Soccer beats Hockey in the US

[Bear of Bad News]

Is a better more universal game then hockey,

???

Isn't saying "soccer is a better game than hockey" akin to saying that "red is a better colour than green"?

Without agreed-upon metrics, what the hell does "better" mean in this context anyhow?

As an aside, I don't go to Princeton message boards and write posts saying that Yale is better. Or go to green message boards proclaiming that red is better, for that matter.

 

[Diaboli]

News Flash: West Minster Dog Show beats Hockey in the US

But that is only due to the dense population of poodles in the USA.

Seriously, I don't know which one in general would be more popular, but fact of the matter is that neither are that popular. The only difference basically is that the World of Football don't need the USA. In contrast hockey, and in particular NHL, needs the USA.

That is just because football is basically the only sport in the world, except for maybe handball and criquette, that doesn't have a definitive best league in the world. I sincerely think that USA would never become interested in a sport in which it can't be the only country in the world to display the best talent in the world.

Just my $0.02...

 

[Hasbro]

It's not really cherry picking is it? the Gold Cup Final isn't exactly the best soccer can offer, it's in fact a bit of a diddy tournament without much relevance in the world of soccer. And Mexico plays the US all the time too. This wasn't some unique soccer contest that sparked everybody's fascination. But on the other hand what would be a bigger showcase for the NHL than the Stanley Cup Finals?

It's pretty obvious that the NHL as far as national TV viewership goes is below plenty of other sports, many a lot more embarrassing than soccer. Everyone knows soccer beats out hockey at the grassroots too. The one area where soccer in America can't beat out hockey is the level of the pro league. The NHL is more professional, more established and more popular than MLS. But the MLS is 3rd rate in soccer, the NHL is the best hockey can offer.

The point where soccer beats the US in grassroots is debateable. Yes the number of kids playing the game is big, but that hasn't translated into pro talent or following the game.

Is it crammed down your throats? Soccer gets barely more media attention in the US than hockey if that. Only the World Cup is really covered at all by the mainstream media and that's often enough in a novelty style. Soccer is mostly a foreign sport in America and thus by default doesn't get nearly as much play as homegrown sports. If you don't like soccer however you will perceive any kind of marketing effort on part of the sport as "cramming it down your throat"

For the most part. I'm reffering to all the lecturing articles that the US are ingorami, xenophobic, et al for not taking to soccer with the zeal of the world. The hyperbole devoted to Brandi Chastain being all that signifigant specifically the USA Today column suggesting it would be the reason we will have a woman president someday. The trope that we just don't get the game if he lack of scoring is a turn off. The quixotic claims that soccer is going to or has overtaken hockey, football, basketball or baseball. Every ******* time some brings out the tropes "soccer is the most popular sport in every other country" and "What you call soccer the rest of the world calls football" everyone knows that last one.

I would probably have at least a passing interest in the game if it weren't for the horrible and annoying way it is marketed.

 

[AM]

???

Isn't saying "soccer is a better game than hockey" akin to saying that "red is a better colour than green"?

Without agreed-upon metrics, what the hell does "better" mean in this context anyhow?

As an aside, I don't go to Princeton message boards and write posts saying that Yale is better. Or go to green message boards proclaiming that red is better, for that matter.

on an individual basis it is a preference issue.

Though let me ask you this question, if you cant play a sport, is it likely you'll think its better then a sport you can enjoy?

 

[Bear of Bad News]

Though let me ask you this question, if you cant play a sport, is it likely you'll think its better then a sport you can enjoy?

There are several examples to disprove your statement here, the most notable of which I've already mentioned above. For another example:

Anyone can play soccer; far fewer can play American football. Yet American football is much more popular as a spectator sport.

 

[Sotnos]

Though let me ask you this question, if you cant play a sport, is it likely you'll think its better then a sport you can enjoy?

No. One has nothing to do with the other. If participation equaled popularity as a spectator sport, soccer would be HUGE in the U.S.

 

[Wooty]

Why does anyone care if soccer gets better TV ratings?

Would your life be any better off if the NHL got better TV Ratings then the Super Bowl?
Why do you care?
Why do you spend so much effort bashing soccer?

 

[EbencoyE]

Thanks for the kind words.

Especially considering that, as stated, your comment isn't necessarily true. As a participatory sport, yes, soccer is more popular than hockey in the United States. As a sport for attending games or watching games or following the sport? You're going to need more proof than calling dissenters "mildly Pejorative Slured".

Participation leads to interest and knowledge in the sport. Not sure what further "proof" I need. It's just common sense.

When Joe Sixpack sees soccer on TV is more inclined to say "Oh, cool, I've seen/played this sport before. I wonder if my city has a team. I wonder if the U.S. is any good."

But when he sees hockey on TV he's probably more inclined to say "...The hell is THIS and why should I care?"

I guarantee that the casual American sports fan is more familiar with English Premiership players than they are NHL players. Atleast in my area anyway. When the World Cup was on you could have a knowledgeable soccer related conversation with almost anyone you met.

As for the MLS: My city doesn't have a team and I'm quite content with following Chelsea in the English Premiership, thank you. When the MLS is actually worth a crap maybe I'll waste my time watching it.

 

[BrianSTC]

Why does it surprise people that soccer gets better ratings in the US than hockey?

Women's cricket probably gets better rating in the US than hockey.

Great job Bettman!

 

[Bear of Bad News]

Women's cricket probably gets better rating in the US than hockey.

It's a good thing you didn't say "Correct me if I'm wrong..." this time.

 

[MLH]

I guarantee that the casual American sports fan is more familiar with English Premiership players than they are NHL players.

Once July 13th rolls around (or whenever Beckham comes to LA), I bet that a large portion of casual American sports fans won't be able to name a single soccer player playing in any European league. Unless "that Brazilian guy with one name" counts.

 

[BrianSTC]

It's a good thing you didn't say "Correct me if I'm wrong..." this time.

The sad thing is that my statement is not far from the truth

 

[nyrmetros]

I love hockey and soccer equally.
I love the NHL and MLS equally.
I love USA Hockey and USA Soccer equally.

Who's with me?

 

[5150]

This is just proof, USA the country is going down the drain.

When you have some foreign sport becoming so over, you know theres problems.

I fear for the USA's future.

 

[Bear of Bad News]

This is just proof, USA the country is going down the drain.

When you have some foreign sport becoming so over, you know theres problems.

I fear for the USA's future.

What?

 

[Gator Mike]

hardly any...its not some attitude..why would you expect us to watch the mls..when clearly the talent level is considerably less than other leagues.

So, among the other items not worth watching:

College Football
College Basketball
Junior Hockey
AHL
High School sports

Ive been told..soccer has been americas number 1 youth sport since 1970s and guarentee number with white kids...and nationally its still minute.

It amazes me that people don't think soccer has made any strides in the US since the 1970's.

If 20 years ago, you had told me...

1. That the US Men's National Team would consider it a huge disappointment to NOT qualify for the World Cup, and would be considered one of the top 15-20 teams in the world.

2. World Cup TV ratings would be approaching that of the NBA Finals or the World Series, and there would be three full-time soccer networks on US television.

3. There would be a stable, professional league in the US and that new soccer stadiums would be sprouting up in places like Salt Lake City, Columbus, and Dallas.


...I'd have said you were off your meds.

 

[DFF]

Major league soccer is still pretty bad here in the US.

But I live in Dallas (Plano) and pretty much every kid I know plays soccer....

I wont be surprised if the US become a soccer power in the next 5-10 yrs.

 

[nyrmetros]

This is just proof, USA the country is going down the drain.

When you have some foreign sport becoming so over, you know theres problems.

I fear for the USA's future.

Don't be so smug Canada. The FIFA World Youth Cup is smashing attendance records, and Toronto FC of the MLS (owned by MLSE) has sold out their season.

 

[nyrmetros]

Major league soccer is still pretty bad here in the US.

But I live in Dallas (Plano) and pretty much every kid I know plays soccer....

I wont be surprised if the US become a soccer power in the next 5-10 yrs.

MLS is not bad at all. Have you been to Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, texas yet? supposed to be a suburb of Dallas or something.

 

[krudmonk]

This is just proof, USA the country is going down the drain.

When you have some foreign sport becoming so over, you know theres problems.

I fear for the USA's future.

So...hockey is not foreign to the US? Thanks for the credit, foreigner.

I love hockey and soccer equally.
I love the NHL and MLS equally.
I love USA Hockey and USA Soccer equally.

Who's with me?

I like US soccer more than US hockey (ratio of players I dislike in league play), but I'm with you most of the way.

 

[nyrmetros]

Soccer was played in this country in the 1920's. Yankeee Stadium, Ebbets Field, the Polo Grounds.... they used to get 20, 000 people plus for many games back then. the big problem was that the leagues were NEVER managed right until MLS started in '96. Soccer is not a foreign sport to this country, especially when you consider that foreigners made this country.

 

[Hasbro]

This is just proof, USA the country is going down the drain.

When you have some foreign sport becoming so over, you know theres problems.

I fear for the USA's future.

It doesn't make one a xenophobe if they don't like soccer.

 

[AM]

you bet

I love hockey and soccer equally.
I love the NHL and MLS equally.
I love USA Hockey and USA Soccer equally.

Who's with me?

hockey and soccer are the best sports.

 

[Trottier]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/soccer/06/26/bc.soc.goldcupratings.ap/index.html

The Gold Cup Final showing USA vs. Mexico rated 41% higher than the final game of the Stanley Cup Finals. The numbers are probably even understated in favor of the soccer match considering it only tabulates one of the two stations that aired the soccer game.

Well....

As a long-time hockey and NHL fan, this should bother me why exactly?

As one who does not crave mass popularity for those things in life that I enjoy, it matters how?

As one who is not a TV exec (read: one who will benefit directly from increased rating$, as opposed to a measly fan, who won't), what's the point?

 

[EbencoyE]

As a long-time hockey and NHL fan, this should bother me why exactly?

As one who does not crave mass popularity for those things in life that I enjoy, it matters how?

As one who is not a TV exec (read: one who will benefit directly from increased rating$, as opposed to a measly fan, who won't), what's the point?

When the NHL can't even get a contract with Versus you'll care.

And if you want more proof that soccer is bigger than hockey in the U.S., take this into thought: There's over a million AMERICANS (read: just Americans) in the Manchester United fanclub. Thats more fans than most NHL teams probably have TOTAL. And that's just Manchester United fans. (But to be fair they are probably one of the most popular soccer teams in the world.)