12. The soccer water cooler can
be found at the bar, online,
and yes, even at the office
ACCESS TO CONVERSATION
13. UNIQUE & COMPLEX LANDSCAPE
US YOUTH
SOCCER
ADULT
SOCCER SOCCER
CAMPS
AYSO
MLS
LIGA MX
PREMIER
LEAGUE
UEFA
CHAMPIONS
LEAGUE
LA LIGA
USA
COLOMBIA
FIFA
WORLD
CUP
MEXICO
GOLD CUP
NSCAA
soccer
PARTICIPATION
NATIONAL
TEAMS
CLUB FANDOM
17. THE AGNOSTIC
I’M A FAN OF INTERNATIONAL SOCCER LEAGUES AND MAJOR LEAGUE
SOCCER
35.0 9.3
59% “follow” 5+ Club Teams
36% multicultural (non-white)
Became a fan at different ages:
• 28% before age 10
• 32% after age 25
18. THE EVENT SEEKER
I’M ONLY REALLY INTERESTED IN THE BIG EVENTS LIKE THE FIFA
WORLD CUP
36.1 7.9
Follows 1.6 Club Teams on
average
37% became a fan after age 25
Top Leagues: MLS and EPL
19. EL FANATICO
I’M MAINLY FOLLOW SOCCER FROM MEXICO AND/OR CENTRAL &
SOUTH AMERICAN COUNTRIES
28.6 9.5
Most popular league Liga MX, followed by
UCL
64% became a fan before age 10
49% cheer for both their country of origin
and the USA
20. THE EUROPHILE
I’M MAINLY INTERESTED IN INTERNATIONAL SOCCER LEAGUES,
SPECIFICALLY EUROPEAN SOCCER
28.8 9.5
Predominantly male
29% are “Eurosnobs” – only care about
top Euro teams
Heavy “Brit” influence – love Ian Darke,
Martin Tyler and Ray Hudson
21. THE DOMESTIC
I FOLLOW INTERNATIONAL SOCCER LEAGUES BUT MY PRIMARY
INTEREST IS MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER
36.6 9.0
30% Female
77% cheer for the USA only
Landon Donovan more popular than
Messi
22. THE OBSERVER
I’M REALLY NOT A “FAN” – MY INTEREST IS PRIMARILY TIED TO MY KIDS
INVOVLEMENT IN THE SPORT
43.9 7.1
72% Female
74% have 2+ kids
Other sport interests: NFL and MLB
Internet – Al Gore invented
Demographics
Significant growth in minorities in last 50+ years, most notable for soccer Hispanic. --- 85% white in the 60’s. Millennial generation – driving generation – 40%+ millennial non-white – recent survey 60% of respondees were non-white
Gaming –
David - FIFA game
Globalization
Interest in soccer among U.S. audiences has remained minimal for several reasons, beginning with the game`s foreignness to the hard-core sports fan in this country. – Philip Hersch – long time Chicago tribune sport writer
Please tell us whether you agree or disagree with the following statement. Soccer is global and global is cool. The international nature of soccer is a big part of the appeal – 74% agree – 40% strongly agree
Social Media
US #1 market during the World Cup for social engagement. 20% of FIFA’s traffic
Fan Culture
-organic fan base has been built up over the years