How Major League Soccer Plans To Overtake Baseball

Soccer in the U.S. has not always had the best track record. Its popularity wavers and interest is usually tied to significant events, such as the World Cup or the Olympics. Major League Soccer has spent over 25-years trying to change soccer’s sentiment in the U.S. while competing with more fast-paced, high-scoring sports like the NFL and the NBA.

Over the last ten years, the MLS has become increasingly popular. The league garnered the attention of top talent, brought in significant investments, and generated a massive presence on social media. However, before the MLS can overtake the MLB soon, the league needs to dominate one crucial area: television viewership.

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How Major League Soccer Plans To Overtake Baseball

[ocampbell]

The internet and cable tv is why soccer is growing in the states. We had no access to the EPL, La Liga, etc in the 90s and early 2000s. The game is accessible now and as a result it's gaining popularity

[abdeldorado]

Simply put together, the MLS is now growing incrementally and organically but as its said, building rivalries, teams, sense of identity and a fan base takes time, if you look at the demographics also, there is no reason why the MLS cannot become a major soccer/football powerhouse.

Most kids in the US are playing soccer/football, but when it comes to making a career, there will be soon a real path for them in the MLS with appealing contracts and conditions, etc.

In the meantime for broadcasting, having an OTT service to stream and watch highlights and games plus exclusive contents from a single platform can be as well appealing for the audience and grow the competition and its media revenue, necessary in the sport industry.

There are many ideas you can develop in such a "young" but healthy growing league.

[gitgut]

The Americans need to see sports less of a commercial activity and more as the core/origin of the local fan culture. (if you have accomplished that, THAN you can earn money :))

[liamsaucedo]

As a baseball fan, I’m happy for soccer’s growth, I love my LA Galaxy, and keeping up with both of these are really fun. Can’t wait to see MLS’ growth in the future

[langki]

I'm Indian but I would love MLS to be one of the best leagues in the world 🌎 ❤

[evoniics]

I leaned, after "Generation X, Y and Z" comes "Alpha".

[rafaelramirez]

The difference between the MLS and the other main professional sports in the US, is its potential for expansion/development.
All other sports are well established and almost maxed out for any more growth. A top team from MLB, NFL or NHL, after winning everything on its tournament can only have a domestic tournament for competition but that's pretty much the scope of it's dominance. No international leagues to compete with because there are no other such leagues.
Soccer in the other hand, will always have other leagues with a solid fan base and historic records set up from long ago as a main goal for MLS to compete for.
It looks like a long shot but that's exactly what motivates true competition, the fact that Soccer in the US has a lot of room for improvement is what in the end will create that ever increasing level of competition.

[karlstrauss]

I’ve been hearing that soccer will overtake baseball and football for years now I’ll believe it when I see it

[jtjr]

As a lifelong Blue Jays fan it's safe to say I do enjoy baseball but sometimes watching baseball it does seem like time does standstill and the length of games is not helping. Also, I really do not like the so-called TV timeout. MLB, NFL, NBA just seem to have them built into the production. Anyone who has watched the end of a close NBA game where the last 2 minutes can take 5 or 6 so the network can squeeze in more advertising knows how frustrating that can be. Thankfully soccer does not have those build in delays. It may not be as fast-paced as the NFL or NBA but is a more consistent structure.

[brett]

All the commenter saying that we need to call soccer football and call American football something else. That ain't gonna happen. Americans will never call football something else. Give it up guys.

[Vip__honey]

Congrats to everyone who is early And who found this comment 👏 ❤

[hitsmild-ex]

it's no wonder that MLS will become a massive sport in the US because every state is wide and this country has the best sports facilities in the world it's very easy to grow football in the US, it is not impossible if the US will be able to beat the English premier league

[MichaelWA]

Didn't know Stoichkov played in the MLS. One of my favourite players as a small kid.

[the_life_of_kram]

Relegation and promotion is what is needed

[Retrracin]

My only concern is once it becomes more popular in the U.S. they will find a way to put commercial breaks into the broadcast and ruin the flow of the match.

[liamwajsfelner]

Messi to Miami is gonna change the league

[DrtyRbbit]

TV is dead. MLS needs to look where the viewers are going. Online.
Joe Rogan gets more views than anything on cable TV, and that includes CNBC

[zwebackshyper]

who tf even watches baseball like genuinely i remember going to a baseball game when i was a kid because someone gave us free tickets and that was one of the most boring things ever i cant even imagine how awful it must be to watch it on tv if being in person was so bad now with soccer there's really nothing better and more exciting i went to mexico vs usa in the 2019 gold cup final as well as mexico vs usa in the nations league final this year and the crowds were electric so much emotion and passion and the games were incredible nonstop action i really don't understand how anyone can sit and watch baseball but not soccer

[ActuallyShigure]

I like football (NFL) but the thing about them is that you see more screentime of the people in the studio than action on the pitch, the game itself feels like a side program.

[gerardocarrillo]

Well, they can start by winning a CONCACAF champions league title. As Mexican Fan, I will start to take them serious.