Football Ground Map
Football Ground Map
Is baseball better than soccer? Is soccer better than baseball? To answer these questions from a point of objectivity, we need to assess each as an individual sport. The truth is that each sport is a great sport by itself, and it's difficult to answer either of the questions in the affirmative.
The two sports are uniquely distinct from each other and therefore lack a common baseline for comparison. However, each sport is evolving and gaining popularity at a different rate. This article focuses on assessing the most popular between the two sports in 2022.
According to a 2017 poll by Gallup, 9% of Americans picked baseball as their favorite sport, while 7% chose soccer as their top pick. These statistics show that the two sports are equally popular in the USA. However, that was baseball's lowest popularity figure since 1937.
There is a possibility that Major League Soccer (MLS) will overtake Major League Baseball (MLB) as America's third most popular sports league. With the intensity of March madness and the FIFA World Cup around the corner, both soccer and baseball have equal chances at growing their popularity.
The betting aspect of the sports is set to grow in 2022, which is why you should take a look at MLB betting consensus for beginners and pros.
Some people will argue that soccer is better and more popular than baseball because it is more inclusive, has a wider range of play, and is more athletic. Below are some of the reasons why soccer is gaining more traction:
MLS has been one of the top domestic leagues in the USA since 1996. The league began with ten teams, but it has grown to a total of 28 teams. MLS team membership is projected to have grown to 30 by the end of 2022.
The league's average attendance of 21,556 between 2013 and 2018 ranks 8th in the world, trailing France's Ligue 1 at 21,556 and Italy's Serie A at 22,967, according to research conducted by CIES Football.
An expanded soccer league will mean establishing a national presence. This will go a long way in securing television rights that will help in the growth of soccer's popularity. The MLS takes credit for the growing influx of soccer fans in the United States of America.
The Major Soccer League has contributed to television viewership since its creation in 1996. Soccer games not televised nationally are still broadcasted by local and regional sports networks and TV channels.
In addition, there is an abundance of soccer viewership from around the world. This goes beyond the MLS to cover international leagues and games as well. The ability to watch and support your favorite leagues, clubs and tournaments sparks more interest in the sport.
Fox Sports and ESPN pay a combined $75 million for each season, while Univision Pays $15 million for each season in television rights.
The league has attracted the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, David Beckham (both LA Galaxy), Wayne Rooney (DC United), Thierry Henry (NY Red Bulls), Andrea Pirlo, Frank Lampard (both NYCFC), and Kaka (Orlando City), just to mention a few.
There are players that have made a name for themselves in the international soccer arena. With these soccer icons coming to the US national soccer league, we are seeing more and more soccer fans flooding stadiums.
Some of the major reasons why foreign soccer players are getting attracted to the MLS include lifestyle, increasing level of play in the league, and the money factor.
Besides attracting foreign players to the MLS, the league has also exported some of our soccer stars to the international soccer industry. As of 2019, there were about 36 American soccer players playing for top leagues around the world – majorly in Europe.
Christian Pulisic joined Chelsea after being purchased for $73 million from Borussia Dortmund. The transfer price was over three times the previous transfer record for a US player held by John Brooks.
Talent export is a major milestone for the MLS, and it's a move that will keep more American Soccer fans watching international and local games.
Different sports leagues offer different atmospheres. From the breathtaking views at the Allianz Arena to the noisy stands at Anfield, the atmosphere varies depending on a number of factors. Over the past few years, we have witnessed major improvements aimed at recreating the soccer atmosphere.
Some of the clubs that have embraced the revolution of soccer in the United States of America include FC Cincinnati, Portland Timbers, Atlanta United, and Seattle Sounders.
From expansion to soccer-hungry jurisdictions in Canada and the Pacific Northwest to building more soccer stadiums, the progress has enhanced MLS to become one of the popular leagues both domestically and internationally.
While soccer was thought to be a men's sport, we are seeing more and more women take up an interest in the sport. The US Women's National Soccer Team has won the World Cup several times in 1991, 1999, 2015, and 2019.
The USWNST defeated Netherlands 2-0 in France during the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup Final, right in front of circa 57,900 spectators. The team won all seven matches during the competition.
According to FOX Sports, the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup France finale delivered 14,271,000 viewers across FOX and other streaming services. It was typically the most-watched soccer match on English television in the US since its 2015 equivalent.
The 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup Final was a record-breaking event for FOX Sports' social media, which recorded 17.8 million views across all platforms. This outpaced the 2018 FIFA Men's World Cup Final by 18%.
Throughout the competition, FOX Sports collected almost one billion minutes of FIFA Women's World Cup digital content consumed across all FOX platforms. This was significantly huge for a country that is not heavy on soccer, compared to other popular sports such as American Baseball, basketball, and football.
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