Soccer in the USA…
November 28, 2007 — dannyjacksonAfter reading and responding to a question, I think the topic is worth challenging on a wider scale……
What’s your take on why soccer isn’t as popular here in the United States as it is across the world?
November 30, 2007 at 11:47 pm
i am reading a great book right now titled National Pastime which compares the growth/development of baseball and soccer. it talks about their births and how they developed as they did, the labor markets and how the two differ from each other and other fan and money issues. i havent finished, so i cant give a complete synopsis but it is an interesting read.
December 3, 2007 at 5:04 pm
It seems that soccer in the states has more of a cult following. Those that have played or coached the game seem to stay involved and support soccer in everyway, but gains are rarely made toward expanding the fan base to include those that have never played. Baseball and Football have fans that support the sport itself as well as individual teams, regardless of whether they played the sport or not.
These fans will seek out their sport, and schedule time to watch their team or big games, outside of special events; Playoffs and Championships, Olympics, etc. Soccer, only gains casual fans during the World Cup, UEFA/ Champions League, etc.
Can it be fixed? I don’t think so. Soccer will gain some fans, but will never be able to unseat the big three Football, Baseball, and Basketball in terms of popularity in this country.
December 10, 2007 at 12:08 am
Thalo: National Past Time is a great book. I loved reading it. The one point I got out of it, and still carry with me, is that the non-American system is a much more free-enterprise and egalitarian (at the same time) league system than our’s.
For example, while anyone can start up a team in the UK and advance through the levels (FC United of Manchester, for example) and theoretically advance to the Premier League, there are also events like the FA Cup that pit teams at the lowest levels against the highest.
On the other hand, our system in MLB, NFL, etc. is more like a monopolistic cartel, where you need the permission of the current participants before you enter.
One the broader question of why soccer isn’t more popular: it seems to me lately this is like asking why alt-country, tea, or fly-fishing aren’t more popular. None of these things are going anywhere, they are very well supported among the people that like them. But, to most folks, they aren’t that important.
Soccer is already very successful, among the people that enjoy it. Who knows though? A year from now, soccer might experience one of those Texas hold-em breakout moments. Or, it might already have and we haven’t noticedit yet.