In your opinion, who works harder for their buck - American football players or soccer players? In my opinion, US soccer athletes clearly work harder for their paychecks than American football players. Considering their average salaries alone, US soccer players take home, on average, $70,000 per year, while the average professional football player earns more than ten times that amount, at a staggering $770,000 per year. How big do you think soccer will get in the United States? How big is the potential market for this sport? The potential for growth of this sport in the US is huge. Already, the US has seen a significant increase in participation, from young children to adult leagues alike; much of this growth can be attributed to the 1994 World Cup, which was played the US for the first time. The market for US soccer will undoubtedly grow; its potential is unknown. Do you think the World Cup will bring lasting economic benefits to South Africa? Given precedence that the World Cup brings worldwide recognition, it can be assumed that South Africa will enjoy the same economic benefits that the US has, as all eyes are on this emerging nation. As it stands, the World Cup is expected to generate 21.3B Rand (equivalent to just over $2B), of which 12.7B Rand will be contributed to direct spending, and an estimated 159,000 new jobs will be created as a result. This contribution will impact South Africa incredibly, as unemployment has been extremely low for this emerging nation; adding jobs, and increasing tourism should enable significant growth for this South Africa. Obviously bars/pubs generate massive revenues from big sporting events, but are there any other businesses who could also benefit from the World Cup? With sponsorships for the 2010 World Cup, Wal-Mart expects its sales to increase 1%-2%, for each nation that reaches the quarter finals, in which they have a store present. Similarly, Adidas expects to see an increase of almost $2M in sales, directly related to World Cup advertising. Marketing is an enormous aspect of World Cup soccer. Other businesses that may indirectly benefit from the World Cup will include local soccer clubs, clothing stores and retail shops that sell World Cup paraphernalia.
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2010 Media Report Villanova School of Business