Posted on 06/28/2006 6:19:45 AM PDT by Tatze
World Cup Scores Only Small Audience
Only 6% Following Tournament Very Closely
Despite a high level of media coverage for the World Cup soccer tournament, three-fourths of Americans (78%) are not following the action very closely if at all. A Rasmussen Reports survey of 1,000 adults found that just 6% are following the tournament very closely.
Nine percent (9%) of men are paying close attention along with 3% of women.
The Super Bowl remains the biggest sport championship in terms of fan appeal. Thirty-five percent (35%) of Americans say it’s their favorite championship to watch. The World Series is the only other championship to reach double digits—12% of adults say it’s their favorite.
One-fourth of all Americans (25%) say they don’t want any sports championships.
Despite the general lack of interest in the World Cup by the US audience, the soccer tournament is more popular than the NBA basketball championship and the NHL’s Stanley Cup hockey title. Both of those events were being held at the same time as the World Cup.
Fourteen percent (14%) of Americans say they played soccer in an organized league at some point in their life.
Fifty-two percent (52%) of Americans believe there is a professional soccer league in the United States (and they’re right).
The survey was conducted before the U.S. soccer team was eliminated. However, few were surprised by the lack of success--just 5% of the nation’s adults thought it was very likely the U.S. team would win the tournament.
The national telephone survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted by Rasmussen Reports June 19-20, 2006. The margin of sampling error for the survey is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence.
If you want to boost scoring in the game, allow hockey-style or lacrosse-style substitutions (unlimited, during play).
Lacrosse; my son plays it in college. There's a sport that's taking off. Contact, lots of running, strength, and eye-hand coordination. And a ball that can go 80 or 90 MPH.
Try it with a Jai-Alai ball. The most lethal ball of any sport. I used to play this sport and the ball is harder than a golf ball. Rule Number #1 is never get hit with the ball. Rule Number #2 is never forget rule number #1! LOL! Here's more info...
http://www.fla-gaming.com/tools.htm
I think Donavan is the highest paid US pro soccer player. I think he makes around $900k/yr. There might be others, not sure.
It was once proposed that the NBA start up a franchise in Mexico City. IIRC, the players shot it down. Air pollution in Mexico City is astounding. I also suspect that personal security might have been an issue.
"Where's the incentive for a elite athlete in the U.S. to take up soccer?"
Depends how you want to compare it. The MLS is obviously not going to pay as much as MLB, as the MLB league is the top of its profession.
However, if you compare to an elite league like La Liga or the Premiership, then things are looking better for the soccer payer. Brian McBride will be on over £1 million, possibly £1.5 million.
If you want to compare to the absolute highest paid, then David Beckham was on £20 million at his peak. That’s a lot of $$$.
I think the problem with soccer is that the field is too big. I also think that they should put waist-high walls around the perimeter of the field (like hockey). Those many time stoppers when the ball goes out of bounds slow down the pace of play. I think these two things would make the game much less boring to watch.
I agree as well. Although that would wear down the players even more as less time to breath.
I broke my finger (it was L-shaped) sliding in head first....caught my finger on the bag.
It stil doesn't work very well.
Soccer fields vary a lot in size. You see big ones because you're probably more used to seeing international matches.
The ball going out is no big deal. They often just throw the relevant player another ball.
I think Indoor Soccer (or fields with the walls) are far more exciting and fun.
Nope! Just an observation.
Hey, man, there was a video of this thing. Know where it is?
I don't who gets to declare what the "fairest" method of comparison is, but Polybius pretty much blew your argument out of the water in post 64.
"Pro Sports Industry Revenue Projections (Ranked by Projected Revenues, 2006, in $ mil.) Total Revenues: 2006
NFL ................. 6,524
MLB ............... 4,030
NBA ............... 3,838
NASCAR ... ... 3,423
NHL ................ 2,129"
Just for comparison's sake (I'm not trying to make some smart point here), total revenue for the English Premier League 05/06 season was $2.44 billion. That's in a country with a sixth of the population of the US, so there is money in soccer.
Nothing, really. I personally find car racing to be a bit boring, but I don't have anything against it. I just don't think NASCAR is at a higher level than the NFL in any apples to apples comparison. At the same time it beats the NBA all to hell.
I agree with you.
It could be there someday if two things happen: 1) Fantasy NASCAR catches on; and 2) Gambling on NASCAR takes off.
Take fantasy and gambling away from the NFL, and the popularity drops substantially.
With regard to racing, if you have a favorite driver and focus on the little things that make up the big picture in a race,(points, driver rivalries, drafting, handling, tire wear, pit strategy, etc.) the four hours of a cup race goes by in no time flat.
If you look at it as "big pack of cars going around in circles," I could see how it could get boring.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.