The Rise of Soccer in America
Taso Davros
JRN-111
It is astonishing to think that soccer, or football as it is called in the rest of the world, is the oldest sport in the world with the oldest club being formed in 1857(Sheffield F.C.). However, soccer is it still not considered a ‘top 3’ sport in the United States, but that is changing very quickly. Thanks to the recent World Cup in Brazil, viewership in the United States rose dramatically compared to those in the past. With the United States soccer team getting progressively better every year, soccer fanatics and even casuals felt they had to tune it to watch their teams journey through the World Cup, but they also knew it would be a difficult one.
Being on the scene at one of the World Cup games where the United States was playing their bitter rival Ghana, it was evident how much this country was beginning to like and appreciate this sport and the national team. The atmosphere at this outside venue in Chicago was buzzing, with hundreds of people showing up in red and blue to support and cheer on their team. It was a sight to behold, especially when Captain Clint Dempsey scored very early on in the game to put the US up one goal to nil. But why the support around this team suddenly so vast and important? What had sparked this craze for Americans to go out to bars and restaurants, streets and outdoor theaters, to watch their beloved team? There is something about soccer that brings everyone together, the feeling that your voice and chants could help spur the team to victory when everyone was against them. It’s a sport where the non-stop action gets people going mental and the ups and downs of the game can make your heart beat faster than it probably should. The unpredictability of it all is what attracts fans, young and old, businessmen, or blue collar workers, they all love it. According to the New York Posts article however (http://nypost.com/2014/07/14/soccers-growth-in-us-measured-in-the-time-between-world-cups/), it is likely that soccer’s popularity will decrease after the world cup is over, and TV ratings will also plummet. This is very likely because of the lack of emphasis and following of club soccer in this country. However, this could change in the coming years because of the expansion of many club teams here with star players coming from Europe to play for them. An example is Ricardo Kaka, one of Brazil’s greatest footballers who has played for some of Europe’s greatest club teams over the years, decided to come play for the new expansion team Orland City. This is a huge market move for Major League Soccer and soccer in America as a whole. The marketing that has been done to promote this sport and the league has been incredible and it can only help for years to come.
One of the ways that FIFA and the MLS is trying to promote the sport is by bringing huge Europe teams in to stadiums all across cities in America. One of these cities happened to be Chicago, where England powerhouse Liverpool were set to play Greek Champions Olympiacos in a friendly on the 27th of July. Many fans from both teams were expected to show up to Chicago’s Soldier Field that afternoon, but not many people were expecting a nearly sold out stadium. But why were so many fans so intrigued by this match-up even though it was just a friendly? It was apparent that these teams from around the world had suddenly had an effect on American fans, who go and watch these games at pubs and bars as early as 7 in the morning to support their teams. “It’s an amazing atmosphere and I really enjoy coming here”, said James Ingles who is a lifelong Arsenal fan. So why not go support your favorite team when theyre in your home city? That’s what thousands did on July 27 and it made for an amazing scene and event. Because of this, cities around the country who hosted these marquee matchups had received incredible support from its people and fans, and nearly every city from Miami to Portland sold out its stadiums which nobody had expected. Referring back to the New York Post article, Major League Soccer is still young, only about 20 years old, so the league has time to grow still and attendances are going up every year in each city that has a team so the upward curve is still there. Soccer is ranked 5th just behind hockey in the list of most watched sports in the United States, but many analysts and experts believe soccer will surpass both hockey and baseball in the next five years, which will be an unbelievable achievement for both Major League Soccer and fans around the country. Overall, I think the sport of soccer has had a huge impact on this country and will continue do so. It is the most watched and played sport in the world for a reason, so it would be a shame if this country didn't accept it and embrace it.
