So I guess the biggest question is what is the contributing factor to the increased interest by the younger demographic in the US? I think there are three parts to it:
First, younger and college educated people tend to have been raised a little more open-minded about sports - many of us grew up playing youth soccer, so we have some exposure to it. More than you can say for our more well-seasoned demographic counterparts at least. So the World Cup, while not necessarily as important to us as an event in one of the Big Three/Four sports, at least registers on the radar.
Second, most people who are young and college educated also are enjoying this summer in what is becoming the biggest career choice for college grads in America - unemployment. Or at least semi-employment. We have time on our hands, and it's really easy to be watching or listening to the Cup games on our computers or in front of the TV while looking for jobs. Granted, the hours the games are being broadcast live are not exactly conducive to viewing if you are working a 9 to 5 job, but they are if you work a 9 to 5 job in front of a computer and are quick with the mouse.
Which leads to the third point - the technology of this World Cup. It's not that older folks don't get computers or technology or stuff, but the young generations just know how to make it work for us a little bit better. And to such people, ESPN 3 is a gift from the high and mighty sports gods (strongly recommend it to any of you sitting in front of your computers right now reading this - which should be all of you, now that I think of it). Every Cup game is televised. Every game. For a month. A MONTH. You want to see how successful the NCAA Men's Basketball tournament is going to be now that all of their games are going to be broadcast on TV? Look at the World Cup. You want to see the future of sports broadcasting, you major sports leagues? Look at ESPN 3 and ESPN Mobile TV.
And as I think Bob Ryan (I think it was him) pointed out on Around the Horn last week, when he was getting into sports reporting, the two big sports were boxing and horse racing. I think it's fair to say that definitely isn't true of today. The point he was trying to make is that what is considered the dominant sports of the time change in the United States, as I'm sure they do in other countries - look at the rise of basketball in East Asia, South America and Europe, or baseball in Latin America and East Asia. I think if the youthful passion and interest in soccer continues and sustains itself, combined with the US team slowly growing into its own on the world stage, its very likely that the US will join the rest of the world in having a peaked interest in soccer.
Alright, maybe at least an interest in soccer. Baby steps folks.
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