Do Americans hate soccer as much as the internet leads me to believe?

[Orangeish]

Originally Posted by waltlantz

One problem is the pace of the game, those weaned on basketball and football (which were made for television) will have trouble adjusting to it.

Both those sports were around before TV was....

[JJG]

Originally Posted by Orangeish

Both those sports were around before TV was....

I think it was meant to say, "those sports evolved for high TV viewership purposes."

[Orangeish]

Originally Posted by JJG

I think it was meant to say, "those sports evolved for high TV viewership purposes."

Yeah, I always assume my sarcasm should be obvious then I realize its the internet...lol. I need to remember to put one of these in there.

[waltlantz]

Yet another reason why hollerin over the internet doesn't work, subtlety is lost. (heh).

Anyways, soccer has room to grow in America but I believe it has a ceiling and unless something drastically changes, will never equal the popularity it has in Europe and Latin America.

[grmasterb]

Originally Posted by JJG

I think it was meant to say, "those sports evolved for high TV viewership purposes."

Don't all sports wish for high TV viewership -- $$$$$$$$$$$$$???

[Marlin96]

I really hate soccer, but I do have to admit that I watched most of the MLS Cup since FC Dallas made it to the Final.
I hated it.

[JJG]

Originally Posted by grmasterb

Don't all sports wish for high TV viewership -- $$$$$$$$$$$$$???

Yes, but not all know how to GAIN or even keep the same number of viewers....

[mickey mouse is dead]

Originally Posted by waltlantz

Old heads watch baseball and fill the stands. They are also more likely to stay with a team because it is local.

Us young whippersnappers are equally likely to follow a team due to a star player and NBA TOTALLY OWNS MLB in terms of star marketing. Not to mention them kids being more likely to yammer on about this stuff on the interwebz.

That's it in a nutshell.

Olde heads??? Not really. In fact, the typical baseball fan is in the late 20’s/mid 30’s range. Yes, there are old heads, more than any other sport because of the history of baseball.

You are right about the NBA and star marketing, but basketball is the perfect platform to do so, because the casual sport viewer can enjoy the greatness of Kobe or Lebron in just one game, whereas in baseball, to see how good Albert Pujols is, you have to watch more than two or three games.

Baseball is somewhat like soccer. You have to be dedicated in order to learn and appreciate the nuances of the game; pitching, batting order, bullpen, bases stealing, sacrifice bunts, etc…. In Football and Basketball, you don’t even have to know the rules to enjoy the game, that’s why the viewing demographic is bigger. Not to say that there are not dedicated fans in every sport, but baseball requires you to do so.