Football losing to Soccer?

[alton]

With my age group it will never happen but my sons it may. They like watching high school and college but with the NFL they would rather watch soccer. With the NFL and NBA strikes I believe a few fans will leave to join the growing fan base of soccer? Another example both of my sons refuse to watch the WNBA because they say it is boring and slow, but both had to watch and went ballistic when the womens soccer team came from behind to tie the game down one player, and then win in the shoot out.
Just wondering what everyone else thinks?

[FireWater]

I know I have a severe distaste for the 3 "big" professional sports. Too much drama, but get me around high school and college football and watch out. Soccer has gained a large following in recent years due to some success at the world level. I just don't see it taking over professional football, basketball, or baseball. I played soccer from the time I was 5 through high school and I graduated in '92 and I could see the growth a little at a time. Everyone likes a sport when it is in the main stream as soccer is right now with the women's world cup. The enthusiasm will slow after the news quits reporting on it. How soon everyone forgot the heroics of Donovan for the US in the men's world cup.

[kkiel02]

I doubt it will happen as soccer isn't as fast pace as America wants. Its the same reason I dont see baseball being big again. I just think the excitement isn't there for us. Although in the world soccer is dominant. Look at Manchester Uniteds new stadium deal. Thats rediculous.

[ErikH]

I think baseball should not be called America's favorite past time. I love the NBA. The NFL, meh. Soccer is alright but I don't see it becoming the best sport in the US. Oh, hockey is way better too. It's like soccer, but with a smaller object, smaller goal, it's on ice, and people cream each other on the ice. Doesn't get much better.

[350gt]

My opinion is that I love football and basketball but I do agree they are filled with egotistical morons..... Drama aside, this years playoffs and finals is one of the best I have ever seen in the NBA, in my 32 years of course.Asfar as soccer taking over it won't happen, it's too slow. Yes its a hard game but not many Americans have that kind of patience. I know I don't. Hockey has no chance, and if it ever had the chance of becoming mainstream. It would been tamed because of the violence, just as the NFL has done and the NBA tries to enforce.

[Europhyllia]

soccer is not as fast paced as America wants???

Are you kidding me?

If they can suffer through football surely soccer has to be a step up?

I had to watch a football game live at the alamo dome and it was about the most boring thing ever!!!

Every few minutes the whole game has to stop! Is that really necessary? Or is it just so they can squeeze in more commercial breaks? Soccer keeps going and is way faster than football with its constant interruptions. I just don't have the patience for that.

I am not surprised that even Americans ( ;) ) are catching on to the fact that it's way boring and just some plot to fill as much advertising into a sport as possible.

[rrasco]

Hockey has been growing for years, and with the lockouts, it only stands to grow more. They're not taming up hockey, but they are tightening up rules to decrease the number of injuries, namely head hits and concussions though. Hockey gets a bad rep here, mainly because people won't give it a chance. Trust me, I've tried.

Hockey is huge in North America, it's just not very mainstream in the Texas, despite the fact Dallas has an NHL team (for 20 years) and there are several AHL teams located in/around our area as well. San Antonio Rampage, Texas Stars (Austin), Houston Aeros, etc. They did a great job of marketing the Rampage and I've seen a lot of people draw up interest because of it, which is great. Over the last 3 years I've been surprised by the increasing number of hockey talk I hear, that is not started by me. If it's not apparent, I'm an avid hockey fan. I pretty much live and breathe hockey when I'm not messing with my tanks. If it were colder here and there was an opportunity for more people to play, I have no doubt it would be much bigger, but we are technically out-of-market and the interest here dwindles because of it.

Of course, the NHL's biggest problem it is now facing is to re-negotiate the CBA before it expires, which I believe is at the end of the 2011-2012 season.

[FireWater]

soccer is not as fast paced as America wants???

Are you kidding me?

If they can suffer through football surely soccer has to be a step up?

I had to watch a football game live at the alamo dome and it was about the most boring thing ever!!!

Every few minutes the whole game has to stop! Is that really necessary? Or is it just so they can squeeze in more commercial breaks? Soccer keeps going and is way faster than football with its constant interruptions. I just don't have the patience for that.

I am not surprised that even Americans ( ;) ) are catching on to the fact that it's way boring and just some plot to fill as much advertising into a sport as possible.

Soccer is and was fun. People that are not as fluent in the sport and strategy of soccer just have a hard time grasping it. An hour and half to 2 hours and the score is 1 - nil? What? Are you kidding me? But, it is all the other stuff getting to that score that is the fun part. Karin, you grew up with soccer so it is different for you. It's kind of like people watching NASCAR just to see a couple cars crash - they get mad if they watch 200 laps with out carnage. Even though football stops at every down it is fast paced when the action is going.

Stalling for time? Now that is basketball. It takes them an hour to play the last 2 minutes because of all the time outs.

[kkiel02]

soccer is not as fast paced as America wants???

Are you kidding me?

If they can suffer through football surely soccer has to be a step up?

I had to watch a football game live at the alamo dome and it was about the most boring thing ever!!!

Every few minutes the whole game has to stop! Is that really necessary? Or is it just so they can squeeze in more commercial breaks? Soccer keeps going and is way faster than football with its constant interruptions. I just don't have the patience for that.

I am not surprised that even Americans ( ;) ) are catching on to the fact that it's way boring and just some plot to fill as much advertising into a sport as possible.

Its just a long time for usually 1 to 2 goals a game. The thing I HATE most about pro soccer is the flopping. Its just like basketball. I would try to not call it when I was a ref as it just takes away from the game.

Dont get me wrong I LOVE soccer. My dad is a Puma soccer rep so I have to. JK But on a more serious note I just dont think it will take over football in the US anytime soon even though I wish it would.

[danvan75]

For soccer to have a chance in the US, you would have to have the best players in the world come here to play. Just like the NHL, the best play here, but come from all over the world. Donovan"s goal was great, but his skills can not compare to players in Europe. Soccor is a great game and does have some run here in the US, but for a professional league to take a foot hold here you need those so called best players in the game.