Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Women's soccer league?

While I was watching the UEFA Champions League final today, it occurred to me that women soccer or futbol does not exist really past the college game. Sure they have the world cup every 4 years, but no professional league that I can think of. You would think after the success of the 2004 USA team America might try to ride the wave . Men have the MLS here in the states and seems to be successful, why not a women's league? Could it be a lack of interest, sponsorship, or some other cause? Most of the time it boils down to a business and profitability. But why not try for a couple of years. Heck I disliked soccer for most of my adult life but now I watch it all the time, another season of women's soccer, I would watch it!

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I see your point but at one time there was a league for women's soccer. It was called Women's United Soccer Association. They played only three years and ended in 2003. Supposidly they are trying to create another league by 2009 the WPA (womens professional association) but the factor that hinders all female leagues is how to finance it. The WNBA was started with support from the NBA, I'm not sure if thats still the case, but the MLS (Major League Soccer) can barely support themselves yet alone another league. I actually think that Soccer is more popular than people think but its not for American Soccer. Most of the true hardcore fans follow European Leagues or National teams such as Mexico. Whenever Mexico plays America, men or women, Mexican supporters fill the stands. Another problem that Female soccer could face is the fact that their only popular figure, Mia Hamm, is no longer going to play. If you were to ask people to name a female soccer player, even a soccer player in general, most would say Mia Hamm. This league must promote thier players and advertise to particular fanbases, hopefully by not attempting to promote sex appeal to attract men to watch. Hopefully they can get a contract with a tv network such as ABC-ESPN and not be put on ESPN alternate or ESPN 16. Finally, I would like to mention that their are plenty of Women's professional teams out there that no one is aware of, simply because no one wants to take a chance on covering them.

Kerrie Kauer said...

A Rivera

I believe there is a way that a women's soccer league can be successful. I also watched the UEFA final match today and thought of an idea that the women could pursue. There should be a women's league in all the major cities in the United States, Canada, central and south America. All of them would play in one big league then the champion of the league should play the champion of the European women's league at the end of the season. This would be similar to what Europe has going on with the UEFA Champions league but much better because it is involving the whole world and everyone would be more interested. I also believe that the talent level and competitiveness would be as good or better than the European men's league.