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We might not have been very good about sustaining an MLS team, but it’s pretty evident from World Cup ratings that Miami loves fútbol. According to data from Nielsen ratings, the Miami-Fort Lauderdale TV market has by far the most interest in watching the World Cup on television — even in a year when ratings for the tournament have skyrocketed over previous years.
Miami leads other markets with a combined rating of 4.0 for all the games broadcast on ESPN and ABC. That’s a full half-point higher than Washington, D.C., the next best market for World Cup broadcasts, with a combined rating of 3.5.
It’s even more impressive when you realize the ratings don’t take into account the World Cup broadcasts on Univision. Spanish-language broadcasts are said to be averaging an even more impressive 5.4 rating.
With ratings like those, maybe someday they’ll trust us with a major pro team again. Don’t hold your breath, though (because you really should be using it to blow your vuvuzela).
