UCF joins the Sunbelt for Soccer

[cajun55]

"If there are no barriers or reasons why we need to sponsor Olympic sports, would it be wise to replace them with a sport with potential to generate revenue way years down the road is soccer ever overtakes football/basketball/diamond sports in popularity (realizing this is a timeframe in decades)? "

Does men's college soccer really have that future potential though? I don't think it does. The United States is modeling it's soccer future on Europe, where does college soccer fall in that model. The best players will not be playing in college. I could be wrong and I love soccer, try to follow it on the national and international stage, help me out on how college men's soccer has a big future. I would love to have men's soccer here at UL I just don't know that it has the potential some seem to think.

[CajunVic]

When it comes to the fans in the stands sports and overall interest (paying fans) only soccer has remained on the incline.

source?

[Turbine]

source?

https://dakotastudent.com/13449/spor...-sport-soccer/

In this case it helps to differentiate between "fan" sports and participation sports.

[BBcajun]

Northside doesn’t field soccer teams.

They gave it a try in 2006 & 2007. They were in the same district as the high school team I coached. They had boys & girls varsity teams. Their numbers were small with just enough players to field a team. Their soccer program stopped in 2008 if i remember correctly.

[ManAboutTown]

https://www.bing.com/search?q=Fastes...823076B3BB70CE

Not much soccer in "The fastest gowing sports in US" search

nm

[ManAboutTown]

"If there are no barriers or reasons why we need to sponsor Olympic sports, would it be wise to replace them with a sport with potential to generate revenue way years down the road is soccer ever overtakes football/basketball/diamond sports in popularity (realizing this is a timeframe in decades)? "

Does men's college soccer really have that future potential though? I don't think it does. The United States is modeling it's soccer future on Europe, where does college soccer fall in that model. The best players will not be playing in college. I could be wrong and I love soccer, try to follow it on the national and international stage, help me out on how college men's soccer has a big future. I would love to have men's soccer here at UL I just don't know that it has the potential some seem to think.

This is one of the best points made here. But even if the best young talent opts for academy route, there will still be plenty left over talent for quality college soccer. IMO

[ZoomZoom]

Don’t know the demographics today, but 2 decades back we had 3K+ kids playing soccer with LYSA/CSC. It’s an easy sport for the young. Throw a ball out there, tell them to run and kick the ball in a net. No mommy keeping a scorebook like rag ball or basketball. When they hit U-9, that’s where the herd thins down quickly. Bigger field, more running and really learn the game.

So yes, a very popular game young, but long term not a favorite amongst American majority.

[Turbine]

source?

Here is, an interesting article.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/michael...h=7593bc6e17f1

[CajunT]

Here is, an interesting article.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/michael...h=7593bc6e17f1

This article is dated, 2019 and concerns professional soccer. It has nothing to do with collegiate sports. MLS has done well in certain markets and no so well in others. The international games has grown more popular, but according to this article " in a 2018 Gallup poll, 7% of Americans cited soccer as their favorite sport to watch. That doesn't exactly help your market.

[Turbine]

This article is dated, 2019 and concerns professional soccer. It has nothing to do with collegiate sports. MLS has done well in certain markets and no so well in others. The international games has grown more popular, but according to this article " in a 2018 Gallup poll, 7% of Americans cited soccer as their favorite sport to watch. That doesn't exactly help your market.

I only claimed it was interesting but considering percentages, 34% of Americans claim football as their favorite sport and Louisiana draws 35,000 peak crowds and 15,000 everyday crowds.

Using those same "favorite" percentage numbers, it could be foreseen that Soccer would draw 7,000 peak crowds and 3,000 everyday crowds.

Lack of lifestyle history is what would keep those numbers lower.

[Duggie35]

IMHO, this is just another thread for a summer time irrelevant topic. I don’t want to disrespect those that enjoy soccer, but men’s soccer will more than likely not ever be a part of UL athletics during any of our lifetime’s.

[Turbine]

In a perfect scenario very few of current Louisiana fans (who already have their favorite sports staked out) would be interested.

There is always 'some' fan overlap but UL should be looking for fan infusion not fan diffusion.

That is the formula on how they will grow academic contributions.