guard, and history would be different.

For a LOT of countries, the only homemade superstars they can see on a regular basis are in soccer. So soccer is the sport they care about.

The US is different. We have LOTS of homegrown stars, playing several sports at the highest level in the world. Between baseball, hockey, football, NASCAR, it's pretty tough for a sport to horn its way into the forefront. Frankly, I think soccer is doing pretty well, all things considered.

Yea, that is a big one.

Some countries only have soccer as their primary sport. This allows the whole country to gravitate to 1 sport. The country is either a die hard or causal fan.

20 years ago playing in a basketball league in France was like playing in a lacrosse league here.

I'll vote to kill MLB to make room for soccer.

 

[Dickies]

NHL is 2.5 hours.

Let me preface this. I really like hockey. When I lived in the US I would go to games several times during the season.But, my experience with watching it on tv is not good. I find it borderline unwatchable. I simply cannot follow the puck with certainty. Maybe I should get a wall screen or something once they start showing it in 4K mode.

I hear this all the time, but fail to understand it. The puck is not hard to follow on TV

 

[Ned]

NHL is 2.5 hours.

Let me preface this. I really like hockey. When I lived in the US I would go to games several times during the season.But, my experience with watching it on tv is not good. I find it borderline unwatchable. I simply cannot follow the puck with certainty. Maybe I should get a wall screen or something once they start showing it in 4K mode.

I hear this all the time, but fail to understand it. The puck is not hard to follow on TV

Maybe they're watching in SD on an old 19" tube?

/hdsnob

 

[comfortably numb]

NHL is 2.5 hours.

Let me preface this. I really like hockey. When I lived in the US I would go to games several times during the season.But, my experience with watching it on tv is not good. I find it borderline unwatchable. I simply cannot follow the puck with certainty. Maybe I should get a wall screen or something once they start showing it in 4K mode.

I hear this all the time, but fail to understand it. The puck is not hard to follow on TV

Maybe they're watching in SD on an old 19" tube?

/hdsnob

they both look the same to me

 

[Spartans Rule]

I'd like to point out that the OP started this thread on the premise that soccer wont be popular because of bananas. Just wanted to bring this back on topic here.

I'm not sure which is greater - the number of soccer fans in the U.S., or the number of flaws in the banana argument.

 

[SmoovySmoov]

If the USA really wanted to it could win a World Cup in the next 12 years. That said it would need to be a country wide effort and someone would have to put hundreds of millions into it. You can tell me how great the rest of the word is till your blue in the face. But if Calvin Johnson, Julio Jones, AJ green, Lebron James, Etc Etc of all the truly great US athletes and athletes to come took ten years and dove head first into winning a World Cup I'm sure we could do it.

 

[msommer]

We have more options, that's what I think the major reason is why soccer will never approach its worldwide popularity here.

I agree that Americans might not watch US soccer as much, because we aren't the best at it, but I don't think America is alone in that. Other countries have access to other sports, but watch soccer. Why? it's what they grew up with, what they are passionate about, and the one sport they can compete on a worldwide level.

Not too dissimilar from America, except we dominate multiple sports.

It's a weird thing to me, the continued discussion of soccer, and why hasn't it approached global popularity?? The annoying part is that sentiment, underlying everything, that Americans are somehow lagging, missing out, don't get it, are too boorish, or not sophisticated enough to get the subtle beauty of blah blah blah blah........ The US fan isn't lacking because soccer isn't as popular here, we are just a different country. Do Canadiens wring their hands over why soccer hasn't approached hockey? I doubt it.

Hey, give a bunch of Brazilian kids a hundred years ago some basketballs, turn the best soccer player of all time into a shooting guard, and history would be different.

For a LOT of countries, the only homemade superstars they can see on a regular basis are in soccer. So soccer is the sport they care about.

The US is different. We have LOTS of homegrown stars, playing several sports at the highest level in the world. Between baseball, hockey, football, NASCAR, it's pretty tough for a sport to horn its way into the forefront. Frankly, I think soccer is doing pretty well, all things considered.

Actually few people outside of the US care that US does not care too much for what you call soccer and what the rest of the world calls football.

NASCAR? Really? Heard of Formula 1? That's a motorsport that the rest of is interested in but NASCAR really doesn't translate outside of the US.

Re the basketball to kids in Brazil comment: You can't play basketball on the beach.

 

[massraider]

We have more options, that's what I think the major reason is why soccer will never approach its worldwide popularity here.

I agree that Americans might not watch US soccer as much, because we aren't the best at it, but I don't think America is alone in that. Other countries have access to other sports, but watch soccer. Why? it's what they grew up with, what they are passionate about, and the one sport they can compete on a worldwide level.

Not too dissimilar from America, except we dominate multiple sports.

It's a weird thing to me, the continued discussion of soccer, and why hasn't it approached global popularity?? The annoying part is that sentiment, underlying everything, that Americans are somehow lagging, missing out, don't get it, are too boorish, or not sophisticated enough to get the subtle beauty of blah blah blah blah........ The US fan isn't lacking because soccer isn't as popular here, we are just a different country. Do Canadiens wring their hands over why soccer hasn't approached hockey? I doubt it.

Hey, give a bunch of Brazilian kids a hundred years ago some basketballs, turn the best soccer player of all time into a shooting guard, and history would be different.

For a LOT of countries, the only homemade superstars they can see on a regular basis are in soccer. So soccer is the sport they care about.

The US is different. We have LOTS of homegrown stars, playing several sports at the highest level in the world. Between baseball, hockey, football, NASCAR, it's pretty tough for a sport to horn its way into the forefront. Frankly, I think soccer is doing pretty well, all things considered.

Actually few people outside of the US care that US does not care too much for what you call soccer and what the rest of the world calls football.NASCAR? Really? Heard of Formula 1? That's a motorsport that the rest of is interested in but NASCAR really doesn't translate outside of the US.

Re the basketball to kids in Brazil comment: You can't play basketball on the beach.

Yeah, pretty sure I didn't say anywhere that the rest of the world is super interested in our lack of interest. It's strictly an American phenomenon, usually by uptight soccer fans, the kind who get bent out of shape when you call it soccer.

 

[EYLive]

Ratings look pretty dismal for soccer.

.

EPL ratings are very strong

Liga MX Ratings are fantastic

US National team ratings are solid

WC Ratings are going to be extremely high this summer

Champions League ratings on Fox have been doing very well

don't equate MLS with the entire soccer tv scene here in the US. They are just one portion of the puzzle.

This may be one of the problems. There are so many leagues, teams and players. Who do you follow? If you wanted to watch a particular team on a lower league, will it be televised?

 

[Steve Tasker]

It's strictly an American phenomenon, usually by uptight soccer fans, the kind who get bent out of shape when you call it soccer.

I'm not sure I know any Americans who get bent out of shape when the sport is called "soccer".

 

[The Gator]

It's strictly an American phenomenon, usually by uptight soccer fans, the kind who get bent out of shape when you call it soccer.

I'm not sure I know any Americans who get bent out of shape when the sport is called "soccer".

I call it football when I'm on the pitch wearing me kit, mate

 

[NewlyRetired]

Ratings look pretty dismal for soccer.

.

EPL ratings are very strong

Liga MX Ratings are fantastic

US National team ratings are solid

WC Ratings are going to be extremely high this summer

Champions League ratings on Fox have been doing very well

don't equate MLS with the entire soccer tv scene here in the US. They are just one portion of the puzzle.

This may be one of the problems. There are so many leagues, teams and players. Who do you follow? If you wanted to watch a particular team on a lower league, will it be televised?

We have more soccer on tv here in the US than pretty much any country in the world. But there are a ton of leagues and obviously they are not all televised.

If you tell me what league you are talking about I could tell if it is televised.

 

[PIK95]

I was a Patriots season ticket holder who doesn't even watch on TV now because of TV timeouts and games taking forever. I'm about to quit coaching youth baseball (I run soccer program) for the same reason. Three hour games are not realistic for my lifestyle.

 

[fantasycurse42]

The answer to this question is very simple:

We currently have 4 existing team sports that are much more entertaining. There is always at least one running at any given time, and for the majority of the year, more than one is going.

 

[SmoovySmoov]

The answer to this question is very simple:

We currently have 4 existing team sports that are much more entertaining. There is always at least one running at any given time, and for the majority of the year, more than one is going.

You're telling me, with a straight face, that baseball is more exciting than soccer? Seriously? You seriously just said that???

 

[roadkill1292]

The answer to this question is very simple:

We currently have 4 existing team sports that are much more entertaining. There is always at least one running at any given time, and for the majority of the year, more than one is going.

I agree that you're very simple.

 

[fantasycurse42]

The answer to this question is very simple:

We currently have 4 existing team sports that are much more entertaining. There is always at least one running at any given time, and for the majority of the year, more than one is going.

You're telling me, with a straight face, that baseball is more exciting than soccer? Seriously? You seriously just said that???

Yes

ETA: If soccer wants to make a move in America, the window is in the summer against baseball... That will never happen bc Americans find baseball much more entertaining.

 

[SmoovySmoov]

The answer to this question is very simple:

We currently have 4 existing team sports that are much more entertaining. There is always at least one running at any given time, and for the majority of the year, more than one is going.

You're telling me, with a straight face, that baseball is more exciting than soccer? Seriously? You seriously just said that???

Yes

Well, I think we have our answer right there. Something in your brain is broken.

 

[Norman Paperman]

It's strictly an American phenomenon, usually by uptight soccer fans, the kind who get bent out of shape when you call it soccer.

I'm not sure I know any Americans who get bent out of shape when the sport is called "soccer".

I call it football when I'm on the pitch wearing me kit, mate

When I post on Spurs boards I sometimes pick up a British accent if I am on for a while. I carries over here sometimes.

 

[fantasycurse42]

The answer to this question is very simple:

We currently have 4 existing team sports that are much more entertaining. There is always at least one running at any given time, and for the majority of the year, more than one is going.

You're telling me, with a straight face, that baseball is more exciting than soccer? Seriously? You seriously just said that???

Yes

Well, I think we have our answer right there. Something in your brain is broken.

I'd say well over 90% of Americans would much rather go to a baseball game than a soccer game.

90% is generous for soccer too, as the real number is prob closer to 98%.

I don't know how not liking soccer over baseball makes my brain broken? Sounds odd.

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

Americans love McDonalds and Justin Bieber too. Let's stop worrying about what everyone else likes in these types of discussions.

Watching baseball and soccer on tv are clearly not for everybody. Who cares?

Baseball is very boring to watch (IMO). Soccer can be too, but I played it my whole life so I appreciate it and enjoy watching games that I care about.

 

[CBusAlex]

I don't know how not liking soccer over baseball makes my brain broken?

That's okay. There are probably a lot of things you don't understand when your brain is broken.

 

[The Gator]

The answer to this question is very simple:

We currently have 4 existing team sports that are much more entertaining. There is always at least one running at any given time, and for the majority of the year, more than one is going.

You're telling me, with a straight face, that baseball is more exciting than soccer? Seriously? You seriously just said that???

Yes

Well, I think we have our answer right there. Something in your brain is broken.

I'd say well over 90% of Americans would much rather go to a baseball game than a soccer game.

90% is generous for soccer too, as the real number is prob closer to 98%.

I don't know how not liking soccer over baseball makes my brain broken? Sounds odd.

Closer to 50/50

 

[SmoovySmoov]

Yeah, Americans really aren't the barometer for intelligent sports fans that you were hoping for.

"Here come the cars again, WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" The only reason anyone goes to see a baseball game anymore is because there's plenty of time to sit there on their phones scrolling Facebook and Twitter.

 

[fantasycurse42]

The answer to this question is very simple:

We currently have 4 existing team sports that are much more entertaining. There is always at least one running at any given time, and for the majority of the year, more than one is going.

You're telling me, with a straight face, that baseball is more exciting than soccer? Seriously? You seriously just said that???

Yes

Well, I think we have our answer right there. Something in your brain is broken.

I'd say well over 90% of Americans would much rather go to a baseball game than a soccer game.

90% is generous for soccer too, as the real number is prob closer to 98%.

I don't know how not liking soccer over baseball makes my brain broken? Sounds odd.

Closer to 50/50

This is the delusional - To back this up go check out the cost of tickets... Mets (& I use the ####tiest local franchise bc using any other makes this argument that much more laughable) front row seats are around $500, and nobody in NY gives a #### about the Mets (Yankees Legends Seats are nothing less than $1,000 and those aren't even close to the best ones). I can get front row center field Red Bull tickets for 80-90% cheaper.

They play less games in a much smaller stadium which should make the price disparity in favor of soccer... If 50/50 was even the slightest bit close, these costs wouldn't be so far apart.

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

I don't think MLS is the best comparison. That's kind of the point that's been made in here over and over again.

 

[rockaction]

Yeah, Americans really aren't the barometer for intelligent sports fans that you were hoping for.

"Here come the cars again, WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" The only reason anyone goes to see a baseball game anymore is because there's plenty of time to sit there on their phones scrolling Facebook and Twitter.

Don't want to get into a soccer brawl and have my own opinions about it, but this isn't true. Baseball, even according to an ex that would have loved more of my time from it, is riveting at times. Aaron's right -- people like different sports.

 

[Notorious T.R.E.]

I like soccer AND baseball. LAM!

 

[Christo]

I grew up in the 60s and people were saying back then that soccer was going be the #1 sport in the USA someday.

I don't believe you.

 

[The Gator]

The answer to this question is very simple:

We currently have 4 existing team sports that are much more entertaining. There is always at least one running at any given time, and for the majority of the year, more than one is going.

You're telling me, with a straight face, that baseball is more exciting than soccer? Seriously? You seriously just said that???

Yes

Well, I think we have our answer right there. Something in your brain is broken.

I'd say well over 90% of Americans would much rather go to a baseball game than a soccer game.

90% is generous for soccer too, as the real number is prob closer to 98%.

I don't know how not liking soccer over baseball makes my brain broken? Sounds odd.

Closer to 50/50

This is the delusional - To back this up go check out the cost of tickets... Mets (& I use the ####tiest local franchise bc using any other makes this argument that much more laughable) front row seats are around $500, and nobody in NY gives a #### about the Mets (Yankees Legends Seats are nothing less than $1,000 and those aren't even close to the best ones). I can get front row center field Red Bull tickets for 80-90% cheaper.They play less games in a much smaller stadium which should make the price disparity in favor of soccer... If 50/50 was even the slightest bit close, these costs wouldn't be so far apart.

It's closer to 50/50 that 99% and that's MLS. If you had a match here with Real Madrid v. Manchester United, it'd be 98% in favour of soccer over baseball.

 

[Christo]

Yeah, Americans really aren't the barometer for intelligent sports fans that you were hoping for.

"Here come the cars again, WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" The only reason anyone goes to see a baseball game anymore is because there's plenty of time to sit there on their phones scrolling Facebook and Twitter.

Don't forget the beer.