[Flechas]

HI Everybody

I'm finishing my MBA and as part of my dissertation, I'm doing a research about the soccer in Canada.

I believe that by looking the last events such as the U-20 Championship, the Toronto Soccer Team in the MSL, Soccer is finally finding a space in the Canadian culture.

I'm looking for different point of views about why soccer can or can't become in 20 years the main sport in Canada, having more fans than even Hockey.

I will apreciate all type of opinions, but please I don't want any insult, is a simple question and maybe I'm wrong which is ok for my dissertation. What I want to know is the reasons why Soccer can or can't become the most popular sport in Canada by 2020.

Any thoughts?

Thanks

[BartSimpson]

Can be grammar important to earning an MBA?

[Arctic_Menace]

Soccer will never replace hockey. Sorry.

[SprCForr]

Most popular? No.

Around here soccer is viewed as a "filler" sport.

IMHO, it's simply not entrenched enough in the North American mindset. To reach the benchmark you set is impossible in 12 years.

[Sherminator333]

Soccer is king where there is a passion for it, London, Madrid, Barcelona. I don't see the same passion for it in Canada so I think the answer is no.

[Flechas]

Arctic_Menace Arctic_Menace:

Soccer will never replace hockey. Sorry.

Maybe not, but why do you think that? is because Canada doesn't have a strong team?, is because you find it boring?, why?

[Freakinoldguy]

$1:

Can be soccer the main sport in Canada?

Only if they put it on ice, allow bodychecks and fire all the whinny, little girlymen who fall over when someone blows on them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Streaker]

Never say never, but as Sp suggested, a twenty year timeframe is unrealistic.

[Flechas]

lily lily:

It's boring, yes, but then again, so is basketball.


Are you talking about pro sports or amateur?

I'm talking in general. I believe that it first need to be practice as amateur level and the more the people play it, the more they will start watching it on TV, following the news, and then the Media which plays a huge role will make that the pro level become a reality.

[Wada]

Interesting question! In my neck of the woods the young generation has all but taken soccer as their summer sport and in six or seven years has outpaced baseball. Hockey is the winter sport.

I guess from what I'm seeing, soccer just may beat out baseball over the next decade or so but so long as hockey is a winter sport and soccer is a summer sport we can only expect soccer to maybe become as popular in it's season.

Personally I always liked playing soccer much better than playing hockey and the cost just can't be beat.

[Flechas]

Wada Wada:

but so long as hockey is a winter sport and soccer is a summer sport we can only expect soccer to maybe become as popular in it's season.

Although is true that the wiinter is a negative factor for soccer, Canada is not the only country with this weather and still people play soccer all year. A team can easily (if it has money) have a close stadium were they can play all year no matter what temperature is out there, don't you think?

[Alta_redneck]

Lacrosse is replacing Soccer where I live, hey has anybody heard anything of the North American pro Soccer league since Becks shut it down ?

[Flechas]

If soccer isn't popular, how come there were more than 1'8 million spectators in total for the U-20 tournament?, how come the Toronto Futbol Club sold every single ticket for their matchs?, how was possible to sold more than 57 thousand tickets for the first game of the U-20 at the montreal stadium?

How many immigrants has Canada and how many of them wait to see their hockey game?

[SprCForr]

Flechas Flechas:

If soccer isn't popular, how come there were more than 1'8 million spectators in total for the U-20 tournament?, how come the Toronto Futbol Club sold every single ticket for their matchs?, how was possible to sold more than 57 thousand tickets for the first game of the U-20 at the montreal stadium?

How many immigrants has Canada and how many of them wait to see their hockey game?

So if it's as popular as you imply, why can't a league remain solvent in Canada? The answer would be lack of popularity. No bums in seats = no money.

[xerxes]

I would say most of the popularity regarding soccer in Canada comes from the various immigrant populations, this was especially evident at the U-20 WC.

Though I think there is more of a market for it here in Canada than the US. Like you mentioned Felchas, Toronto FC sold out everyone of their home games this year and will again next season 9This is likely because the Leafs SUCK!!!). If the Whitecaps ever get their new stadium built on the waterfront in Vancouver, they'll be much more likely to be included in the MLS.