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Football (soccer) bigger than the NBA in the USA?
06-25-2014, 08:36 PM
The NBA Finals, World Series, Super Bowl, Stanley Cup Finals are competitions between teams from two cities annually. The World Cup is a competition between nations every 4 years. People from Miami and San Antonio were glued to their sets, the hardcore NBA fan was just rooting for a good series, and everyone else could give two shits. Of course the whole nation is going to get behind their team in a quadrennial competition.
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Football (soccer) bigger than the NBA in the USA?
06-25-2014, 11:37 PM
It wouldn't hold a light to the NFL playoffs, but yes this does indicate something. Soccer will always have fragmented numbers, MLS draws flies on ESPN, but for big time matches people will tune in. Champions League does well too. There is a large base that will tune in for a big match but not much else.
C. Ronoldo is a elite star in the game. His name and branding helps. You would see similar numbers for England/Rooney, Argies/Messi, vs USA. Those are big nations with elite stars that people whom are casual fans know about, and whom die hards will not miss.
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Football (soccer) bigger than the NBA in the USA?
06-26-2014, 01:21 AM
Who knows. They say the demographics are changing though and the rest of the world loves soccer so with more immigrants to u.s. It would make sense that there are more soccer fans in the u.s. Rooting for the u.s. Just a theory...
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Football (soccer) bigger than the NBA in the USA?
06-26-2014, 06:57 AM
Everyone I know finds soccer to be boring, yet, I know several NBA fans. In the USA, popularity of a sport depends on region.
For instance, in LA, despite their NHL team having just won the Stanley Cup, nobody cares. LA is a basketball town. In other parts of the nation, like Wisconsin, Football reigns supreme.
But as a whole, the NBA is a lot more popular than soccer in America.
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Football (soccer) bigger than the NBA in the USA?
06-26-2014, 07:00 AM
It's growing... In twenty years, who knows.
If only you knew how bad things really are.
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Football (soccer) bigger than the NBA in the USA?
06-26-2014, 09:12 AM
If any sport is on the come up in terms of cultural popularity, it's college lacrosse. When everyone waxes poetic about the bright future of soccer in this country, they're actually describing what is/will happen to lacrosse.
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Football (soccer) bigger than the NBA in the USA?
06-26-2014, 03:36 PM
Not right now. But maybe in 20 years it will.
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Football (soccer) bigger than the NBA in the USA?
06-26-2014, 04:45 PM
In order for soccer to take off in the US, the MLS needs to get it's financial footing so it can attract top talent. Right now it's a place that Europe's talent goes to pasture. It's going to take more than 20 years.
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Football (soccer) bigger than the NBA in the USA?
06-26-2014, 05:10 PM
I think basketball has been declining in popularity.