Should UA Capitalize on the World Cup

[Dr Z]

If the final score equals excitement, why isn't arena football more popular than the NFL?

Less talent. No history. Dumb rules. Up against the most popular league in the US. etc..

[Dave in Green]

Well I can see a school of thought that the American obsession with high-scoring offenses is somehow related to the American obsession with overconsumption, and that the scarcity of goals in soccer is more representative of a lean, green world, and obviously the way of the future.

But it's also fair to point out that the American-invented sport of basketball is growing in popularity around the rest of the world perhaps even faster than soccer is growing in America, judging by all the professional basketball leagues in Europe, Asia and even the Middle East.

I guess it all goes to show that spectator sports are in a constant state of evolution around the world, and it's hard to predict all the twists and turns that evolution will take.

[Zipmeister]

Ideas to better market the team:

1) Market the team as championship caliber. Think about it. As fans from NE Ohio there is nothing we long for more than a championship. Even a collegiate one. If LeBron leaves, Akron soccer would be the only championship threat in the area. UA should be marketing to get people to be apart of the ride to a possible championship. I know that it has a negative connotation, but we need to get people to jump on the bandwagon. Once they're there they could very well be there long term.

2) Use local sports talk radio to push the team. I think that we need to get people to call into these shows in order to promote the team. Besides, it's free! Most people in that area are unaware of the team. I'm from Streetsboro, yet I never knew we had the #1 team in the land until I started attending the school. Even then, if I didn't have a friend who was a big fan I wouldn't have known that.

3) Have a promotion where season ticket holders can bring a friend for free to a game of their choosing. Encourage them to bring friends who are knew to the sport.

4) MArket the Michigan game. Use the hatred of UM to get people in the seats.

5) Have more merchandise in the stores. We need to have people walking around advertising the program.

These are just a few thoughts, but I think they could get at least a few people in the seats.

Two more:

50/50 drawings and warm soapy shower with a cheerleader raffle.

[Zip Watcher]

I dont know if anyone has stated this but to be honest, i find soccer alluring and exciting because of the lack of scoring. If only they could do away with ties entirely then i would be very satisfied with the sport.

The stress and the desperation to score makes the game very exciting. Each goal means so much more than any other sports' score/run/point. Though sometimes you have teams that just play back for the tie or for the shootout. Ya know maybe if they gave both teams a loss if they tied it would force some more aggressiveness and scoring?

+1

[Spin]

You guys are missing the point. You don't like soccer. We get it. Newsflush: WE COULDN'T CARE LESS!!!!

Really. We couldn't. You're wasting your time here. Do you think after 30 years of watching soccer, and hearing it all before, ad nauseum, that I'm going to read someone's post (or hear some stick-and-ball host in a radio show) and say "You know what, he's right. This is boring." Save your time.

Now, the thread is about whether Akron U should capitalize on the World Cup. Absolutely. The World Cup has captured the attention of the soccer fan, and there are new fans. Not billions, not everyone here, but there are new fans. Converts, whatever you want to call them. And they don't know about Akron soccer.

Northeast Ohio had the only profitable soccer franchises in their time. It could have the only self sustaining college program if they'd get off their butts and promoted it. With no NEOhio soccer franchise this season and the swell of interest from the World Cup, there may never be a better time...

[Dave in Green]

You guys are missing the point. You don't like soccer. We get it. Newsflush: WE COULDN'T CARE LESS!!!!

Really. We couldn't. You're wasting your time here. Do you think after 30 years of watching soccer, and hearing it all before, ad nauseum, that I'm going to read someone's post (or hear some stick-and-ball host in a radio show) and say "You know what, he's right. This is boring." Save your time. .....

Seems to me that you're missing the point that most people COULDN'T CARE LESS about changing anyone else's opinion. I'll let others speak for themselves, but I know that I'm just expressing my own opinions here and not trying to convince others that their opinions are wrong for them.

Actually, soccer fans should be pleased that non-soccer fans would take the time to make constructive suggestions about changes to the sport that would make it more interesting to them. This is a positive, not a negative.

[Spin]

Seems to me that you're missing the point that most people COULDN'T CARE LESS about changing anyone else's opinion. I'll let others speak for themselves, but I know that I'm just expressing my own opinions here and not trying to convince others that their opinions are wrong for them.

Actually, soccer fans should be pleased that non-soccer fans would take the time to make constructive suggestions about changes to the sport that would make it more interesting to them. This is a positive, not a negative.

Nobody is saying anyone's opinions are wrong, I'm just saying if you don't like soccer, I really don't care. And the people I talk to feel the same way. It's not right or wrong, we just don't want to be told over and over again that so and so doesn't like soccer. BIG DEAL. We're trying to talk soccer here. Go away.

If I went to a tennis or golf forum and argued over and over that those sports were boring and I couldn't watch them, I'd get pretty much the same reaction from them. Or much worse.

If watching the game doesn't make them fans, then we're not going to talk them into it. I've never become a fan of golf or tennis from reading a forum or listening to a talk show about those sports.

And changing the sport is not an option. The NASL tried that and it backfired. We had "Americanized soccer" for 20 years and it didn't catch on. It didn't bring in the soccer haters and it didn't become as big as the NFL like it promised. The reasons some people don't like soccer are still there. If you can figure out how to get more than 3.89 points per minute to convert NBA Fan, then it won't be soccer.

Why does every soccer discussion have to turn into a love vs. hate debate? Why can't we just discuss the sport?

And if you want to talk about hating soccer and changing soccer, why does it have to be in a thread about UA marketing? You know, the original topic?

[Dr Z]

...I'm just saying if you don't like soccer, I really don't care.

At least those people care enough to discuss with you as to why they are not in love with the sport that you are. If you are confused as to why soccer is not popular in the US, those might be the people to listen to. After watching a weekend of Zips final four soccer last year and not seeing a goal scored, and catching the last 3 minutes of the Paraguay "victory" this afternoon. My second biggest problem with the sport, is the way soccer ends a tie. I have to think that this HAS to bother real soccer fans (considering myself just an ignorant fan). I know from "playing" pickup soccer for ten minutes in the backyard with one of my friends that played high school soccer that I have no talent when it comes to dribbling or defending, he can run circles around me. I might, be able to get in shape enough to run the field the way players do, but I doubt it. I appreciate the talent that a soccer player has and don't for a second think I could be valuable to any 12 year old team. My feet don't work like that. BUT I'm sure I would have a fifty percent chance of scoring on a goalie with a free kick. I think it is a insult to the game to decide games on penalty kicks. What an awful way to decide a soccer game...a kickball contest. It takes so much talent to play 99 percent of the game and you decide the outcome of the game with the 1 percent that requires the least amount of talent. Why is it that NFL, MLB, NHL, NASCAR constantly talk about changing their rules and making the game better for the fan, but soccer-guy gets offended when you try to discuss a change? I don't get it.

[Spin]

...I'm just saying if you don't like soccer, I really don't care.

At least those people care enough to discuss with you as to why they are not in love with the sport that you are. If you are confused as to why soccer is not popular in the US, those might be the people to listen to.

Well I do, and it's usually that soccer is boring, there isn't enough scoring, players dive. Adults bouncing balls off their heads. Nobody brings up the shootout, at least among non-fans. That is something that desperately needs changed, everyone agrees. But that's not what I've been hearing from soccer haters as the sole reason they don't watch.

Why is it that NFL, MLB, NHL, NASCAR constantly talk about changing their rules and making the game better for the fan, but soccer-guy gets offended when you try to discuss a change? I don't get it.

In order to make soccer "exciting" for the "typical American" fan, it would take so many changes that the sport would be very different than what it was. You can change NBA basketball, but it would still be similar enough to the international game that the players can adapt. Five players to a side. The rim is 10' off the floor. The floor is wood or some composite that's like wood. Same with baseball and hockey.

But with soccer, they're talking about a smaller field, less defenders, bigger goals. I have an image in my mind of what that would look like...

Been there, done that. Got the T-shirt.

Nobody bought it. Except in Cleveland where they latch onto a winner no matter what it is. Even if it's a college 150 miles away...

Don't forget when NASCAR made all of those changes to make things more exciting, they lost a TON of long time fans. Now they're backpedaling trying to bring those people back.

Anyway, what was the topic about? Heck it doesn't matter. Every soccer discussion degrades into this...

[Dave in Green]

..... Anyway, what was the topic about? Heck it doesn't matter. Every soccer discussion degrades into this...

This topic began with the premise "If the USA wins today". The original topic died a few minutes after it was started without any help from any of the non-soccer fans who nonetheless tried to watch the game and discuss it here.

[Spin]

OK so talking about why you hate the sport (things that can't be fixed) is fine, but trying to stay on topic isn't.

[Zip Watcher]

Nobody brings up the shootout, at least among non-fans. That is something that desperately needs changed, everyone agrees. But that's not what I've been hearing from soccer haters as the sole reason they don't watch.

Basketball Guy™ here & I would point to that exact item as a hurdle for me becoming more of a futbol fan. I'm certainly not a hater ... we've had pretty much every game projected on the wall here at the office (ESPN3, the Tres, can't get enough of it). But the shootout concept in an elimination game eludes me. It seems to cause teams to bunker and not try to win, for fear of making a mistake. I don't want futbol changed to be more complicated or high scoring .. I just don't get the PK finish. Seems to me that every time I follow a tournament or follow futbol multiple times in a short period (World Cup, NCAA tourney) .. the games are good, close matches that end up in ties decided by PK's .. it's deflating.

I have no illusions that I have a solution .. it's just my hurdle. Not a roadblock .. just a hurdle.

I think the WC is fascinating theatre. It'd be good to get some Luis ads on during the final on ABC when it goes down, similar to the Superbowl Ads ... during HT. Make it futbol centric and brag about the new facility and the team on a impressive run. That would help capitalize. Would have been better had Bradley's side made an extended run .. but whatever.

Go Zips!

[MDZip]

I have no illusions that I have a solution .. it's just my hurdle. Not a roadblock .. just a hurdle.

I do enjoy the game a great deal but I am also frustrated with the PK's. I have advocated a system whereby each additional overtime removes a player or two from the field (we actually used it in a youth league in the playoffs and it worked pretty well. Made for some very exciting and tense moments too). I don't think you couldn't go with less than 5 players remaining, but the last one to come off would be the goalie (say after the third five minute overtime). If the game hadn't been won by that point, I think that would pretty well insure an ending at that point.

[Dave in Green]

OK, let me say a few positive things about soccer. I really like the fact that UA has such a great soccer program. I have relatives and friends who enjoy soccer, and it gives me something to talk about with them. They're all impressed with what UA has accomplished. It's always cool to have a top-ranked team in any sport near where you live -- certainly better than a losing team.

I occasionally read about soccer, and occasionally watch it on TV, the same way that I occasionally read about and watch other sports that don't hold a huge interest for me. I don't hate soccer. I don't even dislike it. I'm content to sit and watch soccer on TV when my soccer-crazy friends and relatives visit my home. It just doesn't move me the way some other sports do.

So while I couldn't be called a true blue soccer fan, I certainly qualify as a casual observer of soccer, as I'm a casual observer of many other sports that don't really excite me but don't completely turn me off, either.

Regarding the subject of this thread, I do think UA should try to capitalize on the increased interest in soccer created by the U.S. team in World Cup, even though they eventually lost. UA has made the investment in putting together a national championship caliber soccer team, and it's important to get the word out to as many soccer fans in Ohio as possible. With Ohio sports fans, UA should be to college soccer what OSU is to college football.

This may even help attract new fans to soccer. Attracting new fans is always good -- certainly better than ignoring potential soccer fans or. worse, trying to drive them away.

[Spin]

In my defense I've heard a LOT of soccer haters this past month (and more than a few last fall during the Zip's run), and sometimes you can't determine who is the "Soccer is boring. They're all gay" and the "I could really get into this if..." If I offended anyone I apologize.

So besides the shootout, how can you change the game without completely changing it, and making it completely different from what the rest of the world plays? Without alienating the hard core soccer fan? Basketball can use a shorter shot clock and encourage an aerial game without changing the basics. 5 players, 10' rim height, 15' foul lines.

Baseball can lower the mound, toss pitchers who throw inside, build stadiums with shorter outfields, without changing the basics. The NHL's changes didn't screw with the game so much that the players couldn't go to the olympics and adjust.

Do we even need to change the rules? What about a minimum width field? IIRC the NASL had to do that in many stadiums. Especially Fenway Park (I remember when one player disappeared. The corner of the field was right at the outfield wall. He opened a door as went inside to get a run for a corner kick. The door closed behind him and he couldn't open it from the inside. It was several minutes before anyone figured out where he was. The good old days of American soccer!!!!) Would that give more scoring chances?

[Zip Watcher]

Hey Spin,

First off, glad to have you here .. I lurk one of the other regional sports sites you're around. Great to have another sports fan here.

How does the Champions League title work? Don't they play more than one match in the final? I seem to remember reading something a couple of years ago where the final game was a tie, but the title was awarded to one of the teams based on "goal aggregate." Does that mean they played a series of 2 games?

[Dave in Green]

Spin, I was beginning to wonder if you were ever going to realize that I was not trying to trash soccer. I appreciate your passion for the sport, and I also appreciate that you understand that not everyone who makes critical comments about soccer has evil intent.

To be clear, I was not suggesting that American soccer be changed to make it more exciting to people who like to see a little more balance between offensive scoring and defensive stifling. The only way this works is if international soccer changes.

But I don't think it will. I think the rest of the world is happy with soccer the way it is today, and doesn't want it to change. Like any sport, soccer is an acquired taste, and enough people in the world have acquired the taste for what it currently is that there's no chance of changing it from the low-scoring defensive struggle it is today.

The best hope for soccer in America is that future generations acquire the same taste in sports that international audiences have developed.

[ZippyTuba11]

Now the guy's theory on soccer -- the idea that cutting out just one player from the game would create more scoring, I believe is disproven by experience.

I think this hinges on which player you cut. If you cut the goalie I have to imagine much more scoring