Will David Beckham's arrival to MLS increase US interest in soccer?

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

Poll question: Will David Beckham's arrival to MLS increase US interest in soccer?

[SPKrazy]

1. Yes But Alas I Have No Local Team

I'd go see Beckham play if he played near here (Arkansas)

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

2. Soccer's a tough sell out there?

That sucks :(

[SPKrazy]

3. It's Gaining In Popularity

we have a lot of newly arrived Hispanics that have really added to the local soccer fare

Soccer at young ages is getting more popular- my son plays it and I help coach (despite the fact i don't really know what the hell I'm doing!)

But MLS, there's a possibility that a team might come to an area near here.

We have no pro sports except a minor league baseball team, a farm team for the Cards, in Arkansas, Oklahoma isn't much different

Dallas is only 5 hours away

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

5. I'm from CT so I feel your lack of pro sports

We had wthe Hartford Whalers hockey team *yawn*

All we have are the mighty mighty UConn Huskies basketball teams.

But we live in NY now so we can see the Red Bulls. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you guys :)

[billyskank]

4. No. The US is already replete with sport.

The only way a sport might gain popularity is slowly, over decades. I heard that 100 years ago cricket used to be popular in the US. Now not at all. So things can change, but not fast. The arrival of one person will not make a difference.

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

6. I think the tides have been turning. For years expat brits had no soccer in the US

Now with the internet and bigger TV deals it's everywehre - at least it is in the cities. Here in NY the World Cup was a really really big event - it sucked my wife and I into being fanatics. I think the time is right. It needs to become big in the inner cities to gain traction IMO. Basketball and Baseball really grew from being city sports.

[SPKrazy]

7. Soccer (Football) Is Gaining In Popularity

I think that famous players like Beckham, despite the fact that he's 31, will add to the attraction of it. No immediate surge in popularity, but I think it will gain.

A lot of parents like soccer better than American football for their kids to play. It is less about knocking people down and more about teamwork and ball handling.

I love to watch MLS when I can catch it on ESPN.

The world cup had me.

[Zomby Woof]

8. It would be great if it did

But I have a wait-and-see approach. I remember when youth soccer started to take off in the 80's, and back then I held out hope that when those kids came of age, they would help increase interest. Alas, that and hosting a World Cup only made minor inroads.

I remember when the Cosmos signed Pele. That should have been a turning point, but ever since the progress has been much too small.

But it can't hurt, and I admit I am glad he is playing in my back yard.

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

9. As I've said alot lately - I think the availability of foreign fottball is much

greater than it was even 5 years ago. In NY it's really big - there are, of course, many foreigners here. But I think it's catching. There's the Fox Soccer channel and ESPN coverage of the Champions league matches. It won't happen over night but big corporations can see how much money the sport generating elsewhere and it's only a matter of time before they start investing.

Well - I guess that time is now because no athlete has even been given nearly that much loot before.

[Zomby Woof]

12. Living in international cities like NYC or LA helps

There are some British pubs here and there which show football from all kinds of satellite feeds. Practically 'round the clock!

Yes, money infusions can only help. The increasing Latino population helps keep the popularity rising here. Chivas USA and the Galaxy have a good intra-city rivalry going as a result.

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

14. We have some of those round-the clock-pubs here too with brits singing

and drinking at 9 in the morning - it's really a beautiful thing to see the passion.

We also have tons of Irish folks here which also helps. I live close to Central Park and I've noticed an increase in people playing pick-up games. It's a good time to be a soccer fan in the US. It can only get better.

Nice talking to you ZW

[ceile]

10. I'd like to go see him play (yummy)

They're opening in(?) Houston on 4/8. I think that's worth a 3 hour drive. :shrug:

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

11. More sexy players means more interest

It works in England so it should work here

[billyskank]

13. That was just a sideshow

Beckham is an anomaly in that regard. Trust me, ugliness is no impediment to a footballer's career in England. ;)

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

15. You're trying to tell me that Peter Crouch isn't a hottie?

[billyskank]

16. I think you should make a poll

Ask the lounge. :)

[ceile]

31. Cute, but not "hot

he DOES NOT compare to Shay Given

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

32. NEWCASTLE!!!!!!!!!

:party:

[ceile]

41. IRELAND!

:bounce:

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

45. we both win!!!!

:bounce:


well - not as much as we'd like :D

[Phillycat]

17. David Beckham is so freaking hot.

...I'm sorry, what was the question? :evilgrin:

[BarenakedLady]

21. Oh, Thank you! Thank you!

*drool*

:9

[Phillycat]

22. I have tofind this other photo of him. I had it years ago. Let me work on it.

Be right back.

EDIT: This is is, but DAMN, I have to find a bigger one!

[av8rdave]

18. Sheeple in the US will never get into soccer. Why? because...

The game isn't a good format for television, IMO. That's why american football is so popular. That sport is a television producer's wet dream. Short bursts of action within a game you can delay at will for commercial spots.

I'm not dissing soccer, btw...it's a great sport. Unfortunately, the average american tv viewer just isn't going to get into it.

[musiclawyer]

40. Sorry dude, LOTS of people already into it.

Train already left the station. That argument could fly in 1977 but not now. Millions of you men and women have grown up playing and the one sport their kids know really well is soccer. ......And it's not worse a game for tv than american football. Soccer people tend not to like american football beause of all the unnecessary stoppage.

[av8rdave]

42. I won't argue with you that it's way more popular than ever here...

however, I was comparing it to the mass television audiences that american football generates. I agree that there is more interest than there used to be, largely because most of our kids play/played it. I still don't see it getting the coverage it should from mainstream sports media, again because the average non-athletic couch potato is conditioned to what he/she already sees on sports tv, and because I don't believe the major sports media can extract as many ad $$$ per hour than they can from american football.

[nini]

19. The Galaxy play about 3 miles from us

I can't wait to see the hype from this deal. It's gonna be crazy.

To answer your question - I think his presence will help the game here a bit - especially in L.A. But there are always going to be people who won't see the strategy in the game because there's no hitting and tackling :eyes:.

[T_i_B]

20. I can't help but feel....

...that Beckham being Beckham most of the hype will be in the gossip columns rather then the sports pages.

[LeftPeopleFinishFirst]

23. I hope so.

It's sad because I grew up with a generation of girls who watched and played soccer - as adults, we now have nothing in terms of women's league soccer... MLS is great but the only people watching it are those few who grew up playing soccer that didn't move on to another sport. It's a sport I love, but I just feel like most other Americans won't get into it.

[Brewman_Jax]

24. Definitely can't hurt

and, from reading the above posts, the ladies coming to see hot soccer players. That's a good thing.

[Mike Daniels]

25. If the Olympic girls team couldn't keep interest high....

Beckham isn't going to do it either.

[terrya]

26. David Beckham is hot.

I don't know if I'd go see him play soccer, though.

I'm just not a sports fan kind of guy. Sorry.

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

28. I understand

he is very attractive

[terrya]

37. Oh, my....

Yes..that is a reminder. One of the hottest men in any sport.

Thanks for the pic. Yum. :-)

[LeftyMom]

27. Nope.

Still don't give a flying fuck.

[sasquatch]

44. Hey, could you help me out please

Just click on the link in my sigline titled "Pardon Carmen Granata" and see if you could help out this poor young woman.

[buddhamama]

29. a couple of years ago it might have made a difference

but now, probably not. :hi:

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

33. I hope you're wrong

:hi:

[Anarcho-Socialist]

30. There is substantial US interest in soccer

but it mainly doesn't come from Caucasians, and it's that ethnic group which dominates the economic, political and cultural life of the United States. Hispanic-Americans and first and second-generation immigrants from other parts of the world seem to be very enthusiastic about soccer.

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

34. Do you think a blend can happen?

?

[LynneSin]

35. There is only ONE football team in Philadelphia

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

36. Yes yes - very nice

We know of your philly fetish


:)

[VenusRising]

38. I hate soccer.

And I really hate "Becks". And I really really hate Posh.

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

46. Wow - how nice of you to let us know

I love it

[musiclawyer]

39. No, soccer has its own nice little niche in the US

He might put a few more butts in seats for a few years, but MLS has done a nice job so far. Interest in the game comes from kids having played it, watched it on tv, grown up with it, taught other kids the right way to play, followed the national teams etc. Soccer's gradual climb is generational in this county. Big games already blow away hockey's bigest games ratings-wise. It taked over hockey as the fourth sport when the USA men get into the rounds of 8 at sme future world cup. Beckham is just gravy.

[SKKY]

43. Yes, I do believe it will, considering how MLS has grown...

...and if there is a god in heaven, it will kill Hockey in the process.

[Gatchaman]

47. Before today, I did not know that LA had a major league soccer team

Generations of kids have been playing soccer (remember the "soccer moms") yet nobody in the US gives a shit about professional soccer. For the handful of people who have heard of this guy outside of that movie title (Bend it like Beckham), it's like the second coming of Christ. For the other 99.9% of the population, the only interesting thing here is that a former Spice Girl is moving to LA.

Thee years from now, he will have retired, and no one will even think about this. Not being mean or anything, just telling the truth.

[xchrom]

48. it certainly increases the chances of me becoming a stalker.

sigh -- david beckham -- sigh.

[MrSlayer]

49. No chance at all.

I think he'll like it here though. He will be able to walk around in public and no one will know who he is.

[dolo amber]

50. I'd hit it

:thumbsup:

Wait...that wasn't the question... :freak:

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

56. you'd "tap that ass"?

duly noted

[Scout1071]

51. Hell Yes! Ha! Chavez -

My post a few days ago in your football thread:

Scout1071 (1000+ posts) Tue Jan-09-07 05:01 PM
Response to Reply #34
82. Chavez, I hope you give them a try this year.
Edited on Tue Jan-09-07 05:04 PM by Scout1071
The game has improved exponentially since the league started 10+ years ago. I was there in the beginning and it was the glorified big brother of the US indoor game. Now, however, is a bona fide league. I wish they would completely dump the original names and give them more traditional soccer names (this is slowly happening across the league with FC Dallas, Real Salt Lake, etc.) The mistake they made early on with the names was they allowed the shoe companies to come up with the names so they could market to kids. This was in the hey-day of the "Toronto Raptors" and other kid-oriented marketing schemes. But, Americans wanted football, not some US variation of it. So, they've spent the last 5 or more years trying to transition to the "World's Game", including a number rule changes (thank Gawd). And it is working.

Very soon you will see major partnerships with the EPL. Many more player tranfers between Europe and the US. Ronaldo and Beckham have spoken openly about their desire to play in the US and help form this league. Beckham already has a residence in LA (along with his soccer camps) and he named his son after Brooklyn. The Red Bulls organization has been working to bring him to NY. And they have the money to do it. We are not talking about when he's in his 40's as some type of retirement plan. I would imagine that you will see a major signing or two like this in the next 12-18 months.

You can't build Rome in a day. But I can promise you that the "world's game" will be coming to a pitch near you. And they will be competitive worldwide. Just give it some time. And patient support.

Scout

On edit - Chavez, if you don't fall in love with the new soccer stadium they are building, I'm flying out there to personally refund your money.

[musiclawyer]

52. millions of pre-teen and teens live in houses

where Fox Soccer Channel and GOL TV is on all the time, where top tier leagues and players are on display 24/7. That is the difference from NASL days. Many of these kids could care less about baseball, football, basketball and hockey. And they will have kids and become coaches, etc and pay money to see next best thing--MLS. My prediction, MLS will will have sold out houses regularly before the US men get to a world cup round of 8, and that's because big names will follow Beckham while they are still not too far removed from their prime. My other prediction--corporate logos(sponsor logos) will be prominently on the jerseys of MLS players within 10 years, just like the rest fo the world. The NFL grew based on the largesse of wealthy men. MLS will grow based on the greed of corporations. My final prediction, as the weather gets more and more F**ked up, Europe eventually will go to a February - November calendar (as has already been proposed) and thus basically be in line with the MLS calendar. Ironic.

[Scout1071]

53. Yes.....and clarification.

MLS will be a success long term. Beckham was the first and more will follow. Ronaldo has openly talked about MLS in the last year. The NY Red Bulls will most certainly sign a name equally as big.

As far as the logos on the jerseys, that has been around since Day One of MLS. But, beginning this year, they will be more prominently featured.

As each city in the league completes their soccer specific stadiums, you will see a huge shift. If you've never been in a 25-30,000 seat, true soccer stadium, then you don't know what you are missing. It's incredible how much larger a true soccer field is than a football field. With the growth of these stadiums, a growing youth development into pro system that is paying dividends, and so many of our talented players going over to Europe, it is only a matter of time before the US is on even pitch with Europe. And the US has already made it to the World Cup Quarterfinals in 2002 in Asia.

As far as the NFL growing from wealthy men, Lamar Hunt, Phil Anschutz and the Kraft Family have invested much more than $250 million dollars in soccer in the US. I would probably put it at closer to $400 million at this point. Because of their investment, soccer is growing here. And the corporations will surely follow. Robert Kraft and Lamar Hunt founded the NFL too. They understood that it would take time.

Ten years ago, US Soccer said it's goal would be to win the World Cup by about 2022. Fifteen more years of this kind of growth sounds about right to me.

I, for one, am looking into South Africa for World Cup 2010.

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

54. Fair enough my friend

fair enough

[YellowRubberDuckie]

55. No.

I love me some Becks, but American "Soccer" just isn't the same as the balls to the wall Football of the Premiership. I wish Becks would go back to the Red Devils. God, it's not the same.
Duckie

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

57. Yeah - you guys are struggling without him

:eyes:

[YellowRubberDuckie]

58. No, not struggling...

But after the world cup, it's just not the same without him.
Duckie

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

59. You mean England?

[YellowRubberDuckie]

60. Yes.

After watching him and my boy Rooney kick ass (as briefly as it was), I'm hungry for more...and then who did I get instead of Becks? Chistiano Ronaldo. God, I still can't stand that guy.
Duckie

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

62. Ronaldo might be the best player in the world right now

a much better midfielder than Becks ever was

[YellowRubberDuckie]

64. Well, I don't disagree...

But I know a lot of people who are still pissed off at him for over-reacting to Rooney's accident in their final game and getting him ejected.
Duckie

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

65. He still gets booed all over england for it

Being a ManU hater I love it

:evilgrin:

[EnviroBat]

61. Ugh, why did I come to this thread?

:puke:

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

63. Um - what do you mean?

:shrug: