For the non soccer fan, would having a professional team in your home town/city change your mind about the sport?

[tvguy]

Define "Professional". Paid players? We've had more "Professional" soccer teams with paid players than I can remember in the last 45 years. Paid players where the players didn't need an off season job to pay their bills? Not sure even our current team meets that test. We have had what I would consider to have been hugely successful teams (as in profitable) in the past, teams unfortunately that were affiliated with Leagues that all went belly up.

In 2022 our current team is scheduled to become an MLS team, or it was. The pandemic may delay that. And they need to build a $300 million stadium for the team to play in because the current facility is not considered adequate.

To the OP's question. My daughter played soccer for years and we went to a number of the pro teams games as she grew up. That did not make me a fan, not sure anything will. Some soccer rules baffle me. Offsides. I get what offsides is. I don't get why the rule exists. I Googled it and it says: " The offside rule attempts to prevent soccer from descending into a game of long punts towards crowds of players milling bout the goal"
To me, LETTING that situation happen would make the game more interesting to me.

 

[littlejimmy]

what tippy said, and mysterian agreed with

 

[Kittyblue]

I'm not a huge fan of any sports, but we have a local hockey team and I love going to their games, so if we had a local soccer team I might enjoy that. I think I enjoy watching sports more depending on the atmosphere. I love live hockey games. I once happened to be hanging out at a crowded hotel lobby bar during the World Cup and that was actually really fun to watch and be part of all the excitement in the room. But I'd probably never sit alone in my living room watching sports, outside of a few Olympic events.

 

[starvenger]

Offsides. I get what offsides is. I don't get why the rule exists. I Googled it and it says: " The offside rule attempts to prevent soccer from descending into a game of long punts towards crowds of players milling bout the goal"
To me, LETTING that situation happen would make the game more interesting to me.

That particular scenario is interesting, for certain. But I feel like it's more about preventing cherry picking.

 

[sam_gordon]

But I feel like it's more about preventing cherry picking.

That was my understanding. When I was first told about the rule, I thought "isn't the point TO get behind the defense?" And really, it's like football... there's a line the offense players can't cross until certain conditions are met.

 

[tvguy]

That particular scenario is interesting, for certain. But I feel like it's more about preventing cherry picking.

I don't know, just know what Google says. But cherry picking would be an improvement to the game too.

But I always have been a little bit of a rebel in sports. I know my son and his friends used to refuse to play Madden NFL with me because I did such unconventional plays. A lot of Hail Mary passes on offense, and a lot of blitzes on defense. Oh, and I usually scored at least 100 points!

 

[Buzz Rules]

I don't know, just know what Google says. But cherry picking would be an improvement to the game too.

But I always have been a little bit of a rebel in sports. I know my son and his friends used to refuse to play Madden NFL with me because I did such unconventional plays. A lot of Hail Mary passes on offense, and a lot of blitzes on defense. Oh, and I usually scored at least 100 points!

 

[Buzz Rules]

That particular scenario is interesting, for certain. But I feel like it's more about preventing cherry picking.

 

[godisney14]

The competition is just not here in the US (at least on the men side) to make it interesting. How many people watch minor league baseball or NBA G League?

The competition and stakes in “football” are higher across the pond in Europe.

ETA: Having said that, I’ve always wanted to see how well America can be if soccer was more popular with EVERY kid from childhood. Can you imagine someone like Julio Jones or D.K. Metcalf playing upfront with the same foot technique training from childhood? Almost unbeatable in my mind.

 

[tvguy]

Thanks. Great explanations. Now I really think the off sides rule should be eliminated. I love chaos in sports.

 

[Buzz Rules]

Thanks. Great explanations. Now I really think the off sides rule should be eliminated. I love chaos in sports.

In theory, the offside rule causes more chaos in soccer than less. It drives both teams nuts during the match.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

The competition is just not here in the US (at least on the men side) to make it interesting. How many people watch minor league baseball or NBA G League?

The competition and stakes in “football” are higher across the pond in Europe.

ETA: Having said that, I’ve always wanted to see how well America can be if soccer was more popular with EVERY kid from childhood. Can you imagine someone like Julio Jones or D.K. Metcalf playing upfront with the same foot technique training from childhood? Almost unbeatable in my mind.

I'd watch every G-league game that had a former Tar Heel playing, if they would televise more. It's too bad we don't have a G-league team near us. We'd go to a lot of games.

As for minor league baseball, every game I've been to has been well attended. The small city close to my hometown has a single A team that always has a big crowd. It helps that they do a lot to make their games fun for everyone. A city I used to live in has a AA team. Every game we attended had a good sized crowd.

 

[amcnj]

In towns I have lived, soccer is the first sport for many kids, as it begins younger than others. So there is widespread exposure to the game, and many play for a number of years, and this has been going on for decades. This may eventually lead to a larger base for professional soccer.

 

[Buzz Rules]

In towns I have lived, soccer is the first sport for many kids, as it begins younger than others. So there is widespread exposure to the game, and many play for a number of years, and this has been going on for decades. This may eventually lead to a larger base for professional soccer.

And hopefully a world cup title.

 

[sam_gordon]

In towns I have lived, soccer is the first sport for many kids, as it begins younger than others. So there is widespread exposure to the game, and many play for a number of years, and this has been going on for decades. This may eventually lead to a larger base for professional soccer.

I think it will take a number of generations. When I was growing up (70s and 80s), if there was any soccer around me, I don't remember it. But now my kids are playing. I figure they'll get their kids to play, etc, etc. It will be a while (10-20 years? 50?) before the US has consistent success on the world stage (on the men's side).

 

[starvenger]

I don't know, just know what Google says. But cherry picking would be an improvement to the game too.

I mean it would certainly lead to more fights.

 

[tvguy]

I mean it would certainly lead to more fights.

LOL. One of my memories of my daughter's soccer years were from a game where a girl half my daughter's size slammed full speed into the back of my stationary daughter. Poor girl flattened herself. And my daughter's coach yelled "YEAH, GIRL'S SOCCER" The brought a call from that girl's team parents for my daughter and her coach to be ejected. It was a rare game where we had adults as the officials, not older kids. And one was the head official for the league. He tossed the objecting parent out, not my daughter or her coach.

 

[floridafam]

We have really gotten into the sport over the last ten years or so. My whole family loves watching the World Cup, Olympics, etc.

We have shirts, scarves, and other items to show our spirit.

We are huge fans of the USWNT and the Dutch National teams. Currently enjoy following FC Groningen.

My son had a chance to see our favorite player (Arjen Robben) play in Miami a couple of years ago. That was a treat.

We haven’t been able to see any of the teams play in Florida yet due to busy schedules but hope to some day.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

I said "maybe" but the actual answer is "probably not". I just find it kind of boring. Not enough scoring. I kinda pay attention to how AFC Wimbledon is doing, but I don't actually watch.

 

[Park Pirate]

I think it will take a number of generations. When I was growing up (70s and 80s), if there was any soccer around me, I don't remember it. But now my kids are playing. I figure they'll get their kids to play, etc, etc. It will be a while (10-20 years? 50?) before the US has consistent success on the world stage (on the men's side).

Where I grew up (Washington DC suburbs) soccer was pretty big. It now seems that most kids that play team sports will play soccer at a young age. However, I don't know when or if the US Men's team will ever get to an elite level. I think our best athletes tend to gravitate to other sports when they get older, such as American football, basketball, etc... I was recently talking to a soccer coach that had an interesting theory. He said that American soccer coaches tend to want to be more managers of good talent, rather than true developers of elite talent. He said the coaches will select and form a team of cubic zirconia and often miss out on recognizing the true diamonds in the rough that could be developed into truly elite players, but may not be as polished. He had an interesting perspective, as he came from a Caribbean island in which he said young kids played soccer in the streets at an early age just for fun. He said that those everyday touches and playing is lacking with our structured organized youth leagues here. I thought his perspective was interesting.