Why Do Professional Football Players Earn Higher Incomes Than Professional Soccer Players in the United States?

In the United States professional football players earn much higher incomes than professional soccer players. This occurs because:

A. Most football players are good soccer players while the reverse is not true.

B. Consumers have a greater demand for football games than for soccer games.

C. Football and soccer games are highly substitutable products for most consumers.

D. The marginal productivity of soccer players exceeds that of football players.

Final answer:

In the United States, professional football players earn higher incomes than soccer players primarily due to greater consumer demand for football, evidenced by higher revenue from media, merchandise, and ticket sales.

Explanation:

The question as to why professional football players in the United States earn much higher incomes than professional soccer players can largely be attributed to consumer demand. Option B states that consumers have a greater demand for football games than for soccer games, and this is the most accurate explanation. The substantial incomes of football players reflect the high level of public interest and commercial investment in American football, demonstrated by television contracts, merchandising, and ticket sales. Unlike football, soccer has a smaller but growing fan base in the U.S., and thus the revenues and player salaries are correspondingly lower.