If you ask any professional head coach, he’ll tell you there is no off-season.
Between summer workouts, camps, OTAs and the trade window, the “off-season” is just as critical as the regular season.
The NBA joined the lockout party July 1. As the NFL approaches its fourth month of inactivity, the already dreary summer sports schedule becomes more monotonous.
There’s only so much Baseball Tonight a man can take.
Luckily, the world’s most popular sport is still being played.
The lovely, graceful, magnificent game of soccer is thriving.
And soccer attracts a following.
With two of the “Big Four” sports currently out of order, it’s time for soccer to wiggle its way into your heart.
I became hooked on the game years ago while watching the English Premier League.
The EPL hosts talented teams who display, in my opinion,
the best technique in the world. I recommend watching the EPL in order to learn and love the game
Unfortunately, the EPL is also in the “off-season,” during which a massive amount of annual player transfers take place.
In the meantime, turn your eyes to the MLS. The skill level is lower, the big-name players are a fewer and unless you’re in the right area, the TV coverage isn’t as large.
But even the lowly MLS is on the rise. Former stars like England’s David Beckham and Frenchman Thierry Henry have made the move to America. Brazilian forward Ronaldinho, hailed by many as the best player in the world, is rumored to be joining the MLS in the near future.
The U.S. boasts the world’s greatest football, baseball, basketball and hockey leagues, so naturally some sports must take a back seat. In the past, one of these has been soccer.
However, the future seems to tell a different tale. MLS attendance has slowly increased in recent years, and the league is poised to surpass both the NHL and NBA in the next few seasons.
In 2010 the MLS drew an average attendance of 16,675 spectators per game – a three percent increase from 2009. The NHL held an average of 17,072 fans per game last season – a four percent drop from the previous year.
Nine of 15 MLS teams (excluding the newly added Philadelphia Union) experienced a fan increase, while the NHL saw 20 of 30 teams post lower spectator numbers in 2010 than in 2009.
Still not convinced?
MLS teams from Los Angeles, Philadelphia, New York and Houston posted higher average attendance than their respective NBA counterparts. In addition, average league attendance for the 65-year-old NBA was just 650 fans greater than that of the 15-year-old MLS.
So with the sport steadily on the rise and only two other major professional leagues competing for attention, give the world’s favorite game a shot.
I know what you’re thinking – the NFL lockout is on the verge of ending, plus college athletics can hold you over. Think again — college football ends in January, the NFL in February and college basketball in March.
Soccer is essentially on year-round. The MLS ends in late summer, while the EPL takes over the reins mid-August and runs until May.
So gather your friends, grab a pint and watch a few matches. It sure as hell isn’t any slower than watching 1,458 innings of baseball per season.
Jump on the bandwagon before it takes off. I’ll be there to welcome you with open arms.
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Contact Mark Clements at [email protected]