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Why MLS Tickets are the Next Big Thing in American Sports

If we've learnt one thing from the past two close seasons, it's that American football fans are developing a big appetite for the beautiful game. Manchester United's 2010 US tour was a resounding success, capped by that memorable All-Star Game in Houston before 70,000 people. Their 2011 tour was a similar story; sold out stadiums, adoring fans and great football. But what's the story in the MLS right now? Why are people suddenly buying tickets to MLS games? When did these yanks become so passionate about soccer? There are probably several reasons, but here are two major ones.

1. World Cups/TV coverage. After hosting the 1994 World Cup the USA acquired the soccer bug. The '94 competition was a huge hit with foreign visitors and TV audiences alike. Every game was screened live on the major networks and millions of new fans were caught in the net. The '98 World Cup in France was a less joyful time for Americans, as their boys went out in the Group Stage with zero points. But something kept the faith alive and they went into the 2002 World Cup in Japan/South Korea little suspecting how far they'd progress. This one was also screened round the clock, the highlight being America's journey to the quarter finals only to lose out to a single goal to Germany. America had many shots on target and 58% of the possession, but the resilient Germans pressed grimly on and triumphed. The accomplishment supercharged expectations Stateside that, though unfulfilled in the following tournament (2006), provided extra momentum for establishing the MLS domestically.

2. New players from Europe and Latin America. When the David Beckham transfer happened in 2007, Beckham's media reps reported that he stood to make up to $250 million over 5 years, a staggering amount for a soccer player in America. Many fans of the major US sports choked on their shredded wheat when they saw those numbers, which were exaggerated for media effect, but it kick-started a new awareness to compliment the already growing interest in the game. Americans reacted with a mixture of anger, disbelief and grudging respect when they realized how much money was involved, and LA Galaxy cemented their desired image as the glamour club in the MLS. Since Beckham's move to the MLS, which was soiled slightly by his heavy flirtation with AC Milan in 2009, there have been numerous imports from Europe and Latin America that have fed into the reality that soccer is now one of America's five most popular sports. The likes of Thierry Henry inflated the price of Red Bulls game tickets (not to mention the construction of Red Bull Arena, the US's first purpose-built soccer stadium) as well as the arrival of other football luminaries such as Danny Earls, Juninho, Robbie Keane and even Eric Cantona, who recently became Director of Soccer of the resurgent New York Cosmos - a club that also features the legendary Pele as its Honorary President. These imports have solidified the credibility of the MLS and we should expect many more of them, probably at earlier stages in their careers. If the current trend continues, don't be surprised when real young talent chooses the MLS over the English Premier League. It can happen!