'Summer of Soccer' - the early numbers are in

Hello again! We've got loads of data for you on TV figures and stadium attendance in Copa America and MLS. The utterly confusing qualification scenarios in the Euros and Messi and Co play again.

Jun 25, 2024

Copa America - tv numbers up, stadium numbers down

The United States Men's National Team (USMNT) had more soccer fans across the nation tuning in during their Copa America opener against Bolivia than tuning out, drawing a record-breaking 3.17 million viewers on Fox. It’s a figure that marks the network's highest non-World Cup soccer audience in history and surpasses all previous English-language Copa America viewership records.

The group stage match, held on Sunday night, peaked at 4.01 million viewers between 6:30 and 6:45 PM ET, demonstrating no small amount of interest and enthusiasm in the USMNT

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Copa America Viewership Comparisons

To put this into perspective, the U.S.-Bolivia game outperformed the USMNT's group stage matches in the 2016 Copa America Centenario, which were all broadcast on FS1. Additionally, it surpassed the viewership of the 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup final between the U.S. and Mexico, which held the previous record for English-language cable TV's best non-World Cup match.

However, the audience for the U.S.-Bolivia match was still significantly lower than the USMNT's group stage matches in the 2022 World Cup, all of which garnered at least triple the viewership.

Regional Viewership Trends

San Diego, a city known for its strong support of both Copa America and UEFA Euros, led the way in viewership for U.S.-Bolivia, followed by Washington, D.C., and Austin. Spanish-language viewership data for this match, as well as other notable games like Saturday's Mexico-Jamaica encounter, will be released soon, providing further insights into the tournament's overall reach.

MLS Shattering Attendance Records, Fueled by Messi Mania

Major League Soccer (MLS) is riding a wave of unprecedented popularity, shattering attendance records left, right, and center. Building on the momentum of a record-breaking 2023 season, the league is poised to set new benchmarks in 2024.

An impressive 6.5 million fans have already flocked to MLS matches this season, marking a 725,000 increase compared to the same period in 2023. The league has witnessed a strong surge in high-attendance games, with five matches exceeding 60,000 attendees, six surpassing 50,000, and a whopping fifteen exceeding 40,000. This fan-driven momentum has translated to a 13% overall increase in attendance, with 25 out of 29 clubs experiencing growth or maintaining their average attendance compared to last year.

A few things are fueling this growth, including consistent Saturday night scheduling, a 15% surge in season ticket sales, and the undeniable "Lionel Messi Effect."

Messi's impact was evident in two record-breaking matches:

Inter Miami CF's 3-2 victory over Sporting Kansas City at Arrowhead Stadium on April 13 drew a crowd of 72,610, the fourth-largest standalone crowd in MLS history.
Inter Miami CF's 4-1 win over the New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium on April 27 attracted 65,612 fans, setting another club attendance record

In Comparison, Copa America Attendance has been Poor

The 2024 Copa América is struggling to fill stadiums in the United States, with attendance significantly lower than capacity in most venues. While the opening match between Argentina and Canada attracted a near-capacity crowd (for the obvious reason), subsequent matches saw much lower attendance figures. For example, less than half of the stadium was filled for the Ecuador-Venezuela game.

High ticket prices have been cited as a major factor contributing to low attendance. Many fans are unwilling to pay the steep prices, especially given the large capacity of NFL stadiums where the matches are being held.

"It's frustrating, especially for the player, to be in a stadium that seats 70,000 people and barely 25,000 get in. There is no atmosphere." - Weston McKinnie

Despite similar issues with high ticket prices in the 2016 Copa América, that tournament still managed to draw an average attendance of 46,000 fans per game. The current tournament's attendance figures fall significantly short.

In contrast, the Euros have attracted large crowds to smaller venues, likely due in part to shorter travel distances between host cities and home countries.

Organizers may need to learn some lessons before 2026.

A Promising Future, But We Need The Full Picture

These are all mostly fantastic numbers, of course, but there will be executives, soccer and non-soccer alike, anxiously awaiting the numbers once The Summer of Soccer has been factored in.

We discussed the potential pitfalls of continuing MLS alongside two international tournaments; and while Copa looks to have shot itself in the foot logistically, it’ll be evident just how reliant US soccer is on the little magician.

EURO 2024 Round-up

Where to watch: all TV broadcasters around the globe from UEFA

It’s Crunch-Zeit - the final group games played at the same time and it’s all on the line. If you’re struggling to work out which third place teams can play who, we got you:

Got it? Good. If you’re a bit slow on the uptake like us, here’s an explainer.

Moving swiftly on, Yesterday was Group B.

Let’s start with the Azzurri, who literally left it until the last kick of the game in the 98th minute against Croatia to earn a 1-1 draw and qualify for the Last 16. At least this Italian commentator channeled his inner Tardelli:

Spare a thought for man of the match, Luka Modric, who, in his last Euros at 38, became the oldest ever goalscorer in the history of the tournament netting the opener after missing a penalty 33 seconds beforehand. At least this Italian journalist was gracious enough to appreciate him.

In the other Group B game, Spain beat Albania to top the group with a 100% record. (BBC)

And today, it’s Groups C & D

PERMUTATIONS:

England are through no matter what, but everyone in Group C can still qualify. In Group D, only Poland are out of the running. As much as we’re enjoying the chaos of this third place nonsense, it’s enough to give you an aneurysm, so maybe pop over here for further clarification.

COPA America Round-up

Brazil huffed and puffed their way to a 0-0 draw against Cost Rica, with Luis Paqueta looking odds on to win the most shots off target award.

"We were Bruce Willis in The Sixth Sense. Everyone thought we were dead before the movie started." - Costa Rica coach, Gustavo Alfaro, on a movie where nobody thought Bruce Willis was dead beforehand.

Colombia looked convincing in their 2-1 win against Paraguay, James Rodriguez involved in both goals.

Today we have two more games, including the birthday boy returning to the scene of his ' I am quitting Argentina' moment

Group A: Peru vs. Canada

Time: 6 p.m. ET
Location: Children's Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas
Cable TV: FS1
Streaming: fuboTV

Chile vs. Argentina

Time: 9 p.m. ET
Location: MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ
Cable TV: FS1
Streaming: fuboTV
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In Other Soccer News

MLS/USL:

Planning for a ‘soccer specific stadium’ in Indianapolis is still in full swing so long as they have a team to fill it. (WTHR)

PREMIER LEAGUE: More on the PSR Swap Shop:

PSR-friendly homegrown deals jar with the moral fabric of football. (The Athletic $)
Chelsea Warned by Premier League over FFP ‘loophole’ as transfer hurdle emerges (football.london)

But, the Championship saw revenues exceed wages for the first time in six years - 10% to be exact, up to £749m. It’s still the fifth biggest league in Europe, and while it collectively spent £706m in wages over the 2023/24 season, it was still eclipsed by the £4bn the Premier League spent. (BBC)

Premier League Players Not at EURO 2024 or Copa America:

Oh, and Kalvin Phillips…

Stat of the Day

121 countries have won a game at a national tournament since Scotland last did. Quiz question - who was it?

"You can’t have eight minutes of added time after that game. Eight minutes, it’s nonsense. There weren’t too many breaks in play or too many fouls to justify that. I don’t want to get into it too much. I don’t want to cause a fuss about what’s going on." […] “We are a small country. No one really gives us too much thought, so we have to stand up for ourselves.”- Croatian coach Zlatko Dalić hinting at conspiracy theories so Italy doesn’t have to.

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