What can we do to increase awareness?

[wu-tang beez]

We can complain up a storm about ways to increase soccer awareness in this country, but unless we are willing to do our part, I think we should stop whining. Last weak while pondering our predicament, I realized that while grass roots movements are nice, there must be other solutions on how can I impact several thousand people a day. The US is 12% hispanic, yet they don't really watch MLS. MLS did a survey and nearly 50% of the respondents said they were soccer fans. We witnessed the ratings go thru the roof when ESPN and other major networks started paying attention to the USMNT in WC2k2. On avg though, most soccer fans don't tune in to our website or MLS matches.

I have an idea. Now bear w/ me pls. What if every Bigsoccer poster were to shoe polish in big bold white letters, "BIGSOCCER.COM" on the backs of their cars on Friday's and Saturday's? Think about it, some of you live in hispanic areas, some commute to college & highschool campuses, and most of us pass hundreds if not thousands of potential fans on the way to and fro work.

I think this is a way to improve viewers of both this site and soccer matches across the board on weekends. I'm willing to polish the Wu-Mobile next friday to coincide w/ the MLB strike day. Couldn't hurt.

We need to stop being elitist and encourage the masses to Join The Passion!

[Deimos]

Originally posted by wu-tang beez
....
I have an idea. Now bear w/ me pls. What if every Bigsoccer poster were to shoe polish in big bold white letters, "BIGSOCCER.COM" on the backs of their cars on Friday's and Saturday's?...
We need to stop being elitist and encourage the masses to Join The Passion!

And the next week, all these new fans will be saying:
"Do all soccer fans argue endlessly about nothing?"

[sidspaceman]

Why do hispanics have to support MLS? Does our passion not count because we don't support MLS?

[West Coast Thug]

You really can't blame the fans for not watching MLS. All the new fans that soccer gained after the WC probably sat down and watched one MLS game, compared to the WC, said this is crap, and turned it off. I bet quite a few of the MLS fans just watch it because there is such little soccer on tv in this country that its all that they have. To increase awareness, the major networks should start showing games from Europe and around the world where the games are of high quality. Instead of "MLS Soccer Saturday", ESPN should show an EPL soccer match for example. If you want to win fans, its gonna be hard to attract any with the MLS the only thing on basic cable.

[Ictar]

Actually, I'd wager if you stuck MLS games in a modern Europe style stadium it'd look much more attractive on TV. People who don't want to watch soccer aren't going to watch because of the EPL or some such.

People most likely were so excited about the US's run because it was the U.S. Patriotism. That sort of thing. I'm sure if we were doing that well in any semi-popular sport, especially one in which we usually* do pathetically but the whole world takes so seriously people would love it.

What people need is teams to root for. Hell, I love the MLS to death but I never know who to root for. I don't have a 'team'. But when I turn on something like the MLB I always go for the Rangers. That's my problem anyways. I'm not sure if it's other's problem.

*Supposedly and in the minds of a lot of people.

[SportBoy321]

Well baseball is going on strike people are fed up with it MLS should be right there to capitalize on this but their too far down the food chain to do so.

[SNUSA]

<QUOTE>What if every Bigsoccer poster were to shoe polish in big bold white letters, "BIGSOCCER.COM" on the backs of their cars on Friday's and Saturday's? </QUOTE>

That's a great way to support bigsoccer... but does nothing for the game, or for MLS.

[ignatz]

Originally posted by West Coast Thug
You really can't blame the fans for not watching MLS. All the new fans that soccer gained after the WC probably sat down and watched one MLS game, compared to the WC, said this is crap, and turned it off. I bet quite a few of the MLS fans just watch it because there is such little soccer on tv in this country that its all that they have. To increase awareness, the major networks should start showing games from Europe and around the world where the games are of high quality. Instead of "MLS Soccer Saturday", ESPN should show an EPL soccer match for example. If you want to win fans, its gonna be hard to attract any with the MLS the only thing on basic cable.

Professional soccer won't succeed in this country unless a domestic pro league succeeds. To say that MLS is "crap" is, IMHO, itself "crap." Certainly MLS is not at the level of the EPL or Serie A or the Bundesliga. But so what? It is good soccer, and getting better every year.

Minor league baseball is successful in this country, despite the presence of Major League baseball on TV. The same with grid ball and basketball below the NFL and NBA levels. I see no reason for soccer to be any different.

For that matter, there is plenty of European and S American soccer on TV. I can watch several games a day, primariliy on FSW, but also on a couple of other channels, and I often do. I also support my local team -- DC United. No conflict. I enjoy the EPL and MLS. Neither is "crap" in my view.

[Kaiser]

That's a good idea I think. Make a statement that tells people that I'm fed up with basebal and t6hat you'll be watching soccer. Or that you don't need the world seri]es when we got NLS Cup. I'm thinking of making up some t-shirts. Good thing I own a screen printing shop ;^}

[nicodemus]

The best thing to do is take someone to a game when possible, or at least sit with them watching it on TV and explain it to them.

Regarding all of the MLS talk there are a few things people just don't seem to understand:

1) Eventhough the average MLS player isn't as good as the average EPL, Serie A, La Liga, or Bundesliga player it doesn't matter because there is some fine talent in MLS.

2) The pace of the game is slower not because they are bad, but because it is 10,000 degress during the summertime. No way David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, Shevchenko, Davids, Zidane or anyone else could go as fast in MLS as they do in the Euro leagues.

3) The more SSS that are built the better it will get. I work in entertainment and its is better to have 250 people in a room that holds 300 people than 500 in a room that holds 2,000. People's minds think that when something is full (or close to full) that it is better for some reason. That's probably why it has taken off more in Columbus than other places...the psychology of it all.

[wu-tang beez]

Well, I've dragged a couple of girlfriends(not @ same time ;) ) to the cotton bowl in the past & i've talked up the sport to my coworkers, but that's only a few individuals. We need thousands of people tuning in.

I have to disagree w/ a prev statement, saying that this would only promote the site. I think it would have cross promotional effects on our league as well as make others aware that ESPN & Fox show soccer programs regularly. To me it doesn't matter if joe blow eurotrash or Latin MLS hater thinks poorly of the league so much as they watch english soccer broadcast events on non hispanic tv. If we can get a ratings spike across the board, maybe executives can see increased revenue for airing Soccer more frequently. I think that eventualy even the most ardent Latin MLS hater and Eurotrash will see our site, read the forums about MLS, recognize that some of the players in the league had spent time in their domestic leagues, and want to follow the players overseas. To be honest, that's the only reason I watch any EPL games aside from Arensal or Man-U.

Sid, I don't give a flying fajita if you think our league is low quality, but wouldn't you like to see Valderama & some of the other Colombians more consistently? That is essentially my position. Show the MASSES that there are others out there that care about the game & in our tight little e-community we debate all kinds of soccer topics, and btw most people talk about upcoming matches, why not tune in and find out what we are bickering about.

The strike is in 9 Days. I can do it alone but my impact compared to the impact of all the posters would be minimal.

[sidspaceman]

Not really Wu since most of the Colombians that play in the MLS are past there prime or were never that good to begin with.

Beside Carlos and Leon Alvarez no Colombian in the MLS have ever got a call up to the national team after he played in the MLS.

And since I can speak and understand Spanish I don't mind watching hispanic tv as you put it.

[ignatz]

An team bumper or window sticker can do wonders. The car becomes a rolling advertisement for the local heros -- for those who don't have local heros, adopt some from someplace else.

Who knows when some sports editor or ESPN progammer notices and begins to think the audience out there is bigger than thought.

Same with hats and shirts. Whatever you do, don't wear those of another sport. There are few things that tick me off more than to go to a DC United game and see someone wearing a Redskins shirt. Better they should wear a Metrostars shirt.

[Brownswan]

Originally posted by ignatz


Professional soccer won't succeed in this country unless a domestic pro league succeeds. To say that MLS is "crap" is, IMHO, itself "crap." Certainly MLS is not at the level of the EPL or Serie A or the Bundesliga. But so what? It is good soccer, and getting better every year.



Is the Mexican League as good as the EPL, Bundesliga, Seria A, La Primera? In all honesty, it is not, but that doesn't stop it from drawing fans in large numbers to watch the homeys and a few foreigners get it on every weekend.

Do Costa Rican soccer fans tune out their league because it doesn't measure up to Europe? What about the fans in Honduras, Bolivia, Peru? Or Hungary? Or Egypt?

By rights all lesser leagues should dissappear from view, while the entire world tunes into 5 or 6 leagues. Why? Because the "inferior product" sullies the sesibilities of true fans, I suppose.

I don't think so. If anything, more USAmerican soccer should be seen on TV here in the states.

Let us baptize the infidels with a fire hose!

[JMoney418]

Originally posted by Brownswan


Is the Mexican League as good as the EPL, Bundesliga, Seria A, La Primera? In all honesty, it is not, but that doesn't stop it from drawing fans in large numbers to watch the homeys and a few foreigners get it on every weekend.

Do Costa Rican soccer fans tune out their league because it doesn't measure up to Europe? What about the fans in Honduras, Bolivia, Peru? Or Hungary? Or Egypt?

By rights all lesser leagues should dissappear from view, while the entire world tunes into 5 or 6 leagues. Why? Because the "inferior product" sullies the sesibilities of true fans, I suppose.

I don't think so. If anything, more USAmerican soccer should be seen on TV here in the states.

Let us baptize the infidels with a fire hose!

Yes but are those countries made up of immigrants who come from these "soccer countries" and want to follow their home town teams? Appearance is everything. When CCS is loaded with 18,000 fans on a Wed nite, Victoria Street @ HDNTC packs in 25,000 Galaxy fans, and the stands keep swaying under the Barra Brava and Screaming Eagles in DC...we would have created an image. We need to get those matches on TV! Naperville looks like utter crap...but outside of the field it looks beautiful! Let them put those games on TV...as long as they sell out. Right now is a good time to launch a HUGE add campaign. Something like "we play for the love of the game" Not in spite of MLB but outlining that we dont try and hoard money like the athletes of the "big 4"

I know I try and do my part in coverting non-soccer fans. I think we should all just try and do our little share....some of us have enough cash put together to maybe start a D3 or an A league team...others, can barely afford a dish to watch our Yanks Abroad. I know me personally, I hope in 10 years or so to open up a sports bar in my hometown showing nothing but soccer. That'll be my little niche in the scheme of things. But until then, Ill have a whole new group of people to convert once college starts in a few weeks. BTW...anybody know how to get to the Meadowlands from St Johns? =)

[sidspaceman]

I think you can catch a bus from the Port Authority building out to the Meadowlands

[KAESO]

Originally posted by Brownswan


Is the Mexican League as good as the EPL, Bundesliga, Seria A, La Primera? In all honesty, it is not, but that doesn't stop it from drawing fans in large numbers to watch the homeys and a few foreigners get it on every weekend.

Do Costa Rican soccer fans tune out their league because it doesn't measure up to Europe? What about the fans in Honduras, Bolivia, Peru? Or Hungary? Or Egypt?

By rights all lesser leagues should dissappear from view, while the entire world tunes into 5 or 6 leagues. Why? Because the "inferior product" sullies the sesibilities of true fans, I suppose.

I don't think so. If anything, more USAmerican soccer should be seen on TV here in the states.

Let us baptize the infidels with a fire hose!

One of the best posts I've seen and one of the best reasonings for supporting MLS.

[wu-tang beez]

The strike is set for tomorrow, just in time for Soccer Saturday. The question is, are you willing to do your part?

[sidspaceman]

So sad wu-tang no strike.

[wu-tang beez]

Originally posted by sidspaceman
So sad wu-tang no strike.

Yes and no, I like baseball, but I wanted to catch them stealing home.

The strike would've been good for soccer. It's not that baseball fans will EVER become soccer fans, but ESPN would be forced to use basball's alloted 20minutes on Sportscenter on something else. Now that college football and the regular season NFL is underway, the weekend coverage is on lock down. ESPN switched soccer saturday to soccer thursday. So that may have given coverage on week days to our game, just in time for the playoff run.

It's not a prob, I'm still as passionate as the day b4, and so are hundreds of thousands of other untapped fans out there. Maybe they're not english speaking, it doesn't make a difference. If people tune in to our forums & hear about events being broadcast on tv thru us or start going to the games, than soccer will move from the fringes to the mainstream. Hispanics and Asians make up around 15-20%, depending on your belief in the census not undercounting poorer districts, that's a big swing that can force the networks to air the sport w/ more regularity.