While soccer cannot yet compete with the core four sports in the United States, there is little question that there are reasons for optimism as to its popularity in future years.
For one, there is record interest in North America in European "football", most notably the Champions League and the English Premiere League, which now has weekly games on the ESPN family of networks.
MLS stakeholders also have to be thrilled with the season's annual finale, the MLS Cup.
Not only does the title game include the same participants as 2011, the Los Angeles Galaxy and the Houston Dynamo, but it is also being played in one of the league's premiere venues, the Home Depot Center.
Even more important, perhaps, it will showcase two of the sport's most recognizable names, international icon David Beckham --- playing his last MLS game, and Landon Donovan, the United States' World Cup hero.
With a packed stadium and an exciting final (with plenty of scoring) to boot, MLS executives have to be smiling. If this is indeed Beckham's last game in the league, he leaves it in a far better place than it was when he first signed in 2007. The crowd resembled European soccer hooligans, with scarves and organized chanting included, and the atmosphere was tremendous.
And, if the latest reports suggesting Beckham's plans to ultimately bring Europe's best to the MLS, are true, there is reason to believe that the league will soon be able to compete with the other major sports leagues in the United States.
No comments:
Post a Comment