Comments on: Observations from a soccer enthusiast

By: Group G

Group G — Wed, 18 Jun 2014 01:08:17 +0000

Great read, Mr. Mattson. Soccer IS growing in the United States. Regarding Major League Soccer (MLS), here’s some information from the current year.

MLS just signed a $90 million per year TV contract with ESPN/Fox/Univision this year. Not anywhere near NFL contract level but a significant increase from the previous $30 million per year deal.

New collective bargaining agreement is almost certain to increase the MLS salary cap. More money to bring in better talent and also help maintain MLS’ talent base.

Since 2011, average MLS fan attendance actually surpassed the average attendance of the National Basketball Association. MLS is now the 3rd most attended professional sport in the US.

NFL, NBA, and MLB ownership have staked their own claim in MLS franchise ownership/expansion. Not to mention Manchester City’s (English Premier League) partnership with the Yankees to bring fledgling New York Football Club to MLS in 2015.

Add to that, NYFC’s first signing is Spanish international David Villa (World Cup Champion, UEFA Champion, and La Liga Champion). I’m excited, for sure. And David Beckham’s looking to create a franchise in Miami (stadium pending).

Nearly half of the USA’s 2014 World Cup Roster comes from MLS (…and Brazil’s goalkeeper).

No doubt, soccer in the USA is growing in popularity by leaps and bounds!

By: chopsueyboy

chopsueyboy — Tue, 17 Jun 2014 20:40:06 +0000

Great win for USA over Ghana. Wish we spent less time on our half of the field, but glad we’re able to score the winning goal.

We had the opportunity to have former Notre Dame’s Mens Soccer Coach, Mike Berticelli, here around the year 2000 to coach our son’s team during Easter vacation. He shared his view that soccer wouldn’t be as creative in US until the kids just play. Too often with organize soccer, that’s all the kids have and don’t learn to be creative. They need to be more like basketball where you go one on one in a pickup game, or just play catch in football and baseball. Until kids in US grab a friend to go outside and kick a soccer ball, we’ll never move on.

Here’s a poem he wrote about a youth soccer coach

http://www.yourepeat.com/watch/?v=rO_UyVZ9ki0

By: Steve P

Steve P — Mon, 16 Jun 2014 21:29:22 +0000

Mr. Mattson brings an important point to the table. The media plays a key role in the promotion of any activity and could no doubt do more to help promote soccer.

By: Dave Reardon

Dave Reardon — Mon, 16 Jun 2014 20:47:19 +0000

If the ratings continue to trend the way they are, soccer will get more coverage in coming years, I think, as more editors and producers act on the numbers (as well as advertisers) … similar to MMA coverage.

By: innocent observer

innocent observer — Mon, 16 Jun 2014 20:37:40 +0000

agree with Mr. Mattson that soccer is a great sport for all. However, in the US, there are 3 major sports with longer history than soccer, played in separate seasons but spanning the whole year. Americans love baseball, basketball, and football. unfortunately, soccer while it has become popular in the US, it has yet to achieve a “major” sport status, that is why it is not covered much by the media.