Last week you would have thought that the greatest entertainer in the world Michal Jackson had risen from the grave and was performing on TV. Well that didn't happen but something drew seemingly regular Americans who had previously shown no interest in football a.k.a. soccer in the U.S., to tune in to a soccer match in Brazil. The game that had a nation racing to Google was the match between the U.S. and Belgium.
Traditionally, soccer has been the international sport America has turned its nose up at. With nearly 14 million people playing the sport in the United States, its hardly considered a mainstream sport. In fact, bass fishing and golf oriented television networks gets more distribution as a mainstream channel than a U.S. soccer channel. In 2013 Fox's all soccer cable network was shutdown; however its spinoff channel which carries international soccer and rugby matches as well as news still operates albeit in limited distribution in the United States. Fox Soccer Plus is available on satellite and a handful of cable systems.
The majority of Americans mostly ignored soccer until there was a glimmer of hope that the U.S. team could reach the finals. However I would attribute much of the change in attitude mostly on U.S. soccer sponsor's commercials hyping the event. McDonald's, Hyundai, Marriott, Budweiser, Degree and Nike just to name a few have blitz the American TV networks with advertisements centered on the U.S. team or the World Cup in Brazil. The advertisers have done what soccer enthusiasts have been unable to do for decades. Will soccer hold America's attention?
I was a fan of both soccer and ice hockey back when it was common place to see blood on the ice. So my question to my fellow Americans; where have y'all been? The rise of soccer in the U.S. may not be such a fluke. Just a few months ago Falcons owner Arthur Blank announced plans to start a MLS expansion team in Atlanta. They will play in the infamous and controversial yet to be built stadium that will eventually replace the Georgia Dome. A lot of sweat, tears and blood may be shed before we see a team play there at rate things are going. But that issue is a topic for a future post.
My hope is to be in line to purchase season tickets to Atlanta's inaugural soccer season. I pray that soccer in Atlanta doesn't turn into a major disappointment they way hockey did, not once but twice. B.T.W. I still have and wear my Thrashers gear. I still have the souvenirs from opening night and mementos from helping Philips Arena and the Thrashers open from my days working at Turner Broadcasting. Fun times!
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