DISQUS

Jon · 5 months ago

I think it depends on if you're talking about international soccer or MLS. Comparing the MLS and NHL then I'd say hockey definitely has a brighter future. But looking at the ratings and interest for international soccer here, World Cup, Confed Cup, Euro, Champions League, etc, I think soccer might have a better future.

djl · 5 months ago

Soccer. Demographics, demographics, demographics. There's just so much room for growth - MLS is already doing around 240,000 households a week on ESPN2 and 300,000 on Telefutura. Those are pretty similar numbers to what the NHL has done on Versus the past few years.

Detroit Dude · 5 months ago

Truth be told, I can't believe this is even a question. I love, love, love both sports (it's nearly impossible to tolerate the constant stoppages in football and baseball after a weekend of hockey and soccer). But it seems undeniable that televised soccer is on the rise in this country, a pace that is only accelerating.

Look at what ESPN is doing with next year's World Cup, for instance. That alone is pretty symbolic of where things are headed.

I can say this: This has been the first year out of my 36 on earth where you can actually feel the traditional soccer-bashing starting to drift away. It feels like some threshold has finally been crossed in terms of the sport's broader acceptance. It's still got a good ways to go, no doubt about it. But the topic of this thread is "brighter future," after all, and that title definitely seems to belong to soccer.

Just don't let them take my hockey away! (Go Wings)

Detroit Dude · 5 months ago

One further thought:

I do wonder how vital it is for televised soccer, over the long haul, to achieve cross-cultural singularity. Right now the soccer television audience is fragmented, or at least split in two: English broadcasts and Spanish broadcasts.

This probably involves sociological/cultural shifts that are well beyond the province of soccer alone. But it does seem that corraling these audiences into one spot is pretty crucial to the whole thing.

Jason Clinkscales · 5 months ago

Such a good question. As a more casual follower of both sports, I can see how it is easy to believe how soccer/football could have the brighter future compared to hockey based on the recent acquisitions from ESPN and Fox Soccer Channel. With the Confederations Cup sparking interest in the US men's team, the promotional push towards the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and the growing attention paid to the Premiership and other top-flight international leagues, it would be easy to infer that the sport will eclipse the NHL.

However, what the NHL has that soccer/football doesn't is a loaded slate of games for months at a time. Soccer matches are mixed with league matches, friendlies and qualifying tournaments. Admittedly as a casual follower, while I can check a team's schedule and see when they are in league play compared to non-league play, it seems as that scheduling can kill momentum when it comes to playing within the league. At least with hockey, the only time there's an interruption is for an Olympic year and that's for all teams. Anticipation builds a bit better.

I voted soccer based on ESPN and FSC's investment as at least no one complains about where to find the former on the channel lineup. However, I think you can make a case for the puckheads as well.

Morgan Wick · 4 months ago

I'm shocked by your vote as the potshot at Versus was unnecessary. Versus came very, very close to a 2.0 national (not cable, NATIONAL) rating for a game of its Stanley Cup Final coverage. People are finding it on their channel lineups. Don't rule out the NHL sticking with Versus when that contract comes up for renewal.

Both sports are very, very much on the rise thanks (in part) to the Internet. I would vote soccer if this weren't weeks after the fact, but only because it's further already.

Jason Clinkscales · 4 months ago

Oh, I didn't intend to come off as taking a shot at Versus as I have no issues finding it here (channel 122 for me in Manhattan). In fact, as I tell a few friends, if you can find those adult-themed channels without a problem, you can find Versus.