Soccer beats Hockey in the US

[Rocket]

We have a third tier soccer team that used to play out of a high school football stadium. We're a real soccer hot bed.

Until there's an MLS team present we can never know which city is a soccer hotbed. Toronto Lynx, a second tier team for example, used to draw between 2,000 and 3,000 spectators per game. Many MLS fans complained that the league shouldn't expand to that market because they would not have a big enough fan-base. Well, Toronto FC have sold out their entire season (will average over 20,000) and have 3,000 people on their season-ticket waiting list.

 

[YearsintheWilderness]

Here's a question: Who are bigger fools, the people in charge of the English Premier League or the NHL?

A former 3rd world dictator with the blood of thousands on his hands just bought an English Premier league team for about 165 million US.

The NHL won't allow one of Canada's most successful businessmen to buy a struggling franchise for 240 million US.

Tough one...

 

[mmk786]

A former 3rd world dictator with the blood of thousands on his hands just bought an English Premier league team for about 165 million US.

He was not a dictator, he was democratically elected though his government was overthrown in a bloodless coup.

 

[YearsintheWilderness]

He was not a dictator, he was democratically elected though his government was overthrown in a bloodless coup.

Perhaps by the strictest definition he wasn't, though democratically elected politicians can certainly become dictators once in power.

He was well on his way to becoming a dictator. Human rights abuses, corruption and censorship as a result of his single minded attempt to **** the country for his personal profit were likely at levels as high as during "actual" dictatorships of the past.

 

[nyrmetros]

Until there's an MLS team present we can never know which city is a soccer hotbed. Toronto Lynx, a second tier team for example, used to draw between 2,000 and 3,000 spectators per game. Many MLS fans complained that the league shouldn't expand to that market because they would not have a big enough fan-base. Well, Toronto FC have sold out their entire season (will average over 20,000) and have 3,000 people on their season-ticket waiting list.

and MLSE runs TFC and TML and TR and ACC and BMO Field.

 

[Hasbro]

and MLSE runs TFC and TML and TR and ACC and BMO Field.

And are BMFs besides.

 

[hullsy47]

One thing to keep in mind, many American soccer fans like me who either don't get Fox Soccer Channel or don't have cable watched the game on Univision. So not all of those numbers reported from the Spanish language channel belong to the latinos.

hockey is regional .....there are as many mexican americans as there are all hocky fans in the US /CANADA combined..

 

[Fugu]

hockey is regional .....there are as many mexican americans as there are all hocky fans in the US /CANADA combined..

There are even Mexican Americans who might like hockey, and maybe live in regions where hockey does well. One thing has nothing to do with the other.

 

[Finnen]

Top 10 Most Popular Sports In America (2023 Statistics) – BiglySports

Biggest sports in America:

1. American Football (139.1 Million Fans)

2. Basketball (121.2 Million Fans)

3. Baseball (113.3 Million Fans)

4. Soccer (97.4 Million Fans)

5. Hockey (73.5 Million Fans)

6. Boxing (55.6 Million Fans)

7. Golf (25 Million Fans)

8. Tennis (21.64 Million Fans)

 

[Takuto Maruki]

Holy necro bump, Batman

 

[archangel2]

Holy necro bump, Batman

that is what I was thinking. Hockey is and will always be a niche sport in the USA

 

[Tawnos]

that is what I was thinking. Hockey is and will always be a niche sport in the USA

There's no such thing as a niche sport that generates more than $5B in revenue, which the American teams did last season. Hockey fans only say that because they have an inferiority complex about this topic for whatever reason.

It's beyond doubt that soccer is catching up, but it hasn't passed hockey yet. The MLS probably will never catch the NHL, but soccer revenue is likely somewhere around $4B in the US at this point once you include all the broadcasting rights agreements (i.e. the EPL contract is worth $450m per year).

 

[varsaku]

There's no such thing as a niche sport that generates more than $5B in revenue, which the American teams did last season. Hockey fans only say that because they have an inferiority complex about this topic for whatever reason.

It's beyond doubt that soccer is catching up, but it hasn't passed hockey yet. The MLS probably will never catch the NHL, but soccer revenue is likely somewhere around $4B in the US at this point once you include all the broadcasting rights agreements (i.e. the EPL contract is worth $450m per year).

Soccer fandom is too fragmented across multiple leagues. If viewership was concentrated on one league then the TV rights would command a much higher fee.

that is what I was thinking. Hockey is and will always be a niche sport in the USA

Its honestly amazing how big the NHL has managed to get despite being niche and fairly regional sport.

 

[Finnen]

I am surprised how soccer is past hockey in America.

MLS is nothing compared to Europe.

Or Americans prefer national teams?

 

[varsaku]

I am surprised how soccer is past hockey in America.

MLS is nothing compared to Europe.

Or Americans prefer national teams?

Liga MX is the most popular in the US. They get a lot of Hispanic viewers. Then it is the Premier League and followed by others.