So, Do I Remember Wrong?

[danalwyn]

Was the World Cup this big of a deal in the US last time around? I know that I'm geographically in a place surging with immigrants, many of whom have brought a love for the game along with them. I also know that I work in a very international environment where there is a lot of contact with other countries. But it seems that even for that the spread of World Cup fever, where the Cup is basically on display in every store and restaurant and talked about on the street, is a bit extreme.

Is this mostly near me, or has this just been a really big event even in the US?

Comments

[silverjackal]

It has indeed been a really big event. Football was a non-existent here when I first came, and yet this time around it's *everywhere*. I've even heard talk in the main stream media about how it's vastly gained popularity in North America, though I can't find a good link at the moment.

[danalwyn]

I don't even remember it being anywhere near this size of an event back when the cup was in South Africa. It's just a strange, sudden interest people have. Maybe it will stick around this time.

[silverjackal]

Perhaps its a combination of successful marketing and/or the absence of other major sporting events to hold people's interest? I'm sure just showing the sport more probably encouraged more people to watch it, too.

[avendya]

I wonder if it's partially a demographic shift? "Soccer moms" were very much a 90s thing, so kids that grew up playing soccer are now old enough to drink at sports bars and want to watch the World Cup.

[danalwyn]

Possibly. I hadn't considered that. It could also be a millennial thing, although ascribing things to generation is sort of the lazy way to do sociology.