1. Advertising
    y u no do it?

    Advertising (learn more)

    Advertise virtually anything here, with CPM banner ads, CPM email ads and CPC contextual links. You can target relevant areas of the site and show ads based on geographical location of the user if you wish.

    Starts at just $1 per CPM or $0.10 per CPC.

How well does soccer do when there are options?

Discussion in 'Sports' started by tbarr60, Jul 7, 2006.

0
Page 1 of 2
  1. #1
    I have been pondering the game that markets itself as the "beautiful game". My grandfather played professionally in Scotland, my daughters have found success in it at early ages, and I watch as much of it as I can. I observe great passion for a variety of sports here in the US but I am somewhat amazed at the passion for soccer in many countries.

    I speculate that a part of this is that it is the only game available so it gets extra focus. In the UK, Cricket and Rugby are played but I don't get the sense that they are nearly as popular as Soccer. In other developed countries where Soccer is big, are there any other sports that really compete with Soccer for the country's sports passion?
     
    tbarr60, Jul 7, 2006 IP
  2. .bmp

    .bmp Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    130
    Likes Received:
    3
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    110
    #2
    Rugby and Cricket are huge in the UK - soccer has probably the largest fan base though -with argueably the best premiership league in the world.
    Motorsports comming in high too, so many series that originate from the UK and that are UK only, all the upcoming stars start thier career here - Nelson Piquet Jr as a prime example, lives in the UK, does all the UK series and the Euro series - set to be the next F1 genius
    and i won't start with all the engineering genius's that have come from the UK in the top F1 teams ;)
     
    .bmp, Jul 8, 2006 IP
  3. tbarr60

    tbarr60 Notable Member

    Messages:
    3,455
    Likes Received:
    125
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    210
    #3
    Who would argue that the English Premier League is not the top in the world? It certainly draws the top players in the world save a few that venture off to Madrid and a few other places.

    What is typical attendance at Rugby and Cricket? From what I see on Sky Sports highlights, the Cricket venues have 10 rows and many empty seats. I attended a match between New Zealand and Austraila in Adelaide and it seemed to be a bigger venue and well attended (more than 10,000??).

    Here's what is seen in attendance at the major pro leagues and major college events in the US:
    • National Football League: 50,000 to 80,000
    • College Football 40,000 to 110,000
    • National Basketball Association 18,000 to 22,000
    • College Basketball 10,000 to 22,000
    • Major League Baseball 20,000 to 55,000
    • National Hockey League 15,000 to 22,000
    • Major League Soccer 10,000 to 25,000
    Soccer is having a tough go in the states despite millions of boys playing it at an early age. The bigger ones gravitate to football and basketball leaving only guys like Landon Donovan to be the stars. On the girls side, soccer is one of the top sports along with softball and basketball.
     
    tbarr60, Jul 8, 2006 IP
  4. sarahk

    sarahk iTamer Staff

    Messages:
    28,641
    Likes Received:
    4,486
    Best Answers:
    123
    Trophy Points:
    665
    #4
    At NZ cricket matches the 5 day tests are poorly attended - hundreds rather than 10s of thousands but it's a different story with the one day matches and the 20/20 or whatever they're called. As the saying goes "good games a fast game"

    Our population is smaller so the size of the stadiums needs to be also but Eden Park which is one of the biggies is being extended to hold 60,000.

    Soccer is played more than Rugby at the grass roots, saturday morning kids level but Rugby is watched more and there is hostility from Rugby followers towards Soccer.

    I reckon Soccer could do with a shake up. It's really exciting watching my boy play but even he was bored this morning having been dragged out of bed to watch the final. 1-1, yeah right. They have to loosen it up somehow. Basketball is the other extreme - goals mean little because there will be another along shortly.

    I don't know what would be ideal 5 or 10 goals per half perhaps?
    And I don't know how you manipulate the game to make that happen but it's time...
     
    sarahk, Jul 9, 2006 IP
  5. MELLA

    MELLA Peon

    Messages:
    5,189
    Likes Received:
    267
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #5
    Please repeat after me: Football.

    F-O-O-T-B-A-L-L.
     
    MELLA, Jul 9, 2006 IP
  6. sarahk

    sarahk iTamer Staff

    Messages:
    28,641
    Likes Received:
    4,486
    Best Answers:
    123
    Trophy Points:
    665
    #6
    Kiwis are quite good at coping with the terminology used in foreign lands but when at home footie could refer to soccer, rugby or league.
     
    sarahk, Jul 9, 2006 IP
  7. The Webmaster

    The Webmaster IdeasOfOne

    Messages:
    9,516
    Likes Received:
    718
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    360
    #7
    Mella repeat after me: Cricket

    C-R-I-C-K-E-T.

    Yepp I am a huge Cricket fan, I love football, baseball, F1, Boxing, too.
    But if I have to chose over other options I'll always go for Cricket.
    Any match between India Vs Pakistan or Australia Vs England would go house full, no matter whether it is ODI or Test..
     
    The Webmaster, Jul 9, 2006 IP
  8. Hermit

    Hermit Guest

    Messages:
    5
    Likes Received:
    0
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #8
    FOOTBALL is definatly the most popular sport on Earth and yes it is far more popular than rugby and cricket.
     
    Hermit, Jul 9, 2006 IP
  9. MELLA

    MELLA Peon

    Messages:
    5,189
    Likes Received:
    267
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #9
    FOOTBALL for me.

    Criket, Rugby and Tennis are *quite* popular in England but nothing, and I mean nothing, comes close to Football. As a nation we are mad on it!

    I freakin' LOVE footie. I'm so sad that the World Cup is over, i've really loved having so much football to watch - it's been great. I can't wait till the next PL season starts. C'MON ARSENAL!
     
    MELLA, Jul 9, 2006 IP
  10. sarahk

    sarahk iTamer Staff

    Messages:
    28,641
    Likes Received:
    4,486
    Best Answers:
    123
    Trophy Points:
    665
    #10
    The fanbase is where the money is but down here the sports with the $$$ and the fanbase aren't the sports people are ACTUALLY playing.

    They're far more likely to be into triathlons, tennis, squash or cycling.
     
    sarahk, Jul 9, 2006 IP
  11. Hermit

    Hermit Guest

    Messages:
    5
    Likes Received:
    0
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #11
    Yep, Englands national sport, and before anyone argues there are 33.9 million football fans in the world, compare that to any other sport and you will fall short.
     
    Hermit, Jul 9, 2006 IP
  12. The Webmaster

    The Webmaster IdeasOfOne

    Messages:
    9,516
    Likes Received:
    718
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    360
    #12
    Fanbase of Soccer is ofcourse far better than any other game on this planet..

    I love watching Soccer but I am just a Cricket guy.. Not much into Tennis.
     
    The Webmaster, Jul 9, 2006 IP
  13. sllik

    sllik Active Member

    Messages:
    419
    Likes Received:
    1
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    53
    #13
    I completely agree. Football is easily the most watched/played sport.
     
    sllik, Jul 9, 2006 IP
  14. tbarr60

    tbarr60 Notable Member

    Messages:
    3,455
    Likes Received:
    125
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    210
    #14
    The question is not the popularity of Association Football but rather how it does when there are other options. Let's get back on topic.
     
    tbarr60, Jul 9, 2006 IP
  15. Blitz

    Blitz Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    1,208
    Likes Received:
    48
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    155
    #15
    In the UK nothing really comes close to football. I think it's like this is most European countries (France, Spain, Germany, Italy ect).

    Cricket, Rugby and Golf are quite popular whenever it's an international game (The Ashes, Six Nations and Ryder Cup) but football is far more popular all year round.
    Football is obviously the most watched, not sure about how the others are placed, but I would say then Rugby, then Cricket, then Golf.
     
    Blitz, Jul 9, 2006 IP
  16. sarahk

    sarahk iTamer Staff

    Messages:
    28,641
    Likes Received:
    4,486
    Best Answers:
    123
    Trophy Points:
    665
    #16
    Are you talking about watching or participating. Certainly the media drive a dominant sport so that it feels like there isn't anything else...
     
    sarahk, Jul 9, 2006 IP
  17. tbarr60

    tbarr60 Notable Member

    Messages:
    3,455
    Likes Received:
    125
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    210
    #17
    Watching is what I am asking about. I would guess there is nothing bigger than the All Blacks in New Zealand. If kids in NZ are playing soccer more than rugby, that parallels kids playing soccer in greater numbers here but watching NFL football. Soccer starts at age 4 here and most boys that play football don't play until about 12 years old in junior high school.
     
    tbarr60, Jul 9, 2006 IP
  18. sarahk

    sarahk iTamer Staff

    Messages:
    28,641
    Likes Received:
    4,486
    Best Answers:
    123
    Trophy Points:
    665
    #18
    Oh no, but any truly world class sporting event does really well down here. The "footie" had record viewing levels even though our team didn't even qualify. The America's Cup (remember Dennis Conner?) will see the streets deserted. The Melbourne Cup too... The airlines put on special flights when the Melbourne Cup (horses and tennis) is on.

    That said after the superbowl or whatever it was a few years ago all we really saw were the nipple shields!
     
    sarahk, Jul 9, 2006 IP
  19. infonote

    infonote Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    4,032
    Likes Received:
    68
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    160
    #19
    Football (soccer) is the most popular in Europe. However Europe has other popular sports like


    MotoGP, Formula 1, Wimbledon, Tour de France etc
     
    infonote, Jul 10, 2006 IP
  20. MattUK

    MattUK Notable Member

    Messages:
    6,950
    Likes Received:
    377
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    275
    #20
    I guess it depends where in the world you are, there are probably only a few global sports, even rugby and cricket tend to be confined to the ex/Commonwealth countries.

    800 Million worldwide watch the superbowl final
    The viewing figures for this years even aren't in, but it's expected to beat the World Cup 4 years ago with 1.2 billion, or 1 in 5 people on earth.
     
    MattUK, Jul 10, 2006 IP
Page 1 of 2