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I have been researching domestic top flight leagues of soccer. People think that our college gridiron is top heavy!!
How do people keep the faith for a championship if you are a fan of smaller clubs in Spain, Scotland or England. Especially Scotland, Rangers and Celtic might as well break off and form their own division!
Location: New Albany, Indiana (Greater Louisville)
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I've never been to Europe but it seems that in their culture people still enjoy supporting their team even if they have no shot at being in the top tier. By comparison most American pro teams have attendance that is directly based on how they are doing that year. This year even bottom feeder Portsmouth still averaged 18,249 fans over 38 games (That 95% of their stadium's capacity!)
I think part of it is that Europeans don't have 5 team sports they care about, its mainly soccer and some rugby or cricket. In most American cities with multiple team sports people will attend the ones doing well and not attend the ones doing poorly.
I have been researching domestic top flight leagues of soccer. People think that our college gridiron is top heavy!!
How do people keep the faith for a championship if you are a fan of smaller clubs in Spain, Scotland or England. Especially Scotland, Rangers and Celtic might as well break off and form their own division!
Because Rangers fans are born to it. It is in the blood, the heritage and the culture. It is unthinkable to support anyone else.
It is easier to support your crappy little football club when the stadium is a stone's throw from your front door. We don't see that in America as much. There are 92 professional soccer teams in England. England is about the same size as Florida. Think about that.... If Florida had 92 teams in one sport - the only sport - almost everyone would have a tight bond with their crappy little team...even if they sucked year after year like Shrewsbury Town and Chesterfield.
They are born into their teams. They don't choose them.
Because Rangers fans are born to it. It is in the blood, the heritage and the culture. It is unthinkable to support anyone else.
We Are The People
Way to miss the point. He asked about clubs other than the same old crap, like Rangers.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dr. Foosball
It is easier to support your crappy little football club when the stadium is a stone's throw from your front door. We don't see that in America as much. There are 92 professional soccer teams in England. England is about the same size as Florida. Think about that.... If Florida had 92 teams in one sport - the only sport - almost everyone would have a tight bond with their crappy little team...even if they sucked year after year like Shrewsbury Town and Chesterfield.
They are born into their teams. They don't choose them.
As I understand it, many follow their local club as well as a big club that's always on TV, competing in major tournaments.
I guess the fact that soccer is LEAGUES ahead of EVERY OTHER SPORT does effect viewing habits and allegiences.
Still, regardless of nationality, it seems really trying to support a club that has such a little chance of winning a championship. The revenue gap between the "royalty" and everyone else seems quite large in many leagues, therefore only a few teams dominate. (Ligue 1 seems to be an exception).
Then again I guess that's where the UEFA champions league comes in.
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