Which sport is most likely to dethrone the NFL atop the North American sports throne?

[Chawls]

Inspired by a discussion by the boys at BASS, if the NFL continues to make missteps and possibly alienate or divert from the path of their fanbase's social consciousness, then which sport is in the best position to take advantage?

[DG_ThenNowForever]

NCAA Football.

If not that, then some permutation of MLS/high-level soccer. One of the reasons the NFL is successful is that its once-weekly schedule builds anticipation. Among the other sports, only soccer can deliver a similar experience.

If the Saudis and Russians get interested in teams like Columbus, and the MLS loses its salary cap, and the US wins the 2018 World Cup (lots of ifs!), then who knows what the ceiling is for American soccer. You can joke about MLS being a joke, but there's definitely growth opportunity there.

[cappital92]

In order;

1. NCAA Football

2. NBA

3. MLB

4. MLS

5. NCAA Basketball

Of course, if the NFL truly starts to falter popularity wise, I don't think there'll be a sport that'll move into the top spot right away. Instead of casual fans adopting another sport, the money they previously used for pro football will go to concerts, movies, video games, Netflix & HBOGO accounts, and participant sports like golf, tennis, or biking.

[dfwabel]

None in the short term, next 10-15 years since the nearest contender in popularity also has warts. While there is a clamor and one team sponsor left, seats aren't going unsold yet.

http://www.harrisinteractive.com/NewsRoom/HarrisPolls/tabid/447/mid/1508/articleId/1365/ctl/ReadCustom%20Default/Default.aspx

NCAA football fans don't want to see the players get paid and the possibility of "Power 5" split won't help either. Their talent pool also has the same violence against women issue, however they're under more federal pressure to do something about it than the NFL.

MLS has the scheduling problem on TV which will start to be put in control next season, but perception of it as "off-brand" pro soccer will continue as long as Americans know that the EPL is a early Saturday constant and it is portable through the NBC LiveExtra app (through the current contract).

[CubsFanBudMan]

I think it might really be soccer this time. There's a generation coming up raised on FIFA like some were on Madden. (I'm more RBI Baseball.) At least that's what I hear is different about this imminent rise.

NCAA football is still football, and some of the NFL's issues are not league-specific. Unless you are suggesting the pay model might lead to it becoming the premier pro football league.

Plus, MLB is far from dead despite how many are comparing this moment in NFL history to "1994 and steroids" as if the latter didn't rescue the sport from the former.

Look instead to boxing's path? Horse racing? Maybe no one will care about any football games but the Super Bowl... 50 years from now.

[OnWis97]

It would either be soccer or golf. PGA is huge, though I think it's viewership has suffered since Tiger's downfall. And soccer really is poised to surge. Anyone under about 25 played it as a kid. It has a long way to go though and I think if the NFL really does fall off, we may have no clear cut #1 for a while.

NCAA Football has its own problems (concussions, corruption, etc.) and college sports will always be somewhat to the fringe.

NBA may be in OK position but does a sport with only a few relevant franchises really become "the" sport?

MLB, even if the NFL disappears, should just try to maintain what it has. They need to find ways to speed the games up. I don't think MLB's in position to go to the top.

[spartacat_12]

I think it might really be soccer this time. There's a generation coming up raised on FIFA like some were on Madden. (I'm more RBI Baseball.) At least that's what I hear is different about this imminent rise.

Except how many of these kids playing FIFA are using MLS teams? Soccer's popularity as a whole may soar, but as long as the sport's biggest stars come from overseas, and the European professional leagues are available for consumption by North American audiences, MLS will always be considered a 2nd tier league. The only way I see MLS surpassing the NFL is if the US can develop a homegrown, all-world talent (someone on the level of Ronaldo or Messi), who wants to stay and play in his home country.

[DG_ThenNowForever]

I think it might really be soccer this time. There's a generation coming up raised on FIFA like some were on Madden. (I'm more RBI Baseball.) At least that's what I hear is different about this imminent rise.

Except how many of these kids playing FIFA are using MLS teams? Soccer's popularity as a whole may soar, but as long as the sport's biggest stars come from overseas, and the European professional leagues are available for consumption by North American audiences, MLS will always be considered a 2nd tier league. The only way I see MLS surpassing the NFL is if the US can develop a homegrown, all-world talent (someone on the level of Ronaldo or Messi), who wants to stay and play in his home country.

Or, more likely, a bunch of Russian or Saudi billionaires decide they want to go all-in on MLS franchises, they do, the MLS salary cap is lifted, and some of the world's best talent decides living in LA or New York (but sadly, not Columbus) would be better than slumming it in Swansea.

If there's money to be made in MLS -- and I bet there is -- it'll come. NYCFC is evidence of that.

[Lights Out]

I think Silver will have the NBA well-positioned to capitalize on the NFL's eventual and inevitable decline.

[dfwabel]

I think Silver will have the NBA well-positioned to capitalize on the NFL's eventual and inevitable decline.

Who is the next player after LeBron (or the next after the next)? It won't be Durant, possibly Anthony Davis.

While there is international money which loves the NBA, and they were first to get that digital is the future platform with people allowed to just post dunks on YouTube, the Hawks owner illustrated that selling a "black league" will still be difficult in America even though the NBA skews younger and they care about race less.

[PhantomDreamer]

Who is the next player after LeBron (or the next after the next)? It won't be Durant, possibly Anthony Davis.

While there is international money which loves the NBA, and they were first to get that digital is the future platform with people allowed to just post dunks on YouTube, the Hawks owner illustrated that selling a "black league" will still be difficult in America even though the NBA skews younger and they care about race less.

Why won't it be Durant? Reigning MVP.

I'm not sure what you were trying to say, do you believe the NBA will dethrone the NFL or not?

[ElwoodCuse]

Football is not going anywhere unless people literally stop playing it because it's too dangerous. No sport is better positioned for television than football, and that's why no matter how many scandals come out, people aren't going to stop watching, and the NFL can print money forever.

The NBA and NHL combined don't make as much money as baseball does.

[dfwabel]

Who is the next player after LeBron (or the next after the next)? It won't be Durant, possibly Anthony Davis.

While there is international money which loves the NBA, and they were first to get that digital is the future platform with people allowed to just post dunks on YouTube, the Hawks owner illustrated that selling a "black league" will still be difficult in America even though the NBA skews younger and they care about race less.

Why won't it be Durant? Reigning MVP.

I'm not sure what you were trying to say, do you believe the NBA will dethrone the NFL or not?

Lil' fella, I gave my overall/official opinion earlier in this thread when you were downloading pics of demolished facilities.

And race in the NBA still matters. Race in America is still not really discussed, therefore the NBA cannot grow due to "old white money".

Notice where the NBA gets primary sponsorship from outside of Bud Light, Gatorade/Taco Bell and State Farm? A-B is Belgian too.

BBVA (Spain), Haier (China), Kia (the off brand Korean car maker), Samsung (Korea), Sprint (Japanese majority), Sprite (USA), Kumho Tire (Korea), adidas (Germany), liquor company Diageo (UK)

[pcgd]

Football is not going anywhere unless people literally stop playing it because it's too dangerous. No sport is better positioned for television than football, and that's why no matter how many scandals come out, people aren't going to stop watching, and the NFL can print money forever.

The NBA and NHL combined don't make as much money as baseball does.

Who is football best for? The league or fans?

I'll agree no sport offers the unique (and painful) opportunity for a "score, commercial, kickoff, commercial" which is good for the league but for the fan?

The best sport for TV for the fan without a doubt is soccer. Limited games, multiple competitions (even if you sick in the league, still have open cups to dream about), always 2 hours long without fail, and the best part: zero commercials during gameplay.

[BBTV]

It would either be soccer or golf. PGA is huge, though I think it's viewership has suffered since Tiger's downfall. And soccer really is poised to surge. Anyone under about 25 played it as a kid. It has a long way to go though and I think if the NFL really does fall off, we may have no clear cut #1 for a while.

NCAA Football has its own problems (concussions, corruption, etc.) and college sports will always be somewhat to the fringe.

NBA may be in OK position but does a sport with only a few relevant franchises really become "the" sport?

MLB, even if the NFL disappears, should just try to maintain what it has. They need to find ways to speed the games up. I don't think MLB's in position to go to the top.

Golf? A sport that is not accessible to a large portion of the general public, isn't made for tv, and carries the "white guys at country club" stigma will never be #1. Golf doesn't bring people together like team sports do, and isn't something you can buy season tix for.

[buzzcut]

For the short term, none of the above.

For the long term, Australian Rules Football(unless the NFL decides to get rid of helmets and pads).

[NJTank]

I think Silver will have the NBA well-positioned to capitalize on the NFL's eventual and inevitable decline.

The problem is basketball is not nearly as exciting and the season is way too long, plus everybody makes the playoffs making a regular season game hum drum.

The NFL's popularity is based on a few things.

First football is exciting and thrilling yadda yadda yadda.

What makes it so popular is the season is short 16 games, going any more would be a mistake. This makes every game important and adds to the intensity. Less than half the league makes the playoffs, so getting one of six spots is a season long battle.

NBA, NHL, MLB they have games nearly every night you miss a game here or there you lose a game here or there its just a game.

Most NFL games are on Sunday its a day off you can watch it for 12 hours and be entertained all day. Especially watching the red zone.

Betting on football is easy and straight forward, compared to the NBA, NHL and MLB.

The NBA game has dead moments runs here and there and it is not until the last five minutes does the game really get interesting. The NHL may be able to open a door here, but they cant seem to do anything right marketing wise. The NHL is tight and exciting through out and every goal is crucial. MLB is the same but its too serene as pastoral to ever truly regain the top spot.

[Gothamite]

Football is not going anywhere unless people literally stop playing it because it's too dangerous.

See, I think that's actually possible. Youth participation is way down. I've been a huge fan for nearly forty years, and I won't let my three kids play. Ever.

My kids play soccer instead. From the available data, they're not alone. And once we have a soccer team in NYC, that'll be their favorite spectator sport.

[Raysfan12]

NBA: If Adam Silver can abolish the NBA Lottery and make some quality changes that will benefit the sport, the NBA could rise tremendously.

MLS: Soccer isn't the world's most popular sport for nothing and with changing demographics, I could see the MLS rise exponentially.

MLB: America's Pastime will rise again with a new commissioner and if he does some great things, it will reclaim the throne for a while.

[CS85]

NCAA Football: Football is the #1 sport in America. By an insane margin. With the introduction of a tournament and the NFL becoming the new scandal king, people are turning more and more to college football to satisfy their fix without the guilt. The problem with that, of course, is that college athletics is just as nasty and corroded internally as the NFL, arguably far more. But look, they're wearing bright yellow today and Lee's wearing the Duck head! sounds of innocent fun

NBA: It's on the rise. Adam Silver banished racism to the nether-realm via his lvl 20 fireball to Donald Sterling's froggish, bigot jowls. LeBron has returned to Cleveland in a classy fashion, yet still remains the envy of haters nationwide. If they can shorten the first round of the playoffs and avoid uniform ads, this could be a fine time to be an NBA fan.

MLB: MLB is an established institution in this country that even in it's lowest days (1994) and most scandalous (early 00's) held sway and public interest. The game isn't likely to rise up to challenge football anytime soon, but with a new commissioner the sport may soon see refinements to modernize it's schedule to a more fan-friendly one, traditionalists be damned.

I'm not even going to address soccer because it's not a real threat to even be on this list.