We did it, America. We’re through to the round of 16 AND we just proved to the world that we’d rather go insane over soccer than do actual work.
ESPN’s previous streaming record was 750,000 viewers at one time on WatchESPN. It was set during the Mexico-Brazil match last week. During its peak time today, 1.7 million people were watching the USA-Germany match Thursday afternoon.
Record WatchESPN 1.7m peak concurrent viewers. Minor issues at start of match. Internet never tested like this for sporting event.
— Katina Arnold (@KatinaESPN) June 26, 2014
They weren’t sure if the internet could TAKE ALL 13 INCHES OF AMERICA’S VEINY SOCCER PASSION. Alright, maybe that was a little too far, but those are some staggering numbers.
USA! USA! USA!
[via Fast Company]
Can confirm. #IBELIEVE
You cannot possibly say anymore that America doesn’t care about soccer. The minority of people can continue to say that they hate it and America doesn’t like the sport, but that’s simply not true anymore. The numbers don’t lie. While it may not be the most popular sport in the country still, it certainly has one hell of a following. I BELIEVE!
The millisecond that the World Cup ends, this statement will become wholly untrue. America likes America, no matter the sport. It’s why we go bat shit crazy over the women’s gymnastics team every Olympics, yet no one cares about it afterwards. Shit, if the Olympics weren’t a thing, then basically no one would know who Michael Phelps is.