Has David Beckham raised the profile of soccer in America?
By jasonb72
@jasonb72 (20)
October 5, 2007 9:59am CST
What do you think the impact has been on soccer in America since the arrival of David Beckham? As i'm from England it's hard to know the reaction of American soccer fans. Do you think he will be worth the money when his injuries have cleared up and will he get more Americans into the sport?
2 people like this
8 responses
@erickrubio (624)
• Philippines
6 Oct 07
Jasonb72, I don't think David Beckham made any major impact in American soccer. We all know that baseball is America's number one sport. There's also the American football as well as basketball (the NBA). Americans do not consider soccer as a major sport so I don't think he will ever make any impact.
@avanteen (24)
• Malaysia
8 Oct 07
well i think in terms of raising the quality of football in the US, Beckham is really far away from that. but he sure is an added attraction for fans to pack the stadiums...especially female fans. there is no doubt that it will take more time for football to replace NFL, NBA or MLB...at least not in ten years time.
@stvasile (7306)
• Romania
5 Oct 07
David Beckham is not the first good football player to go to the USA. Hristo Stoichkov and Romario both played in the USA but you don't see the American going crazy for what they call "soccer". I wouldn't go crazy for American Football, Hockey or Baseball either...
@skostov (39)
• United States
19 Oct 07
The difference is that David Beckham is more of a celebrity than a soccer player, especially in the last few years. There has been a lot of interest around him in the states lately, but that's because of his and his wife's status of celebrities, rather than what he brings to the soccer field.
@lauzpauz (115)
•
8 Nov 07
I honestly dont think hes made an impact on football/soccer, but he has made an impression on the pople of hollywood. I mean lets face it he only went there to pamper his ego, it was never about the soccer???
in my opinion one man cannot change millions of peoples view on the game.
And i believe he wont be worth much,as hes not gone to a top club and hes not getting any playing time, I think all the hype surrounding beckham has left fans and supporters a bit deflated which may in turn make people lose interest in the game.
@ufo_thexfiles (723)
• Malaysia
11 Oct 07
Beckham was so popular not just aboit football, but as a sellebrity too...
I think his moved to US, has brings small impact to US soccer. But still not enough to trigger the soccer industries.
Let see in the future, maybe he will make something unpredictable....
@poohgal (6845)
• Singapore
6 Oct 07
Hello there. I do not think he has helped to raise the profile of soccer in US. Games like ice hockey, basketball, american football are part of the US culture. Americans are usually not accepting of sports that are not invented by them or not part of their culture. Many great players have played in US before but none has been able to make much difference. I do not think Beckham will make any difference. He might just end up acting in a Hollywood film with Tom Cruise. =P
1 person likes this
@soccermom (3198)
• United States
9 Oct 07
David Beckham made a difference in this country for about a week. And even then it was never about soccer, it was about his wife, and their home and the paparozzi chasing them around. It's a shame we as Americans can't seem to get more exposure to this great sport, but when the soccer players aren't all over the front page in one scandal or another I guess no one cares.
