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Soccer's About to be Huge in Seattle

Yet again. For the hundredth time.

Comments (30) By Mark D. Fefer Wednesday, Jul 2 2008

Tony Quinn/MLS via Gettyimages

Futbol in America? Strictly a wash.

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Soccer seems to experience an exciting new surge in popularity about as often as Tacoma has a renaissance. Which is to say—on a regular schedule, as required by newspapers' need for feature stories.

Last week brought another example, as the P-I purported to uncover a "soccer boom" in Seattle, one not seen "since 1976 when Pele and the New York Cosmos played the Sounders in front of 58,000 people in the Kingdome." The evidence advanced by the reporter for said boom included the imminent arrival of Major League Soccer, as well as the big crowds recently drawn by international "friendly" matches at Qwest Field. But the article focused most on the supposed fact that more local bars are showing soccer on their TVs.

I've no idea if that's the case. But if soccer's showing up on more bar TVs, it's likely because there are more TVs in bars. When you've got 12 screens at Floyd's Place, sure, you can give one over to soccer. But I still don't see anyone watching. Except, of course, at places like Fadoand the George & Dragon—i.e., the old standbys, which is where the P-I had to go to secure the requisite photo of animated Euro fans. (It helped that there's been a European championshipgoing on the last few weeks.)

A more telling photo might have come from the Japanese place downstairs from our office, or the two Mexican places around the corner, where soccer is often on and nobody's watching. I recently spent a lovely Saturday afternoon sitting at the bar at Café Presse—you know, that place where everyone soaks up the European ease and sophistication and pretends they're in Paris. Of course soccer was on the telly for authenticity's sake, but there wasn't a damn person in the place watching it besides me. And it was a great game. (Liverpool beat Blackburn Rovers 3–1.)

Last month, on Father's Day, my folks and I headed down to the All Nations Cup. It's a big amateur soccer tournament pitting teams representing countries from around the world. From the event's energetic marketing, I'd come to expect a big festive occasion, full of international goodwill, with immigrants bringing their native soccer passion to bear, and colorful traditions of fandom. When we arrived at the Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila on a gorgeous day, the scene was a bit different. The crowd consisted of a handful of the players' friends and relations clustered in "the stands" (i.e., some runty bleachers, about six rows high and 10 butts wide) along the sidelines; two sad booths offered "global" merch and cuisine; a pair of loudspeakers sat on the pavement blaring terrible Westernized ethnic music; and (in the closest thing to futbol mayhem) a handful of teenage Croatian girls in matching yellow T-shirts blew horns. The turnout was less than you'd see at an average kids' game at Woodland Park—but without the intense, over-invested parents.

Then there's the MLS. I think it's great that we'll be getting a Major League Soccer team, especially since Paul Allen promised a new "football and soccer stadium" in his pitch for taxpayer funds to build Qwest Field a decade ago. (Who can forget the TV ads featuring little girls running around, self-actualizing themselves with a soccer ball?) But I can guarantee you there won't be 58,000 people showing up to see Sounders FCon any regular basis.

For one thing, the quality of play in MLS is just too weak. When an MLS highlight reel occasionally turned up during broadcasts of Euro 2008, it was like seeing a WNBA game suddenly break out during halftime at the NBA finals (sorry, ladies). I love soccer, and even I find MLS games boring. The best players in the game simply don't play here—until they're washed up, like Beckham.

The magic of the 1970s Sounders was unique to that time—a time before the Mariners and Seahawks—and is no more going to be recaptured than Fremont is going to become "quirky" again. Sure, soccer promoters can pack Qwest Field for exhibition games by bringing the circus to town, in the form of Manchester United or the Mexican and Brazilian national teams. But the soccer "boom" in America, which was already supposed to have arrived at least a dozen times over the past 20 years, isn't coming on any faster now than the metric system.

mfefer@seattleweekly.com

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Comments (30)

IJB 10/26/2008 5:42:58 PM

Comparing the league that Pele played for years ago and this one is just plain ridiculous. There are plenty of stories to suggest that soccer will be huge here: * Average ticket sales per MLS game are anticipated to be above the NBA and the NHL when Seattle enters the league. * There have been 17,000+ tickets sold almost half a year before the team has taken the field... * MLS All Start teams have consistently beaten teams from Europe like Celtic and West Ham... * Sponsorship of the MLS is better than it has ever been in the past... * You are right that our league does not have players like Christian Ronaldo in his prime, but, who cares soccer is a team sport and technical soccer always wins over individual talent...
bob 09/04/2008 6:15:00 AM

how i read the comments without having to write one?
BackStick 07/15/2008 6:13:53 PM

What a total pile of Garbage. Art Thiel move over we have a new nobody sports journalist here in town. If the Weekly is trying to attract new readers they should find an editor that has some nuts.
Mark Fefer 07/14/2008 4:37:21 PM

Yes, I know it was in April. That's when I watched it. But you're right it was Sunday. I blogged about it here. http://blogs.seattleweekly.com/threadcount/2008/04/weekend_review_cat_power_green.php
moldygreg 07/14/2008 8:59:06 AM

This guy is a clown. That crackin' game you watched on at Cafe Presse on SATURDAY, a rerun. Jackass. The Liverpool Blackburn game is from April 13 -- A Sunday. With the season concluded months ago.
BobH 07/07/2008 9:56:05 AM

Many European basketball leagues are hugely popular, though the teams are several notches below the NBA. Here in the U.S. we love college basketball and football, but obviously the talent level is far beneath the professionals. And the Mariners don't measure up to Major League Baseball standards, but many Seattle folks love them anyway. The point? It's possible to enjoy sport for the love of the game, without having to look down on it just because there are people somewhere in the world playing it at a higher level.
isable 07/06/2008 8:54:52 PM

He looks so familiar. Seems saw him before on black gay dating site called blackgaymingle.com did you still have profile on black gay dating site like agemingle.com? My brother said he saw you there few days ago
mati 07/03/2008 5:12:29 PM

I saw quite a few of Bosnia's matches and even broadcast one of them. They wore blue and white through the tournament as did most of their fans. The Romanians were decked out in their yellow. I've been wrong before though. Thanks for the interview today.
Mark Fefer 07/03/2008 10:20:42 AM

Actually Mati, the young women were Bosnia supporters, not Croatia. An even dumber mistake. My apologies!
papa bear 07/03/2008 3:05:18 AM

nor will you see 58K at Qwest since they are only going to open up 35K seats. Also, the HUGE ratings of the past Euro Championships and the ratings for Champions League (which is a weekday only tournament FFS) were some of the highest ESPN has ever had and the highest ever for ESPN Deportes. So despite your anecdotal evidence (2 snob cafes and a peek into a window?) not withstanding, the ratings seem to indicate you may be wrong. Do I even have to point out the 70K who showed up to watch the US take on Argentina last month? I'll never understand the hate for the sport of soccer. Would your world really come to a halt if it became as popular as say the NBA? I mean, really?
phillypride 07/02/2008 8:11:22 PM

You make some accurate observations and some totally ridiculous ones that seemed more designed to serve your intended story arc than factual accuracy. Of course soccer doesn't have near the quality or fan support of soccer in Europe or of the major sports here. And predictions of soccer success have been greatly exagerated in the past. But, that in no way means that soccer is not growing in popularity and quality in the US! The MLS is MUCH more stable, deep, and competitive than the NASL ever was. More and more people continue to play soccer PAST the youth level. We also now have a couple generations that have grown up as fans of MLS and European leagues. You embarass yourself my ignoring the statistics and evidence that point to soccer's slow, but continuing and significant, growth in the US. Do your research and try writing a more nuanced piece.
Mati 07/02/2008 7:22:02 PM

By the way, Croatia didn't have a team in the All Nations Cup. The girls you're speaking about were Romanian. I can't believe they let you write for the Weekly. Where is Huan Hsu when you need him?
seth 07/02/2008 4:58:36 PM

Thanks Mark D. Fefer for calling 80000 Mexican, Chinese, and American passionate soccer fans Circus Goers. You are quite an asset to the world of journalism.
seth 07/02/2008 4:53:53 PM

Thanks Mark D. Fefer for calling 80000 Mexican, Chinese, and American passionate soccer fans Circus Goers. You are quite an asset to the world of journalism
JAY 07/02/2008 4:37:28 PM

Well 17000 with 10 months to go which means that the number will grow by a lot more in time for the games. And then you forget that this is the first season. If Sounders put a good product on the field and sign good players the number could increase even more. Who wouldn't like to watch Henry at Qwest field (as rumors suggest).If not Henry the FO will definitely sign some high caliber player. And all the circus goers ( as you like to call them )who fill the Qwest Field will show up to support their own team. GO SOUNDERS
Zane 07/02/2008 4:03:27 PM

The increased population of King County doesn't fully prove your point. Sounders FC has not started a marketing campaign for season tickets and have already converted on 17,000 season tickets without having a coach or a designated player. I agree that too often the media rushes to claim that soccer has finally arrived in the U.S., but what is happening in Seattle looks to be big. 17k is a lot of people willing to fork over a good chunk of cash for a product that is not even close to being finished. If Sounders FC gets a well known DP I wouldn't be surprised to watch season ticket sales skyrocket even higher. What we have with Sounders FC is a good thing, focus on building that up, not tearing it down.
zmurf 07/02/2008 3:54:52 PM

That doesn't prove your point because Sounders FC has not started its marketing campaign yet for season tickets. Right now there are already 17,000 people willing to fork over money for season tickets and the team still doesn't have a coach or a designated player. I agree with you that the media far to often attempts to say that soccer has finally arrived, but something is happening in Seattle and it looks like it has the possiblity to be big. I think they could push over 20,000 season tickets after they start marketing for it. Soccer is alive and well in Seattle, you should help lift it up not tear it down.
US Fan 07/02/2008 3:52:10 PM

So, what need of yours did this article satisfy, Mr. Fefer? You feel better now? Is your ego soothed? LOL. All you soccer bashers are the same. Can't stand the fact that the world has embraced futbol instead of baseball and/or American football.
Jim Powers 07/02/2008 3:40:56 PM

Comparing the quality of MLS play to the Euros is jsut silly. That's like saying that because the average MLB regular season game isn't as exciting as the World Series the regular season's quality of play is bad. That's beyond apples and oranges. You come off as another Eurosnob who'd pay through the nose to watch a snoozer between Derby County and Portsmouth because its the EPL but a thriller between Chicago and New England would bore you because its MLS. Yes, 30 years ago Seattle drew big crowds in the NASL. With the team a year away from playing, 17K seasons tickets have been sold and (as mentioned) the team expects to draw 30K. Also remember the Sonics are leaving so there's one less pro team in town. Toronto newspapers were full of articles like this before TFC started, all about how it was a hockey town and "soccer had its shot" and blah blah blah. Look what happened there. The people behind SSFC are shrewd businessmen and in the entertainment business. I'd rather SSFC have a soccer-specific stadium but if they can make it work, they'll be fine. Are they going to draw 58K? Do the Mariners? They'll bring out 25-30K if they play their cards right. And you'll have to gripe about something else.
noel 07/02/2008 2:47:19 PM

Did all you haters decide to "claim to be fans" before you talk shit. Do you pu..ys send each other emails. A real american soccer fan will do what ever it takes to support MLS and the USA national team.
GOALSeattle 07/02/2008 2:41:53 PM

No. This is a league of mainly American players with a different business structure and end goal. 17k is great for a city Seattle's size. Example? LA Galaxy have 8k season tickets sold, WITH Beckham. I see that as a testament to Seattle's soccer community rather than an issue with the league / LA. LA still is averaging 25,000 fans per match this season. The Sounders FC have yet to advertise for match-day tickets or even run a TV commercial for season ticket sales. The well is not nearly dry and already we are talking selling out the available open seats.
TGos 07/02/2008 2:37:36 PM

So your metric for success is 58,000 fans showing up on a regular basis. Putting it another way, you will call the MLS in general (and SSFC specifically) a failure if it doesn't attain an average attendance HIGHER THAN ANY OTHER SOCCER LEAGUE IN THE WORLD! Your expectations might just be a bit unrealistic.
Chang 07/02/2008 2:32:24 PM

Soccer in Seattle is already here... with over 50K registered adults in the Puget Sound area (according to Seattle Times), we already enjoy the world's game. Many of these players will also go to games, as seen by the 14.7K deposits for season tickets for the inaugural season. But back to the game itself.. isn't it important that people enjoy the game in whichever fashion they choose? Whether playing, being a spectator or supporter, soccer may have more "participants" than the big 3, but it is always seems to be measured on ticket sales alone. IMO, I believe that the overall intent of MLS wasn't to compete with the major 3 sports, or to be a wildly profitable operation. But rather to create a competitive league for our American players to become better, and feed our national team. Frankly, we want to win the world cup. I'm very happy supporting MLS, who's founders are intent on creating true championship caliber players to win a World Cup, rather than supporting a bunch of money grubbing lawyers or used car salesmen running the other sports.
noel 07/02/2008 2:30:55 PM

Since when did soccer haters decide to claim to be soccer fans before they talk sh..t. Do you pu..ys send each other emails. It took baseball fans 10 years before they finally admitted players were on drugs. Even if MLS were boring a real fan would never admit it. WNBA fans would never admit there is a huge drop off in skill level "sorry ladies". Americans sould stop following college sports based on your logic.
MelH 07/02/2008 1:48:52 PM

"until they're washed up, like Beckham." You know he's still getting called up for the English national team, right? And Real Madrid has publicly stated that it was a mistake to let him go? Washed up? That's a lazy line in a lazy article.
mike 07/02/2008 1:45:55 PM

It supports your point if taken out of context. The Sounders do not have a team or a coach, yet has 17,000 season ticket deposits and a $20+ million sponsorship deal (not including other sponsors). Show me how the Sounders of the NASL attracted that many fans without a team or a coach then it would support your point. Show me how attendance is correlated to population growth. From 1978 to 2001 US population grew by over 28% while NFL attendance grew by right under 16%. Is the NFL dying? Should I schedule the NFL's demise by 2050? Your article was written with 0-5 minutes of investigation and is basically your opinion. Why pass it off as anything else?
Mati 07/02/2008 1:37:05 PM

Another sorry article written by a sorry Eurosnob who will never follow the game in the United States. Not once did the article mention the 17,000 season tickets all ready sold, nine months before the first match is set to be played, or the $20 million dollar deal with Microsoft who will promote Xbox on the teams jersey for five years in both domestic competition and on an annual World Tour. Nor did the article mention the repeated commitment by the ownership to "build a team that will compete on a global level" or the European style structure of the fan organization that will have the power to vote on whether or not to retain the services of the general manager every four years. Either this guy didn't take the time to do his research, or he found these things not worth mention in an article about how soccer will surely fail in Seattle. Get your soccer news from people that know. SeattleSoccerShow.com.
Mark Fefer 07/02/2008 11:05:35 AM

I'm aware that Sounders FC have sold, or have deposits on, close to 17,000 season tickets. Which is about what the NASL Sounders were attracting thirty years ago. During that time, King County's population has grown by half. Which only seems to support my point, no?
Luis 07/02/2008 9:41:32 AM

This guy clearly has nothing to write about so he decides to rip the sport and MLS, go find some real news. why do you not mention the 17k tickets that the sounders have WHY, because you do not know what you are writing about, please when did america let retards became journalist
GOALSeattle 07/02/2008 9:23:16 AM

You do know that Sounders FC have already sold 17,000 season tickets and look to sell out the entire season with an average of 25k+, don't you? Don't you? Forget 'magic,' that's just plain high interest in MLS in Seattle.

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