Quote:
Originally Posted by stevebydac
I don't think the NHL (TV exposure lacking?) or NPB (vs. MLB) quite make the cut. MLS definitely doesn't.
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It's funny though cause I mentioned previously on here that while the mls won't ever be an upper echelon sport here in the us I wouldn't be surprised at all to see it pass hockey in as little as 10-15 years especially the way both leagues seem to be heading in opposite directions. I say this for a few main reasons. First off between the MLS and the US Men's National team both being carried on ESPN they actually have national exposure unlike the NHL. Secondly, the US Men's National team has a following that has been building over the last couple decades and now is covered extensively. It's proven to be a driving force for the sport in the country, is taken seriously by the major networks, and has tremendously helped advance the sport on many levels. US Men's Hockey the NHL's only equivelent doesn't come close to this. Also, while the MLS is expanding if the league does in fact drop it's foreign restrictions and opens its teams up to bringing in more talent from abroad as it plans to do then it will go another step in the right direction. Lastly, I would go as far to say that soccer in the US overall has a much stronger following from the under 25 generation who have really been the first generation to be widely exposed to the game, than hockey does at this point. Many of them attend mls games, follow the epl, etc. The NHL if anything has lost a tremendous amount of interest among this demographic and its going to hurt them in the long run. All in all maybe even 10 years till the MLS passes it.