Baseball-the Long Gone Summer, growth of soccer
Growing up, I loved baseball. I couldn’t get enough of it. As a young adult, I was a Reds season ticket holder during the steroid era. I got to see Sosa, and McGuire multiple times during their homerun race.
ESPN put together a DOCUMENTARY: “30 for 30 Long Gone Summer” https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/29275320/what-need-know-sosa-mcgwire-home-run-chase-watching-long-gone-summer It’s One Hour and Forty Minutes of a MASTERPIECE! It’s actually made me think about baseball, and how every young kind in my generation played the game, and now, every kid seems to play soccer as their first sport.
Baseball is often referred to as America's Pastime. It has been a beloved sport in the United States for over a century and has been ingrained in the national culture. However, soccer is becoming increasingly popular in the US and it seems that it may become the future of American sports. In this BLOG, I will explore the reasons why soccer is on the rise in America and why it is poised to become the nation's new favorite sport.
One of the reasons why soccer is gaining popularity in the United States is because of the increasing diversity of the country. With the influx of immigrants from Latin America and other parts of the world, soccer has become a way to connect with their cultural roots. In addition, soccer is a sport that is played all over the world, making it a global phenomenon. As the world becomes more connected through technology, it is only natural that American sports fans would want to experience something that is enjoyed by people in other countries.
Another reason why soccer is becoming more popular in the US is because of the success of the US Women's National Team. The USWNT has won four FIFA Women's World Cup championships and has been a dominant force in international soccer for decades. Their success has inspired a new generation of young girls to take up soccer as a sport and has created a new fan base for the sport in the US. This year, however, they had their earliest exit from a World Cup but women’s soccer continues to grow in the US.
In addition, Major League Soccer (MLS) has been growing steadily in popularity over the years. The league was founded on December 17, 1993, with just ten teams, but has since expanded to 29 teams across the US and Canada. The league has seen an increase in attendance and TV ratings and has attracted high-profile players from around the world. The growth of MLS has helped to raise the profile of soccer in the US and has given fans a local team to support.
Despite the increasing popularity of soccer in the US, there are still some challenges that the sport faces. One of the biggest challenges is the competition from other sports. Baseball, basketball, and American football are deeply ingrained in American culture and have a large following. In addition, soccer faces challenges from the lack of infrastructure for the sport in the US, including the lack of youth development programs and training facilities.
However, there are also opportunities for soccer to continue to grow in the US. The World Cup is one of the biggest sporting events in the world, and the US is set to host the tournament in 2026. This presents an opportunity for soccer to capture the attention of the nation and to showcase its potential as a major sport in the US. In addition, the growth of MLS and the success of the USWNT are positive signs for the future of soccer in the US.
While baseball may be America's Pastime, soccer looks to be America's Future. The increasing diversity of the country, the success of the USWNT, and the growth of MLS are all contributing factors to the rise of soccer in the US. While there are still challenges to be overcome, there are also opportunities for soccer to continue to grow and become a major sport in the US. As soccer continues to gain popularity, it will be interesting to see how it evolves and how it will shape the future of sports in America.
