Another good example of the rise in Soccer popularity is Seattle.
The Supersonics left, and the city rallied behind the soccer team. It's actually considered the best and most rabid fanbase in the MLS now, even ahead of the Canadian teams.
In general soccer gains seem to be at the benefit of other sports falls... and there is no telling how much this will effect things in the future.
There is a general thought that American Football may go the way of Boxing to a niche sport in the next 10-20 years due to recent concussion research.
Will parents let their children play youth football or even highschool football when there are reports that even this small level of playing can cause severe brain damage later on in life?
Baseball itself is on a huge decline...
Soccer has a good chance to grow, it's biggest problems are exposure and lack of money to pay the big bucks.
The amount of money you can make in the sport is as important as the sport itself for a lot of kids growing up in America I think. Sure you can make LOTS of money in Europe... but most kids i don't think know that. While A-rod, LeBron and Peyton Manning you see all the time here.
Currently i'd say the next "biggest" sport will be Basketball though. Football and Baseball are both poised to drop (baseball actually already has, only getting a boost from the "roid" era.)
It's already gaining a lot of fans from baseball. Baseball's level of black players is dropping drastically... this is partially attributed to the benefits of Basketball economically over baseball.
Baseball has minor leagues that offer little money and you may never make the majors.
Basketball, if your pro level... your pro level... and true you may not be, but you don't know that as a kid... and basketball is just the most glamorous sport we have right now.
Soccer could actually make #2 and later 3 in the next 50 years or so depending on concussion research and if Baseball can ever get back it's groove.
