This article on why Soccer's time is now in the US has some intriguing numbers in it
Soccer's time has finally come, to dismay of sport's haters
Quote:
Or we have the St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Brian Burwell: "Is there anyone who believes (soccer) will ever rise above the NHL or even the WNBA, and become a core American sporting pastime?"
Hmm ... let's see. Average MLS attendance (mostly pre-Beckham): 14,913. Average WNBA attendance this summer: 7,643. Heck, the smallest crowd at an MLS game this season was 7,100.
Oh, and that average MLS attendance, which certainly will perk up when Becks finally starts bending it, is better than six NHL teams.
Fact is, the unfairly maligned MLS is the 12th-most attended top-flight soccer league in the world, according to the BBC, which also pointed out that the 2006 World Cup final attracted more television viewers than any game of the 2005 World Series.
Folks, soccer is advancing from the sports periphery. It won't arrive overnight. And it won't just because of Beckham. He'll accelerate the process. Despite what the grumps say, he's still an excellent player. But there's a dainty shyness about him and his voice is famously thin. He'll work better as a symbol rather than a charismatic spokesman.
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This is part of why I think that MLS has major issues. while it isn't a top 15 league for talent quite yet, it is for attendance. It compares well to the NHL, especially when the final numbers are in, and yet it won't get the respect from the media.