Lalas: Soccer's Tipping Point?

[bwach]

Greg Lalas with a nice article (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/greg_lalas/07/24/cup.aftermath/index.html)on whether this World Cup was a harbinger of things to come for soccer in the US.

I personally disagree with his assertion that it will be the foreign leagues rather than MLS that will seep into the consciousness of the American sports fan, but he probably knows better than I.

[cpwilson80]

A good read, and a great point on how less is more with the soccer experience

I agree with Lalas that EPL is the best bet for the newest soccer fans: Same language, great coverage, recognizable stars, passionate crowds,etc.

The "support the domestic league" argument only goes so far with MLS: there are only 11 cities where one can catch a game. If the only experience is through the TV, EPL wins.

However, I think the National Team has a good opportunity to create life-long fans (yes, even after we were Tread On in Germany.) To do so, we need to play more competitive matches, and continue to reach out to different parts of the country. I think US Soccer did the latter very well during the last WCQ and Cup build-up: San Fran, Birmingham, SLC, Hartford, Cleveland, Memphis all drew great and passionate crowds.

And of course, there's always US v. Mexico. My guess is that any non-friendly US v. Mexico game will be a fixture in the mainstream sports coverage.

[uclacarlos]

The "support the domestic league" argument only goes so far with MLS: there are only 11 cities where one can catch a game. If the only experience is through the TV, EPL wins.

However, I think the National Team has a good opportunity to create life-long fans (yes, even after we were Tread On in Germany.) To do so, we need to play more competitive matches, and continue to reach out to different parts of the country. I think US Soccer did the latter very well during the last WCQ and Cup build-up: San Fran, Birmingham, SLC, Hartford, Cleveland, Memphis all drew great and passionate crowds.
The bolded part is key, and is something that MLS can furnish w/ more regularity/consistency than EPL: the chance to see USMNT players play.

[fusion101]

Agreed and disagreed with some of his different views, but overall well written. Loved him using the word "jonesing" when it's slang.

[OldFanatic]

...maybe the Super Bowl will take a backseat to the signing of a second-string keeper at D.C. United.

Hahahaha, even for someone like me who doesn't give a toss about the SuperBowl I find it preposterously funny.

[Attacking Minded]

Greg Lalas with a nice article (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/greg_lalas/07/24/cup.aftermath/index.html)on whether this World Cup was a harbinger of things to come for soccer in the US.

I personally disagree with his assertion that it will be the foreign leagues rather than MLS that will seep into the consciousness of the American sports fan, but he probably knows better than I.
"It's so wacky that a buddy of mine who grew up a tortured Cubs fan in Chicago has moved to London and is now a tortured QPR fan."
:)

[seahawkdad]

After 25 years of pimping for this sport...I just love Lalas' article. We have collectively fought so long and hard for respect. It just might finally be happening.

[Zitor]

Maybe off topic, but Soccer needs( Radio broadcasting) at least 1 hour at noon and 2 hours in the evening for the ride back home. Dedicated to MLS and other news. Sometimes mixing with call-ins. That is the fix we need for the fans, and a way of getting new commers hook right into it.

[FakeFlopper]

It was weird to see everyone in the office asking for the online link to the game. Many people were saying they heard more about the WC then they ever did before.

I think the final nail in the coffin is if we can put a USMNT together that is EXCITING to watch. I think we'll have that next time around with the more skillful players. We need to get the average American to believe that we are good so the sooner we get a coach and enter into another tournament and win, the better off we will be.

[sundayparkplayer]

"halfway through the second generation?" What 2 generations is he talking about?

[Ikari]

Gen 1: 1990-1998 (college amatuers through the beginnings of MLS)
Gen 2: 1998-Present (full-time MLS & International league professional players)

Just a bit of a stab in the dark there.

[bwach]

Gen 1: 1990-1998 (college amatuers through the beginnings of MLS)
Gen 2: 1998-Present (full-time MLS & International league professional players)

Just a bit of a stab in the dark there.


I'd go with a generation being regarded as about every 25 years (i.e. Boomers from the 40's/50's, Xers from the 70's, Yers or echo-boomers from the 80's/90's).

So two generations would be first the NASL crowd that spawned youth soccer across the country, and now their kids growing up with MLS.

Seems like a stretch/overgeneralization the way Lalas used it.

[Sean_94]

I'd go with a generation being regarded as about every 25 years (i.e. Boomers from the 40's/50's, Xers from the 70's, Yers or echo-boomers from the 80's/90's).

So two generations would be first the NASL crowd that spawned youth soccer across the country, and now their kids growing up with MLS.

Seems like a stretch/overgeneralization the way Lalas used it.

This is what I understood the generations to be, as well.
Soccer's popularity growth is going to be generational. It's when the kids who played soccer become grownups, and the editors/TV executives who didn't play soccer are gone.
I've always contended that the key to soccer becoming not boring for Average Joe USA is having a team to root for. There have been precious few opportunities for Average Joe to adopt a team over the years.
We all saw even the unlikeliest of soccer fans - the ones who call our sport boring - get emotionally involved in USA v. Italy, commenting on the refs, or the diving, or just the US lack of offense in the three games, etc. Because they had a team to root for, suddenly a 1-1 draw was not boring, but rather intense.
It's when these Average Joes start adopting the US national team, or an MLS team, or even an EPL or other foreign team, when they start enjoying the sport.
And it's happening more and more every day, and with every World Cup.

[Frankie Boy]

This is what I understood the generations to be, as well.
Soccer's popularity growth is going to be generational. It's when the kids who played soccer become grownups, and the editors/TV executives who didn't play soccer are gone.
I've always contended that the key to soccer becoming not boring for Average Joe USA is having a team to root for. There have been precious few opportunities for Average Joe to adopt a team over the years.
We all saw even the unlikeliest of soccer fans - the ones who call our sport boring - get emotionally involved in USA v. Italy, commenting on the refs, or the diving, or just the US lack of offense in the three games, etc. Because they had a team to root for, suddenly a 1-1 draw was not boring, but rather intense.
It's when these Average Joes start adopting the US national team, or an MLS team, or even an EPL or other foreign team, when they start enjoying the sport.
And it's happening more and more every day, and with every World Cup.

2 things I think would work:

1) A Sunday AM EST Game of the Week from Europe on a major broadcast network or ESPN (start 10AM EST), before the day's NFL games...ABC, not having Sunday NFL, would be a good choice for this

2) A major campaign to put 15,000 Americans into Estadio Azteca for the next USA/MEX game...I suspect that Ticketmaster in Mexico will soon have PDF ticketing available (they used barcode scanners when I was there for the qualifier in 2005), which would make this very doable....call it "The American Invasion of Mexico" or something like that...

[sundayparkplayer]

I don't know if a televised game of European soccer on Sunday morning would work only because if ESPN televised a baseball game from the Japan League then I don't think ANY American baseball fan would watch or care about it. Don't get me wrong, I would love to see a soccer game each morning but I don't think the casual american sports fan would watch just like I don't think a casual or even die hard baseball fan would watch two Japanese teams play. By the way, I'm not a fan of baseball.

[cleansheetbsc]

I don't know if a televised game of European soccer on Sunday morning would work only because if ESPN televised a baseball game from the Japan League then I don't think ANY American baseball fan would watch or care about it. Don't get me wrong, I would love to see a soccer game each morning but I don't think the casual american sports fan would watch just like I don't think a casual or even die hard baseball fan would watch two Japanese teams play. By the way, I'm not a fan of baseball.

Manchester United or Yomeheri (Sp?) Giants no contest.

Casual sports fans can learn to accept a Manyoo, Arsenal, Chelsea or Liverpool since they are the power teams.

[Casper]

2 things I think would work:

1) A Sunday AM EST Game of the Week from Europe on a major broadcast network or ESPN (start 10AM EST), before the day's NFL games...ABC, not having Sunday NFL, would be a good choice for this

2) A major campaign to put 15,000 Americans into Estadio Azteca for the next USA/MEX game...I suspect that Ticketmaster in Mexico will soon have PDF ticketing available (they used barcode scanners when I was there for the qualifier in 2005), which would make this very doable....call it "The American Invasion of Mexico" or something like that...

Wouldn't work on ABC because it wouldn't get the ratings George Stephanopoulous' show gets (This Week). Wouldn't work for ESPN during football season because it wouldn't get the ratings NFL Countdown gets.

ESPN2, however, may do OK, as long as it's not pre-empting a sponsored fishing show.

[Steele]

I agree with Lalas about the EPL being more sticky than the MLS. Plus if you have FSN and/or GOLTV it is much easier to follow the EPL than MLS.

The problem with the MLS is that only a few cities have teams and if you are not from one of those cities it is diffucult to follow the MLS. Being from Atlanta, I have no natural team to follow, can't go to games and only a game or two is aired nationally with the high probability that it isn't the team that I follow.

So I would rather watch Liverpool with Gerrard, Xabi Alonso, Crouch, and many more WC players play against another EPL team than watch Columbus play Chicago with no recognizable players (on a internation level) between them.

I have tried to get more into MLS since the WC ended, but it is tough with no local team to follow, lack of televised games and a lack of recognizible talent.

Over time if MLS is able to add a few more teams, increase the talent level, get more games on TV, work with USSL for a promotion/relegation system, field teams that play a brand of soccer that gathers the US interrests. I think the league will become much more sticky.

Right now try to convert as many people to soccer fans and then try to get those fans to cross over from EPL to USMNT to MLS.

[Adam Zebrowski]

i'm in a non-mls venue too, but I just get the mls package on cable...

while I don't get every match, there's enough to keep me satisfied...

columbus, middle of mls at best made everton look ordinary last night...

of course everton was in 2 a days, had the problem of adjusting to hot humid weather...

if you don't have a side in mls, just view the matches for entertainment, NOT rooting interests

[InJax]

Also not from an MLS city. I love the game and my spouse says I watch too much. But I do find it hard to watch MLS games for entertainment. Until the quality of play picks up, only half the games are really interesting. I can take that, but the casual fan will never catch on if that is all we have to show.