Soccer Insight Soccer Insight VO3 NO1 : Page 2

SOCCER INSIGHT No World Cup in the U.S. T What’s the Impact on Soccer in America? Soccer Plus , Palatine, IL, points out that with the economy being inconsistent at best headed into 2011, looking out to 2022 is not a concern today. “What I will say is that I don’t think that the two venues picked for the 2018 or 2022 World Cups events are or will be considered a plus for the fans who choose to attend the World Cup live,” Naughtrip says. “Obviously having one of the events in the USA would heighten the awareness, but I don’t believe soccer is struggling to be known as a significant global or domestic sport any longer.” Naughtrip is concerned that one short-term negative that could reflect on the sport is all the controversy surrounding the selection committee and the perception of irregularities combined with the decision of the ultimate venues. Yet, at the end of the day, he points out, “There are more significant issues impacting our business currently then Mother Russia of Qatar.” “The impact of the 2022 World Cup going to Qatar is too early to tell right now in terms of the retail business,” points out Brian Koenig , of Soccer 2000 , Downers Grove, IL. “The greater impact is how the world views our soccer body (FIFA) in light of choosing a country whose temperatures are extremely dangerous during the period of play for the World Cup.” Koenig feels the strength of Major League Soccer will more than make up for any missed opportunities that World Cup would have offered. “Currently, the MLS is really the only league that can attract the masses to watch a game,” he says. While overseas leagues such as the EPL and Serie A continue to be the driving force for retail sales in terms of replica product, Koenig stresses that are a few teams in the MLS that are starting to develop a following, with Sounders FC leading the way in a “coolness factor” with their uniform design. he herculean efforts made to bring World Cup 2018 or 2022 to the United States – from grassroots gatherings that proved Americans would support the Cup in record numbers to a buttoned down corporate bid process to star-studded presentations from President Clinton and Morgan Freeman – didn’t pay off at the end. Losing out to the petro-dollars in Russia and Qatar as part of FIFA’s long-term goal to bring the sport to new markets is small consolation to a nation that assumed its game-ready stadiums, corporate support and millions of fans would win the day. But the die has been cast and now the U.S. soccer community – from Sunil Gulati and Major League Soccer on down to local recreation teams – is left to lick its wounds. The response has ranged from the dismissive – “Who needs the World Cup anyway” – to the distraught — “It sets soccer back a generation in its growth.” But upon reflection, the bottom line is that soccer remains healthy in America, youth participation continues strong, MLS is here to stay and the quality of the play increases exponentially every year. For soccer specialty retailers, that same range of emotions exists. Some were looking forward to being on the world’s stage again, while others feel our domestic game is strong enough without the added attention World Cup would have brought to the U.S. At the end of the day, 2022 is more than a decade away and soccer retailers don’t tend to look beyond the upcoming high school season. But that’s not to say they don’t have their opinions about the impact of the World Cup not coming to the United States for at least another generation. Sounding perhaps the most common theme, Bob Naughtrip , of SOCCER INSIGHT ® © 2010 Formula4Media, LLC . Published monthly, is edited for owners and top executives at soccer specialty stores and available only via email. The opinions by authors and contributors to Soccer Insight are not necessarily those of the editors or publishers. Articles appearing in Soccer Insight may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the express permission of the publisher. To have your name added to the circulation list, please send an email to jgruenhut@formula4media.com. Formula4Media, LLC, 299 East Shore Road, Suite 207, Great Neck, NY 11023. Tel: 516-305-4710. Publisher: Jeff Gruenhut, jgruenhut@formula4media.com; Advertising: Jeff Nott, jnott@formula4media.com; Jeff Gruenhut, jgruenhut@formula4media.com; Troy Leonard, tleonard@formula4media.com; Beth Gordon, bgordon@formula4media.com, Jeff OKon, jokon@formula4media.com 2 © 2010 FORMULA4 MEDIA LLC.

What’s The Impact On Soccer In America?

T he herculean efforts made to bring World Cup 2018 or 2022 to the United States – from grassroots gatherings that proved Americans would support the Cup in record numbers to a buttoned down corporate bid process to star-studded presentations from President Clinton and Morgan Freeman – didn’t pay off at the end. Losing out to the petro-dollars in Russia and Qatar as part of FIFA’s long-term goal to bring the sport to new markets is small consolation to a nation that assumed its game-ready stadiums, corporate support and millions of fans would win the day. But the die has been cast and now the U.S. soccer community – from Sunil Gulati and Major League Soccer on down to local recreation teams – is left to lick its wounds. The response has ranged from the dismissive – “Who needs the World Cup anyway” – to the distraught — “It sets soccer back a generation in its growth.” But upon reflection, the bottom line is that soccer remains healthy in America, youth participation continues strong, MLS is here to stay and the quality of the play increases exponentially every year.For soccer specialty retailers, that same range of emotions exists. Some were looking forward to being on the world’s stage again, while others feel our domestic game is strong enough without the added attention World Cup would have brought to the U.S. At the end of the day, 2022 is more than a decade away and soccer retaile rs don’t tend to look beyond the upcoming high school season. But that’s not to say they don’t have their opinions about the impact of the World Cup not coming to the United States for at least another generation. Sounding perhaps the most common theme, Bob Naughtrip, of Soccer Plus, Palatine, IL, points out that with the economy being inconsistent at best headed into 2011, looking out to 2022 is not a concern today. “What I will say is that I don’t think that the two venues picked for the 2018 or 2022 World Cups events are or will be considered a plus for the fans who choose to attend the World Cup live,” Naughtrip says. “Obviously having one of the events in the USA would heighten the awareness, but I don’t believe soccer is struggling to be known as a significant global or domestic sport any longer.” Naughtrip is concerned that one short-term negative that could reflect on the sport is all the controversy surrounding the selection committee and the perception of irregularities combined with the decision of the ultimate venues. Yet, at the end of the day, he points out, “There are more significant issues impacting our business currently then Mother Russia of Qatar.” “The impact of the 2022 World Cup going to Qatar is too early to tell right now in terms of the retail business,” points out Brian Koenig, of Soccer 2000, Downers Grove, IL. “The greater impact is how the world views our soccer body (FIFA) in light of choosing a country whose temperatures are extremely dangerous during the period of play for the World Cup.” Koenig feels the strength of Major League Soccer will more than make up for any missed opportunities that World Cup would have offered. “Currently, the MLS is really the only league that can attract the masses to watch a game,” he says. While overseas leagues such as the EPL and Serie A continue to be the driving force for retail sales in terms of replica product, Koenig stresses that are a few teams in the MLS that are starting to develop a following, with Sounders FC leading the way in a “coolness factor” with their uniform design. “We have many customers who purchase their jersey,” Koenig says. “We need more of this in the U.S. and quite frankly the MLS is the leading force behind this.” Sounding a slightly different tune is Vince Catizone, of Soccer Post of Morristown, in New Jersey. “The impact is huge and the ramifications will be felt throughout the United States, especially amongst soccer specialty dealers,” he says. “The excitement the World Cup brings is unprecedented, whether it’s in the United States or not, but this was our opportunity to finally bring the excitement back to America and a time for soccer specialty dealers to excel and finally capitalize on quickly expanding market,” Catizone adds. “Its extremely unfortunate this will not be taking place here, but nonetheless all soccer specialty dealers should be fully prepared for it.” Mark Edge, of Soccer Post of Franklin Lakes, Franklin Lakes, NJ, stresses that he is not overly concerned about the U.S. missing out on hosting World Cup 2022. “I’m not sure that the impact of the decision is paramount in the expansion of the soccer business over the next 10 years,” Edge says. Rather, he points to the expansion of the Latin population and the next generation of soccer parents who play the game as students today as having a much greater impact. “The strength of the domestic league is also an important contributor to the overall strength of soccer-specific sales,” he adds. Edge even offers the concept of technology making it less important than ever to actually attend games in order to experience the excitement of a major sporting event. “With 2022 being so far in the future we are unable to predict where technology will take us having made such progress in the last 10 years,” he says. “Soccer can now be viewed on more than few channels in our homes and the quality of the big screens such as the one in the Dallas Cowboys new stadium would make viewing games at a large common location almost as good, if not better, as being in the cheaper seats at the actual venue.” Stan Dobson, of Soccer International, Arlington, VA, whose business is mostly team and mail order, says he does see dramatic increases in certain items leading up to World Cup and for about a year afterwards and these changes are not as significant when the World Cup is not in the U.S, so there will certainly be a business impact of not holding the tournament here. “I really don’t have a problem with Russia getting it but Qatar, that is nothing short of ridiculous,” Dobson says. “I wouldn’t be surprised if that doesn’t change. Whether many countries will form their own World Cup competition or FIFA will find a graceful way out of this, I don’t know. We will certainly get lots of press on this but it won’t be that positive.” “Of course, it would have been a tremendous revenue booster for us, especially when there was talk about the draw being in Miami and Dolphin Stadium being a prime location,” says Dave Zighelboim, of Soccer Locker of Miami (FL). “This past World Cup was very successful for us, so the fact that we did not get it, doesn’t mean that we are all going to starve.” “We will have to wait until 2026, but I may be retired by then,” Zighelboim adds.

Previous Page Next Page

Publication List
Using a screen reader? Click Here