How popular is soccer

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[Post New]07/27/2019 09:02
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Anonymous
Came across this thread on the general sports board
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/812489.page

With all the talk on this forum about problems with US youth soccer, lack of money, that thread really brought it home. Soccer just isn’t that popular. Even for most of the kids who play soccer it isn’t likely to be their or their family’s favorite.
[Post New]07/27/2019 09:38
quote
Anonymous
It's popular but it competes with basketball, baseball, football, and hockey for youth players and media attention and popularity. Abroad soccer is THE main team sport that is played and everything else is a niche activity maybe on the popularity level of golf.
[Post New]07/27/2019 09:39
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Anonymous
The pro game and the youth game are 2 different arenas
[Post New]07/27/2019 09:46
quote
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Came across this thread on the general sports board
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/812489.page

With all the talk on this forum about problems with US youth soccer, lack of money, that thread really brought it home. Soccer just isn’t that popular. Even for most of the kids who play soccer it isn’t likely to be their or their family’s favorite.


Soccer is a lot more popular than you think, just because some random douchbag on DCUM says soccer sucks doesn't make it true. Go to the next DC United game it is a lot more fun than Redskins game to watch in person. Even my spouse said the same thing and they are huge redskin fan.
[Post New]07/27/2019 09:53
quote
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Came across this thread on the general sports board
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/812489.page

With all the talk on this forum about problems with US youth soccer, lack of money, that thread really brought it home. Soccer just isn’t that popular. Even for most of the kids who play soccer it isn’t likely to be their or their family’s favorite.


Soccer is a lot more popular than you think, just because some random douchbag on DCUM says soccer sucks doesn't make it true. Go to the next DC United game it is a lot more fun than Redskins game to watch in person. Even my spouse said the same thing and they are huge redskin fan.


Watching paint dry is a lot more fun than watching the Redskins game. LOL
[Post New]07/27/2019 10:00
quote
Anonymous
At least in the case for boys, soccer is a 2-3rd tier sport in this country. And I say this as a parent of boys who play soccer. They like it but it’s not what they follow or talk about. Basketball and football are top of mind. It doesn’t mean soccer isn’t a great sport, and in the rest of the world it’s clearly #1. But the culture here is a long long way from putting soccer in the first tier. But it could happen one day. Basketball didn’t used to be so popular and baseball was.

I also have a DD who plays soccer. For girls soccer probably is a top tier sport. The World Cup helps and I hope women’s soccer continues to grow. Having marketable players that are known outside the soccer world is good for overall interest and dollars. Crossover celebrities is what makes a sport go popular - Babe Ruth, Mohammed Ali, Michael Jordan, Megan Rapinoe?
[Post New]07/27/2019 11:27
quote
Anonymous
^agree, but it sure creates physically sound athletes. My kids are in a lot better shape than their friends that play some of the other sports. The conditioning is so much higher absent probably basketball.

Kids that spend their childhood playing competitive soccer are for for life. I transitioned into marathon running, CrossFit, etc with ease once O stopped playing in my 20s.

My kids have zero fat whole friends in other sports have bellies, etc.
[Post New]07/27/2019 12:42
quote
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:It's popular but it competes with basketball, baseball, football, and hockey for youth players and media attention and popularity. Abroad soccer is THE main team sport that is played and everything else is a niche activity maybe on the popularity level of golf.


FWIW, in US, football has highest average attendance by far.

MLB has been on the decline, but is still second by some margin in average attendance -- over 28k per game in each of the last 4 years

Interestingly, MLS is 3rd highest in terms of average attendance -- over 21k per game in each of the last 4 years

NBA is 4th with average attendance of 17.8k over last 4 years

NHL is 5th with average attendance of 17.6k over last 4 years
[Post New]07/27/2019 12:58
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Anonymous
TV viewership and merchandising is probably a better measure than attendance. That’s where the dollars come from.
[Post New]07/27/2019 13:34
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Anonymous
Football doesn’t get mentioned in that other thread either, and it clearly is the most popular sport in the US.
[Post New]07/27/2019 15:54
quote
Anonymous
According to Wikipedia, soccer is no. 1 most played sport by high school boys in the Untied States and no. 3 team sport for high school girls.
[Post New]07/27/2019 22:11
quote
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:According to Wikipedia, soccer is no. 1 most played sport by high school boys in the Untied States and no. 3 team sport for high school girls.


Are you suggesting soccer is more popular than football, basketball, or even baseball?
[Post New]07/27/2019 23:36
quote
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:According to Wikipedia, soccer is no. 1 most played sport by high school boys in the Untied States and no. 3 team sport for high school girls.


Are you suggesting soccer is more popular than football, basketball, or even baseball?


Pre teen, yes. After that, no.
[Post New]07/28/2019 08:38
quote
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:According to Wikipedia, soccer is no. 1 most played sport by high school boys in the Untied States and no. 3 team sport for high school girls.


Are you suggesting soccer is more popular than football, basketball, or even baseball?


Pre teen, yes. After that, no.


Go into any elementary school and see what the kids are doing at recess, which jerseys and sneakers they are wearing, what are the conversations topics in the cafeteria. Even if their parents are signing them up to play soccer at that age most of those kids know Tom Brady and Lebron James. A handful might know or talk about Lionel Messi. NFL, NBA, MLB, March madness, college bowl games are just part of the culture.
[Post New]07/28/2019 08:40
quote
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:According to Wikipedia, soccer is no. 1 most played sport by high school boys in the Untied States and no. 3 team sport for high school girls.


Are you suggesting soccer is more popular than football, basketball, or even baseball?


Pre teen, yes. After that, no.


Go into any elementary school and see what the kids are doing at recess, which jerseys and sneakers they are wearing, what are the conversations topics in the cafeteria. Even if their parents are signing them up to play soccer at that age most of those kids know Tom Brady and Lebron James. A handful might know or talk about Lionel Messi. NFL, NBA, MLB, March madness, college bowl games are just part of the culture.


Not in north Arlington.
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