Can Soccer Score in the U.S.?
1 05 2008
Yesterday I was able to enjoy the Chelsea v. Liverpool semi-finals match on ESPN with the winner, Chelsea, going onto face Manchester United in the European Cup/Champions League final. This is also exciting as Chelsea and Man U are tied in points for tops in the Premier League plus it will be the first time for an all-England final for the European Cup. But this post isn’t about the success of Man U or Chelsea rather I want to talk about the success of football (or soccer) in America. You see, as I was watching this match at 1pm in the afternoon, I couldn’t help but think how is this so huge all over the world yet STILL has yet to make a dent in the US. In fact, I would love to know the ratings for that match yesterday.
Now, I know quite a few fans here in the US, especially a few die-hard Chelsea fans, but all in all there is very little interest. At the same time though, I sensed there is a shift going on. First, the lead-off story on Sportscenter yesterday was in fact the Chelsea v. Liverpool match. I have also noticed that Premier League as well as other notable matches’ scores are featured on the ticker on ESPN. Therefore, there must be some sort of generated interest here. But what I want to know is: What exactly is it going to take to make the World’s game popular here at home? Is it even possible? I mean a big disadvantage is the fact that games are shown in the afternoon and often during a weekday such as Wednesday or Monday. Plus, is the fact that these games are played on the other side of the world making them too disconnected with possible fans here? I know they occasionally travel states-side to play some friendlies but we all know that it’s not the same. It is however a good, and necessary, promotional tool for the Premier League. But is there a way to get teams located in other parts of the world to create fan-bases here in the states? A way to get people not just simply into the game but to actually connect with and have a favorite team to cheer for? I ask this because I see that, connections with specific teams, as the only way for it to succeed here. It can’t simply be fans of the game who occasionally tune in when they are sick at home, rather fans who tune in while at work to see the score (such as during March Madness - and don’t even get me on that productivity argument!).
So I guess I’m just wondering if this, top-tier football, is a an un-tapped opportunity or is it just a lost cause? I know I haven’t discussed MLS, perhaps this is where our attention should be focused on when it comes to soccer but as it isn’t top-tiered football and the fact that I know far more loyal fans of Premier League teams than I do of MLS teams and the fact that MLS games aren’t really shown on TV as Premier League games are…I believe the Premier League is where we should be looking at to bring to this sport to success here in the states. Am I wrong? You tell me!
Check it out: Chelsea even has a US-dedicated site!
Neil…
Ok, soccer in this country is a joke. Nobody wants to watch high school kids do what the pros can do better, so why watch the MLS when you can watch English, Italian, even Argentinian football who have better, players, coaches, teams and most importantly FANS. Would you rather see a arena football game, or see a monday night game against the raiders. Come on.
The fact that David Beckham came over was big for the MLS. But Beckham took is as an opportunity to get his wife a fucking reality show, appear on Snoop Dogg’s show, Entertainment tonight, Anderson Cooperand the like. But never once has he been interviewed about the actual game from a fan’s view i.e. strategy, results, etc. Instead, American media comes off as the joke (”So you guys call THIS football, right David?”).
So, I heard today on the World Soccer Daily podcast that 1.2 billion watched last year’s Champions League final, and those numbers were very similar for this week’s games. There’s your ratings.
I go to the George & Dragon Pub every weekend, every game. We go absolutely ballistic when they score, we sing the entire time at full voice and I saw a grown man cry when that final whistle blew on Tuesday. There are pictures coming from that day. Man, this is looooooong-winded.
Here’s the fact. American soccer will get better when old washed up players don’t hobble over here and make a quater of a billion dollars. And our fresh talent (Adu, McBride, Dempsey…
all go overseas because America, frankly, doesn’t give a shit.
Man U has an USA supporters group too. http://www.manutdusa.org/
Man U 2 - 1 Chelsea in the final.
To be honest, I think top tier soccer as a better chance of catching fire here than our domestic league. I can’t find the article but I believe ESPN was working on some sort of deal with Setanta months ago, don’t quote me on that because I don’t know where I got it. haha. However, if that’s the case MLS doesn’t stand a chance, American’s love pace and celebrity both of which are dominate in the EPL. If ESPN gave it proper air play and followed the EPL, just with like a Saturday night match once a week it’d get popular fast.
Just from my own observations in the lecture halls I see way more EPL kits than domestic kits, in fact I’m yet to see anyone wear any MLS merch. That’s sad considering Real Salt Lake isn’t that far away and england… well is.
Romes: You hit exactly on the head my thoughts on the MLS which I just didn’t want to get into. It’s not the best league and frankly American’s want to watch the best. That is why, next to soccer, we are home to the highest level of sports leagues. And also, the way you have found a nice place where a group of fans do cry over a Man U win and are excited about it is because they are connected with a team more so than simply the sport. Which is what I believe needs to happen in order for soccer to really succeed here in the US. Your take on our reaction to Beckham coming here is also dead on. Oh, and the ratings I was curious about were ESPN’s viewership here states-side - I know the rest of the world’s which is what makes me wonder why it seems to be untapped here.
Mike: Like I said, I too see more foreign team’s kits here than MLS. In fact, I don’t think I have even seen an MLS jersey on and we too have a team close by: the Rapids. And yeah, I think the Premier League, if properly displayed on the likes of ESPN, has a better shot of shooting soccer to success here in the US. You made real fine points on why as well. But, that is why maybe a shift is happening. I mentioned some of the attention ESPN has started to give especially to the Premier League.
I could be wrong, but aren’t a lot of the premier league teams taking MLS teams under their wing and trying to build the sport on American soil through that avenue? I feel like if there were a full-scale partnership created by EPL and MLS the players might be more interested in coming here, the teams might get a bigger marketing budget, and interest could potentially pique here in the US.
Of course, the NFL pretty much has the professional sports market cornered in every major American market (and most of the small ones too), so to expect soccer to ever become a top-ticket draw without something catastrophic happening to football at the same time (and after Vick, Spygate and Pac-Man Jones making it rain, what could that be?) is a bad bet.
Hey Chris, it’s not that I’m looking for soccer to beat football. I am just asking why as the world’s sport it has failed to make an impact? Yet, lately I see that perhaps it is making in-roads here into the states so perhaps a opportunity for soccer does exist. Perhaps. And yes, I believe the leagues or more specifically the EPL is helping the promote the sport here through friendlies and that’s my argument…the best are going to have to push it here. Not some amateur league called the MLS.