Unless you are one of the few Team USA soccer fans, you probably don’t know about the Confederations Cup currently being played in South Africa. The tournament acts as a World Cup tune-up for global soccer powerhouses, and normally public humiliation for American soccer fans.
Team USA advances to play Brazil in Confederations Cup Final
A six-goal swing in the standings after quarter final play allowed the Americans to advance to the Cup semis, played this afternoon, where the United States beat Spain (who was on a 15 game winning streak, and 35 game unbeaten streak dating back to 2006) 2-0. This stunning upset could be considered a “Miracle on Turf” and has led ESPN.com to ask fans the anti-climatic question, “Do you care?”
Its poll currently says 80% of the 35,000 respondents care “A Lot”, while only 7% have said “Not at all”. Yes it’s early and the game only ended an hour ago and people responding to the poll now probably watched the game, but if there’s so many die hard soccer fans in the United States, shouldn’t the MLS and its affiliates begin to pour marketing dollars into its product? Strike while the iron’s hot? Turn things around (since Beckham sure didn’t work)?
My answer is no, please don’t. While it is closing in on that time that comes every four years, when the World Cup is played, that soccer makes it on to ESPN (rather than ESPN2) and the bandwagon fans slightly turn their attention to the sport, it is no time to go overboard.
The MLS, while not at the level of many European leagues, is a good (not great) product. There is a large percentage of American children that are growing up playing soccer in some form, whether it be AYSO or club teams, that should be growing up to be MLS fans. This isn’t the case, and it’s not necessarily the MLS’ fault.
The problem lies in its “packaging.” Soccer, similar to hockey, is a great sport and even better sport to watch live. However, the speed, excitement, and violence of the sport is dulled in a TV broadcast. Regular season MLS games don’t carry the same excitement as World Cup games for viewers, and don’t receive near the ratings of other televised sports.
Rather than go overboard trying to force feed the sport as it currently is, the MLS needs to find a way to liven the broadcasts. Whether it be different camera angles or finding a way to get closer to the action, something needs to be done. The market is there, the excitement can be generated through the World Cup or Team USA success, but unless its presentation can be changed, it will continue to be a second tier sport in the United States.
The diehards won’t be discougared though, and as one fan puts it, “Soccer can’t be that bad, the rest of the world is on the bandwagon.”
