Posted on 05/04/2012 6:46:20 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican
Adidas (ADS.DE)'s $200 million sponsorship deal with Major League Soccer shows that the apparelmaker has noticed sports marketing's best-kept secret: U.S. soccer's audience is threatening to eclipse that of the National Hockey League and the NBA. The crucial thing to note in the new deal is that the $200 million pact is worth $25 million per year through 2018. It replaces, mid-contract, a 10-year deal for $150 million, or $15 million a year -- a 66 percent increase in annual value.
Why would Adidas make this expensive move? Consider: The MLS isn't broadcast to a large audience on TV (you have to pay for Fox Soccer Channel to see many of the games). The mainstream press's coverage of U.S. soccer is patchy at best and actively disinterested at worst (this means you, New York Times). And there's a cultural consensus that soccer just isn't important in America (ask any football or baseball fan).
Under that radar, however, the game that ought to be called American football is growing like mold. Here are some recent average attendance stats for the major American sports:
NFL - 67,508.69 (2009 season) MLB - 30,213.37 (2009 season) MLS - 18,452.14 (2010 season, as of 04/11/2010) NBA - 17,149.61 (2009/10 season) NHL - 16,985.31 (2009/10 season) Obviously, there's a caveat here: basketball and hockey teams play a lot more than once a week, so their total attendances are a lot greater.
(Excerpt) Read more at cbsnews.com ...
Today, sports that were not pleasant to watch on TV in the days of NTSC 4:3 aspect ratio broadcasting such as soccer and hockey are actually GREAT to watch in HD, mostly because you can now see essentially most of the game action in sharp clarity and widescreen display. That's why I really enjoyed the 2010 World Cup final (well, except for the Dutch team playing just too rough).
By the way, the untimely death of Junior Seau could be the trigger point for a major re-evaluation of American football, and it could begin the slow decline of the sport itself.
Obviously you’re a soft-headed marxist trolling FR.
Soccer is intensely un-american, and based on Marxist values.
With what we know now, it's unlikely that parents in upper and middle class families will allow their sons who are born in 2012 and later to play football.
It is a matter of demographics. One out of 8 is foreign born and it will be one in five in 2050. There are 40 million immigrants in this country. Soccer is the world’s number 1 sport. It is just a matter of time before it makes a big impact here.
The 1994 WC here in the US still holds the record for the most highly attended WC ever.
More and more the players are going to come from poor backgrounds in the hood.
Look what has happened to boxing, that serves as a cautionary tale.
American football is a real niche sport much more so than ice hockey or basketball.
Ice hockey and football used to end in ties until they changed the rules. And ties are not possible in soccer games once you move into the knockout stages of tournaments.
And with the Away Goals rule, even if both games are tied, odds are they won't even go to penalty kicks.
I wear a Barcelona cap every day. I enjoy both soccer and American football. I don’t know where you get that Marxist crap about soccer. You just show your ignorance about the game and its origins. It is the world’s number 1 sport by a long shot.
LOL!
Kobe Bryant’s contract is worth $136 million just by himself.
Exactly...it’s possible to enjoy football and soccer.
I like the EPL for the same reason I like college football, the tradition...the rivalries...and the passion of the fans...I love hearing the chanting of the crowds.
I wear a Barcelona cap every day. I enjoy both soccer and American football. I don’t know where you get that Marxist crap about soccer. You just show your ignorance about the game and its origins. It is the world’s number 1 sport by a long shot.
I am glad Pep stepped down...he has aged so much over the past few years....it’s no fun when only winning every title there is to win is considered success. I hope he comes to England for his next gig.
It was a shame to see Barcelona and Real Madrid get knocked out of Champions league final. Chelsea and Bayern will put on a good final. I will go to a local sports bar to watch it. Good atmosphere.
delusional
Yep. It is a tough job when so much is expected of you and every team saves their best shot for you. This was Real Madrid’s year. Still, the El Clasico is always a must watch event. Barcelona is still the world’s best in my mind and maybe the best ever. Messi is an artist who is so creative. Barcelona’s possession game is mesmerizing.
I saw the game when MC was down 3-1 to Sunderland, and Balotelli had his meltdown, I thought right there it was over...but they came back to tie the game late.....that saved their season. Wonder where they’d be if Tevez wasn’t such a wanker.
I saw the game with Sunderland. Balotelli is a great, young talent but something of a head case. Tevez is a prima donna.
LOL, after that game I was seriously thinking, that I would like to see somebody say soccer is boring after watching that game.
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