Soccer-can it become a revenue sport? (Nationwide)

[bullsbucsfan426]

This question has been on my mind for  a while now. 

 

We've seen, in recent years, the expansion of the hispanic population at a rather rapid pace, both through legal and illegal means. Not only that, within 20 years hispanics will be a major element of the U.S. population. With them comes the advent of serious interest in soccer, which is already growing at a fairly strong place. Moreover, the U.S. soccer team has shown a lot of strength recently and has started to compete quite well at the international level. 

 

With that in mind, soccer seems to have become a fairly large draw and may well be on the cusp of becoming a big time American sport. I have friends now who I would never have though of as being soccer fans watching the game.

 

So, to restate the question:

 

Within 20 years, can we expect soccer to be a college revenue sport alongside football and basketball, or am I just dreaming?

[Triple B]

Is it a revenue sport at any colleges?

[bullsbucsfan426]

Is it a revenue sport at any colleges?

 

Not at the current time no. My question is whether it can become one. 

[usfvictor]

Will pigs eventually be able to fly?

[Bear]

I definitely believe that soccer can become a revenue producing sport; but I believe that it would have to do it on the professional level first.  

Edited July 25, 2013 by Bear-Soflo

[Skingraft]

Will pigs eventually be able to fly?

ðŸ–✈ðŸ´

Edited July 25, 2013 by Skingraft

[JTrue]

This question has been on my mind for  a while now. 

 

We've seen, in recent years, the expansion of the hispanic population at a rather rapid pace, both through legal and illegal means. Not only that, within 20 years hispanics will be a major element of the U.S. population. With them comes the advent of serious interest in soccer, which is already growing at a fairly strong place. Moreover, the U.S. soccer team has shown a lot of strength recently and has started to compete quite well at the international level. 

 

With that in mind, soccer seems to have become a fairly large draw and may well be on the cusp of becoming a big time American sport. I have friends now who I would never have though of as being soccer fans watching the game.

 

So, to restate the question:

 

Within 20 years, can we expect soccer to be a college revenue sport alongside football and basketball, or am I just dreaming?

Dreaming. Do the math on how much the staff is paid, scholarships, equipment, scouting, etc (I have no basis for any of this other than making **** up, but lets say $1,000,000). 12 home games, so that's about $80k a game. $7 a ticket and let's round everyone up to $10 for a concession stand visit. We only need to pull in around 8,000 people a game. Louisville last year brought in about 1400. So either we need to raise our tickets to $100 apiece or I need to have a lot more than two Cuban sons who like USF soccer and want to go to games.

[WoolyBully]

Tough call.

 

Not really sure I'd rely on a given demographic to raise the sport to revenue level. It's going to need much more broad appeal before it reaches the lower rungs of football/basketball/baseball level. A good indicator would be what the TV ratings for the college championship (I'm just assuming there is such a thing, I really wouldn't know) as compared to other championships. 

[cmhatter]

if it were up to me college soccer wouldn't exist.

 

it hurts our national program and our pro league. Young talent should go to academys rather than setting a goal of going to college to play soccer.

[cmhatter]

I definitely believe that soccer can become a revenue producing sport; but I believe that it would have to do it on the professional level first.  

 

are you lost?

 

MLS is raking.