The local channels put great interest in american football (NFL) and baseball, and very little coverage in mega sports cast. Such as ESPN, ABC, NBC, etc. The Spanish channels have great Mexican coverage but nothing beyond. MLS coverage is very minute. We often hear about "soccer moms" and their kids playing the game but that is all.
2007-03-14 06:43:36 · 8 answers · asked by ghostwriter415_2000 1 in Sports ➔ Football ➔ Other - Football
Yea you are right. We always are seeing American Football and baseball and basketball all over the tele, but never any soccer. Every once and while EPSN will show some UEFA CL and MLS coverage, but it's very rare. It's all based on demand, and nobody ever wants to know about soccer. Hopefully one day they will though, and we'll start to see more and more. It has gained some popularity and we are starting to hear more and more about soccer, so hopefully one day we will see a lot more of it on television.
2007-03-14 07:25:27 · answer #1 · answered by sweetpanther08 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It''s a cultural thing. Just like .... you don't see much coverage of bull fighting on US television. The interest isn't there right now .... on the professional level.
Possibly, if our hispanic/euro/asian populations keep increasing ...... the interest will increase.
I don't think soccer attracts the american consumer because the scoring and action is very low and drawn out. Not a great deal of contact either --- to compete with football. NFL
IT's similar to high school soccer ...... wrestling in HS and college ..... many womens sports. There's not enough interest or dollars to keep it going on the professional level so ..... Television has to sell space for commercials based on the number of viewers.
2007-03-14 13:56:07 · answer #2 · answered by burlingtony 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
On soccer moms and their kids, I think David Beckham (love him or hate him) says it best:
"I'll be involved at the grassroots with kids from eight to 15, then taking them on at the end of that, trying to keep their interest going, as that's usually when they stop playing."
American kids play soccer up to a certain age and then drop it for a number of factors, such as:
1) Other sports are more financially lucrative than playing soccer in the U.S. Who wants to play in MLS for $100k when you could make $5M in the NBA or NFL? You have to move to Europe to make the kind of money you get in the NBA or NFL.
2) Media coverage- This is kind of cynical, but the media glorifies football, baseball, and basketball so kids want to be like Peyton Manning or Lebron James. There's no soccer role model close to that stature in America. Look up to Landon Donovan?
3) MLS is not a top league in the world. It's probably not even as good as England's second division (The Championship League).
4) Too many cynics in the U.S. Kids keep hearing from adults- There's not enough scoring in soccer. Too much diving and acting in soccer- Why do they look like they are in extreme pain and then get up and run the next minute? Soccer players aren't tough. It's not natural for athletes not to use their hands, etc...
As a TV or media outlet, do you want to broadcast a world-class league (NBA, MLB, or NFL) or a second-class league like MLS? There is a whole lot of advertising money (and TV ratings) at risk in America so media outlets will choose the former safe choice rather than risk millions on MLS.
I do believe MLS is in the right direction, cutting a deal with ABC/ESPN for increased coverage and a prime Thursday night slot. Look at how NHL hockey has self-destructed. They chose to go on The VERSUS network (formerly the Outdoor Life Network) rather than ESPN for a few extra dollars. But most households don't get VERSUS on their cable package, and if you do... You have to search on channel 72 or 124 or some high number to find it.
It will take a while with some smart moves for MLS to be more visible in the U.S. sports scene. Beckham's signing will help but it's one step. The national team has to improve. MLS soccer play has to improve. MLS has to keep enhancing its marketing campaigns and TV deals to grow the sport. There should be more international club competitions between MLS teams and foreign teams- not just exhibitions.
2007-03-14 14:50:16 · answer #3 · answered by Frederick S 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because in a soccer game, fans are supposed to focus on the game, not chatting or buying snack or hot dogs, or finding their friends somewhere in a huge stadium. American sports allow them to do that as there are so many time-outs. I remember there was one time when Carlos Parreira was interviewed, he talked about the fans moving around in the stadium when the game was still on (not half time yet) It's the way it is in the U.S.
2007-03-14 15:19:36 · answer #4 · answered by Tuan 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Low scoring, low AD revenue, low player salaries, DIVING, historical reasons, and the availability of other more established American sports. In the US many kids take off their soccer cleats when they reach high school and focus on the more popular sports. I'm sure a lot of times football just looks like a bunch of Latin Americans and Europeans chasing a ball around and falling when they get brushed to many Americans, I actually like the sport itself and all the many competitions; league championships, league cups, champions league, international tournaments, they remind me of all the little competitions in college basketball.
2007-03-14 16:53:07 · answer #5 · answered by Meekha 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Because we like everything else but soccer.
2007-03-16 23:18:13 · answer #6 · answered by E-A-G-L-E-S 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yeah, that bugs me, cuz my coach always tells me to watch it on tv when i cant play, and all i can find is stuff in spanish!!!!
2007-03-14 15:55:43 · answer #7 · answered by M T 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
cuz americans are blind , so they cant see soccer
it is not soccer that is invisible
2007-03-14 13:51:28 · answer #8 · answered by pranoykedarnath(subri) 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋