Final answer:
Professional football players in the U.S. typically earn more than soccer players due to the higher commercialization of sports like the NFL, resulting in greater revenues shared with the players. Contributing factors include lucrative television deals and a strong fanbase, which lead to an environment where sports can offer a route to economic security in areas with limited opportunities.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question is why professional football players in the U.S. earn higher incomes than professional soccer players. Factors contributing to this include the commercialization of sports, societal values, and market demand that contributes to higher salaries in certain sports. In the U.S., commercial sports such as the NFL have become incredibly lucrative through television deals, merchandising, and a strong domestic following, resulting in greater revenue relative to soccer. This revenue is then shared with the players, contributing to their higher incomes. Additionally, the winner-take-all labor market theory suggests that there’s a sizeable income gap between the median earners and top earners due to global demand for stars and not necessarily educational attainment, which also applies to professional sports.
This phenomenon is further influenced by the fact that in places such as factory towns in the Midwest, inner cities, and rural areas in the Deep South, sports offer a pathway to economic security where other opportunities are limited. High earning potential in the NFL, relative to other professions available in these areas, incentivizes more athletic individuals to pursue a career in football.