What in your opinion is the state of soccer in both the USA and Canada? Recreational participation, attending professional matches, interest in ⚽️ etc

[Buzz Rules]

What in your opinion is the state of soccer in both the USA and Canada? Recreational participation, attending professional matches, interest in ️ etc...

I'm just trying to see if anyone has seen any changes within their communities this past year given the growth of Minor League Soccer and MLS teams debuting this year. I understand many on this board are not a fan of the sport but have you heard people in your area (kids, coworkers, local media) mention things about the sport in general in passing? For example, FC Naples (a division 3 minor league soccer team/USL League 1) is playing the USL Championship (division 2 minor league) team Tampa Bay Rowdies play tonight in the US Open Cup on the CBS Golazo Network (usually free) and Paramount Plus. Do people who live in those areas for example even know the match is happening? It's not a criticism, I'm just surprised sometimes about how little a local team is mentioned or how much marketing does not get through to a community when the sport's lifeblood is community based and supported. Portland Maine's Minor League Soccer team played Rhode Island's Minor League Soccer team last night. Was there even a mention of the match on your local news if you are from those areas? Again, I'm not criticizing Disboarders. I'm just genuinely curious if the money being invested into the sport through activities and marketing to bolster interest is getting through to your communities in a noticeable way. With almost less than a year to the World Cup, I'm nervous about how many new fans are not being created vs how many new fans we thought would be created by the next World Cup will be significantly less than originally expected.

 

[Iceman93]

Soccer fever swept the U.S. during that last World Cup, and I expect it to do so even more this time around with us hosting it. Youth soccer is booming, which is where the next generation of fans will come from.

 

[lanejudy]

Youth soccer is fairly strong around here, but interest starts to dwindle around maybe 4th grade. We still field high school soccer teams, and there are some who play club level, but it doesn't draw the crowds like a football game (unless they get further into post season play). There is a semi-pro soccer league team that plays in a nearby city, but I don't think it has much draw from outside that immediate metro area. Maybe I'm in the wrong social circles but I honestly never hear much talk about soccer and I don't know anyone who really watches it on TV/online.

 

[maddiel]

It's a very significant day for soccer in Canada. The very first game in the Northern Super League will be played tonight in Vancouver.

Of course, it's a women's league, so probably not even on your radar.

 

[Buzz Rules]

It's a very significant day for soccer in Canada. The very first game in the Northern Super League will be played tonight in Vancouver.

Of course, it's a women's league, so probably not even on your radar.

I was actually going to make a thread on it but figured it would get no comments. I'm very happy for Canada though.

 

[Buzz Rules]

Youth soccer is fairly strong around here, but interest starts to dwindle around maybe 4th grade. We still field high school soccer teams, and there are some who play club level, but it doesn't draw the crowds like a football game (unless they get further into post season play). There is a semi-pro soccer league team that plays in a nearby city, but I don't think it has much draw from outside that immediate metro area. Maybe I'm in the wrong social circles but I honestly never hear much talk about soccer and I don't know anyone who really watches it on TV/online.

Vermont Green?

 

[lanejudy]

Vermont Green?

yes

 

[Buzz Rules]

yes

I definitely know about them to a degree. Mostly because Ben and Jerry's is one of their sponsors. I can understand it's a smaller club in comparison to other minor soccer teams. It's a USL 2 team (so 4th division soccer). It's still an important piece of the American soccer landscape though. USL is getting promotion and relegation, so your team may one day get to the second division. And they have been in the media as well:

https://vermontgreenfc.com/vermont-green-fc-named-2023-usl-league-two-organization-of-the-year/

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/jun/30/vermont-green-fc-climate-justice-action

https://www.sevendaysvt.com/arts-cu...n-fc-is-winning-on-and-off-the-field-41236528

 

[Buzz Rules]

Youth soccer is fairly strong around here, but interest starts to dwindle around maybe 4th grade. We still field high school soccer teams, and there are some who play club level, but it doesn't draw the crowds like a football game (unless they get further into post season play). There is a semi-pro soccer league team that plays in a nearby city, but I don't think it has much draw from outside that immediate metro area. Maybe I'm in the wrong social circles but I honestly never hear much talk about soccer and I don't know anyone who really watches it on TV/online.

Does Vermont have sports radio stations?

 

[Buzz Rules]

Youth soccer is fairly strong around here, but interest starts to dwindle around maybe 4th grade. We still field high school soccer teams, and there are some who play club level, but it doesn't draw the crowds like a football game (unless they get further into post season play). There is a semi-pro soccer league team that plays in a nearby city, but I don't think it has much draw from outside that immediate metro area. Maybe I'm in the wrong social circles but I honestly never hear much talk about soccer and I don't know anyone who really watches it on TV/online.

According to Google, they often get about 2,600 attendees per match. Not bad for a small club.

 

[lanejudy]

they have been in the media as well

Yes, they've been in the local media quite a bit and they've had fairly successful seasons. But fans are primarily youth soccer players (boys and their families) in the greater Burlington area. I'm approximately a half-hour from their field but have never been to a game and do not know anyone who has, though I'm sure there are a few but maybe I'm just not in the right social circles. The team simply isn't drawing considerable interest from throughout the state.

Does Vermont have sports radio stations?

I'm not aware of any stations in VT that carry sports 24/7. I believe there is a channel that carries Fox Sports Radio and maybe someone carries ESPN+, and there are various radio stations that broadcast at least some competitions of local college and/or professional teams that are popular here. However radio can be hard to pull-in depending on one's location due to the mountains and strength of signals. My household subscribes to NESN and ESPN+ in order to watch/listen to sports online.

 

[lanejudy]

According to Google, they often get about 2,600 attendees per match. Not bad for a small club.

Capacity at Virtue Field is 2600. They've definitely had some full stands, but I wouldn't say "often." And I have no idea what might be considered a good size crowd for this level of soccer play.

 

[Buzz Rules]

Yes, they've been in the local media quite a bit and they've had fairly successful seasons. But fans are primarily youth soccer players (boys and their families) in the greater Burlington area. I'm approximately a half-hour from their field but have never been to a game and do not know anyone who has, though I'm sure there are a few but maybe I'm just not in the right social circles. The team simply isn't drawing considerable interest from throughout the state.


I'm not aware of any stations in VT that carry sports 24/7. I believe there is a channel that carries Fox Sports Radio and maybe someone carries ESPN+, and there are various radio stations that broadcast at least some competitions of local college and/or professional teams that are popular here. However radio can be hard to pull-in depending on one's location due to the mountains and strength of signals. My household subscribes to NESN and ESPN+ in order to watch/listen to sports online.

They supposedly stream home matches on Northeast Sports Network?

https://vermontgreenfc.com/streaming/

https://www.uslleaguetwo.com/vermont-green-fc

 

[Buzz Rules]

Capacity at Virtue Field is 2600. They've definitely had some full stands, but I wouldn't say "often." And I have no idea what might be considered a good size crowd for this level of soccer play.

Google said 5 out of the 7 home matches were sold out.

2,600 is really good for 4th division and the size of your state. The league is pre-professional, using mostly college student athletes. USL 1 is the next level up which is where professional vs pre professional starts to shift. If promotion and relegation is implemented as planned sometime in the future, Vermont may be able to truly expand further as a team.

 

[lanejudy]

They supposedly stream home matches on Northeast Sports Network?

https://vermontgreenfc.com/streaming/

https://www.uslleaguetwo.com/vermont-green-fc

It's possible some people subscribe to NSN; they also carry some of the high school sports as well (not my local district). There are a lot of different online sports channels depending on what team of interest.

 

[lanejudy]

If promotion and relegation is implemented as planned sometime in the future, Vermont may be able to truly expand further as a team.

That's possible. I was simply answering your initial question of the state of soccer here. I hear much more chatter about baseball, hockey and high school football than soccer.

 

[Buzz Rules]

It's possible some people subscribe to NSN; they also carry some of the high school sports as well (not my local district). There are a lot of different online sports channels depending on what team of interest.

USL 1 and USL Championship have national deals, so that may make it even more important for Vermont to make a jump up into a higher league.

https://www.uslchampionship.com/news_article/show/1333129

 

[Buzz Rules]

That's possible. I was simply answering your initial question of the state of soccer here. I hear much more chatter about baseball, hockey and high school football than soccer.

I completely understood your post. I just figured I would just give some additional information and thoughts on the topic.

 

[Buzz Rules]

Thanks for your insights @lanejudy . It's really appreciated.

 

[Cadiewampus]

most boring sport on the face of the planet. They have been telling me since the mid 80's that it is going to take over sports in the US.