Why isn't football / soccer that popular in North America, United States / USA ?

[zeeblofowl_1969]

Re: Why Isn't Soccer Popular in America?

Americans are used to watching world class talent be it NBA NFL MLB NHL whatever. To see world class soccer you have to travel to south America or Europe. Soccer is seeming to catch on in my area, Pacific Northwest, but with The Sounders and The Timbers its like watching lower minor league baseball.

Plus the fact that soccer in general is pretty boring to watch and very exciting to play. In the NFL there is constant action. In the NBA there is constant scoring. And to those of us who love baseball there are many many things going on during a game to occupy your mind. I play soccer and have for a great long time but it was always a side sport with my biggest love being baseball. A well matched game you might get 3 or 4 goals scored at best. Most of the time you get one goal and then the leading team drops into full defense behind the midfield and unless your out there playing there is not much to watch. One of the biggest turnoffs for Americans is the fake injury tactic employed as we in this country are taught from a very young age that you play hard you play hurt and you never show weakness ever.

A thought I have always had about soccer in the US is that it would be a much more visually compelling game with the simple removal of the off sides rule. This would make the defense guard the entire field at all times and pick up the action with a wide variety of tactics to get behind the D. Random thought of a used up soccer guy.

 

[Sam Fisher]

Re: Why Isn't Soccer Popular in America?

Do you agree that soccer isn't popular in America?

To a certain extent, yes. Oh sure, drive anywhere on a Saturday and sure enough you will see a bunch of 8, 9, 10, year old boys and girls running around on a big field (looking lost) while pretending to be playing soccer. And of course there will be the Soccer Moms, a few dads, and that pretty much describes soccer in America. To be honest, it's boring. Whether it's being played by children, or adult professional athletes, it's still boring.

I think it would catch on if the rules were slightly adjusted.
1. After the ball as been kicked three times, it is legal for someone to pick the sonofabitching ball up and run with it.

2. Player running with the ball is allowed to be gang tackled.

3. Fights... let 'em happen.

4. Sucker punch the first asshole who scores a goal and who rips his shirt off while running around the entire fucking field screaming and assuming he just saved the world.

That's it for now. But trust me... the game will be uber popular if the above rules were enacted. If left as is, fuhgetaboutit!

 

[MrZiggles]

Re: Why Isn't Soccer Popular in America?

Every four years Americans turn on the World Cup and see players (Euros mostly) acting like d-bags and refs who are either incompetent or corrupt. And this is the best soccer has to offer?

The best athletes are in the U.S. and they're not playing soccer.

There are plenty of other sports to follow in the U.S. Soccer's big in nations that have nothing else. Nations that can't afford plane tickets to the Olympics keep showing up in the World Cup.

As Zeeblo alluded to, the game should be opened up more. There's way too much time spent in the middle of the field. Look at how many shots hockey goalies see compared to how many shots on goal there are in soccer.

Soccer fans are animals. They make the worst sports fans in the U.S. seem angelic.

 

[vodkazvictim]

Re: Why Isn't Soccer Popular in America?

Too many obese fuckers in America.

 

[pussy+dickdenice]

Re: Why Isn't Soccer Popular in America?

Because it requires Head and foot skill, limber body like a gymnast, a coordinated team work but mostly a brain that is highly reactive and competent.

 

[fallacy]

Re: Why Isn't Soccer Popular in America?

No one hates soccer it is just boring to watch on TV. More importantly in America we have this game called Football which is far more violent and strategic, that makes it far more fun to watch on TV.

 

[Sam Fisher]

Re: Why Isn't Soccer Popular in America?

no one hates soccer it is just boring to watch on tv. More importantly in america we have this game called football which is far more violent and strategic, that makes it far more fun to watch on tv.

this! ^

 

[John_8581]

Re: Why Isn't Soccer Popular in America?

Not to pick on Sam's quote, I just thought of it as a starting point. No disrespect intended ...

I think it would catch on if the rules were slightly adjusted.

1. After the ball as been kicked three times, it is legal for someone to pick the sonofabitching ball up and run with it.

2. Player running with the ball is allowed to be gang tackled.

That's it for now. But trust me... the game will be uber popular if the above rules were enacted. If left as is, fuhgetaboutit!

That's not soccer. Picking up the ball, unless it is by the goaltender or as an in-bounds pass after it is kicked out of bounds, is not allowed. Plus they have that already Sam. It's called rugby or Australian rules football.

Soccer is not popular as a professional sport in the United States because the leagues are always in disarray.

1. These teams have large startup costs involved, like trying to lure the best European players, the best South American players, the best Central American players. Then you have these players' salaries to consider....

2. But then where are all these teams located in like some desolate US cities, like San Jose CA, Denver, CO, etc. You get the thrift...

3. They never sell out stadiums. Hey, you may get at best 4000 people showing up for games. These teams play three games then go bankrupt.

4. Lastly, during the time soccer is played, spring through autumn, you have MLB baseball being played throughout and then we have the start of the NFL football season.

 

[Rivers]

Re: Why Isn't Soccer Popular in America?

I don't think it's not popular, just not as popular as the "big 3". It has a pretty good fan base these days, especially if you include all soccer (Mexican, European) and not just domestic.

There are a lot of reasons why it's not as popular as other sports, but I think the root of it is that it's not ingrained into the culture the way baseball and football are. Growing up in the US you're exposed a lot more to the "big three," and as long as the primary sports satisfy you you don't have a need to get interested in other sports that take more effort to explore. Plus, it's not always easy getting into other sports when you already have a/some favorite(s). I've followed soccer for about five or six years and sometimes other sports look alright, but I can't watch them for long. They just don't do it right..."Too many stoppages", "Why is the court so small?", "Too many fouls", "Another commercial!?", "Are they done playing already?". If I grew up on football or basketball or baseball I would probably have a more accepting perspective of the sport as a spectacle because that's what I'm used to.

Soccer is not popular as a professional sport in the United States because the leagues are always in disarray.

1. These teams have large startup costs involved, like trying to lure the best European players, the best South American players, the best Central American players. Then you have these players' salaries to consider....

2. But then where are all these teams located in like some desolate US cities, like San Jose CA, Denver, CO, etc. You get the thrift...

3. They never sell out stadiums. Hey, you may get at best 4000 people showing up for games. These teams play three games then go bankrupt.

4. Lastly, during the time soccer is played, spring through autumn, you have MLB baseball being played throughout and then we have the start of the NFL football season.

Other leagues are always struggling, but I wouldn't say MLS is in disarray. It had a rocky start, but it's been pretty steady for the last several years. Many stadiums are sold out across the league every week. Last year's average attendance in MLS was almost 18k, with the Seattle Sounders constantly selling out with an average of almost 39k. Other leagues have poor attendance, but MLS is doing pretty well in that regard. MLS's biggest problem is its poor television ratings.

 

[Deepcover]

Re: Why Isn't Soccer Popular in America?

I wish soccer was popular on the western side of the globe. I was watching today's game between Arsenal and Manchester United. I'm not really into soccer but thought it was a great close game. Love the big crowds chanting those hymns.

 

[STDiva]

Re: Why Isn't Soccer Popular in America?

MLS is washed up players from overseas and players not good enough to play overseas. That's why I don't give a shit about it.

 

[Rey C.]

Re: Why Isn't Soccer Popular in America?

In certain parts of the nation soccer is becoming more popular. And as the demographics of the nation changes, I think it will become more popular still. But we already have loads of other sports to follow here. And most of those have been a part of our culture for a hundred years or more. In addition to stick & ball sports, we also have racing. And in the south, NASCAR and stock car racing is pretty much on par with our most popular sport, football.

There's something else that people often don't realize: Americans have increasingly less leisure time compared to most Europeans. Our work weeks are longer and we get less vacation time. But I suspect that soccer will surpass hockey here at some point, if it hasn't already.

 

[John_8581]

Re: Why Isn't Soccer Popular in America?

The only team that made it big in the United States. They played on New York City's Randalls Island's Dowling Stadium way back in the early 1970s to the mid 1970s....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_Cosmos

http://www.nasljerseys.com/Rosters/Cosmos_Rosters.htm

Pele, Franz Beckenbauer, Giorgio Chinaglia, Steve Hunt, Carlos Alberto, Vito Dimitrijevic, and Shep Messing among others...

 

[Henrik Larsson]

Re: Why Isn't Soccer Popular in America?

Unless you grow up watching a sport you can't get into it. I think American football is one of the most boring sports, i just can't be bothered watching it. It's the same with hockey and baseball. I don't know the rules of thoses sports so i have no desire to watch them.

With basketball it's different because i know most of the rules and the scoring system so i can kind of watch that.
As i say though, the NFL is boring to me, since i have no idea what's happening.

I think it's the same with Ameircans and football. Since they don't watch it from a younger age, they have no desire to get into it.
To me Football is amazing and the lack of scoring is a plus point. Then when you do score, it's more exciting. I've been at high scoring games before and it's jsut not as good. I watched Celtic win 9-0 last season and it got boring after 4 or 5. It was just getting too easy. That's what i like about the old fim games. I never enjoy Celtic vs Rangers matches as i am shitting myslef for 90 minutes as i'm so nervous. But if you get a win it feels good, that's what is good about a close game.

What i'm saying is: I find the NFL really boring(perhaps the most boring I've ever seen) just because i don't know the rules.
American's probably feel the same way about football. Unless you watch it for a while. You have no desire to watch it

 

[Shifty]

Re: Why Isn't Soccer Popular in America?

Because it requires Head and foot skill, limber body like a gymnast, a coordinated team work but mostly a brain that is highly reactive and competent.

No, that's hockey.

 

[knowone]

Re: Why Isn't Soccer Popular in America?

snip... what could be done to raise the profile of the game? snip...

Hike the ball and pass it!

 

[Straight Shooter]

Re: Why Isn't Soccer Popular in America?

Anybody in the U.S. see the game today? it was the first time an EPL match was televised live by a U.S. over-the-air network, it was on free TV on a major network. I can't wait until the next match on FOX on Super Bowl Sunday, Man U vs Chelsea

 

[bahodeme]

Re: Why Isn't Soccer Popular in America?

There was interest with soccer in the 70's with Pele. It was not that marketed that well at that time. Also the low scoring causes low viewership here in the U.S.

 

[larss]

Re: Why Isn't Soccer Popular in America?

Plus the fact that soccer in general is pretty boring to watch and very exciting to play. In the NFL there is constant action.

Ummmm. Constant action? You have to be having a laugh, right? There is 5 seconds of action followed by 30 seconds of working out what to do next - hardly constant action.

Boring sports to watch - Cricket and Baseball (of course there will be people who disagree with me there, but that is my opinion).
The only reason that you might find soccer boring is that you have no interest in the teams. Just about any game is made more exciting if you actually support one of the teams.

 

[Sam Fisher]

Re: Why Isn't Soccer Popular in America?

The best summation I can come up with is, had the sport been introduced very early on in America (very early 1900s) it might have settled in right along with Baseball, Football, Hockey, and Basketball. But, with those four sports already consuming the public year round, it might have been difficult to fit it into any given season.

How long is a typical Professional Soccer League? I guess it's a moot point at this juncture. I really don't see it ever getting a dominate slice, or any real significant piece of the sports pie that is now pretty much divvied up already.