From Los Angeles Times:
China welcomes two MLB teams, the Padres and the Dodgers, to play in exhibition games Saturday and Sunday in Beijing. Major League Baseball hopes to tap the China market by promoting the sport to youth through programs like “Play Ball! ” Basketball, on the other hand has a head start, already reaping huge profits in China. Baseball may be an underdog, but students from the Fendtai Elementary school in South West Beijing seem to be enjoying the sport.
Despite its success in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, baseball faces an uphill battle in this country of 1.3 billion, many of whom are increasingly affluent consumers. Soccer and basketball have a big head start, and football, wrestling, tennis, cricket and rugby are all bucking for a foothold. NASCAR is sniffing around. And hockey hasn’t ruled out a play down the road.
© Meredith Godwin for China Digital Times (CDT), 2008. |
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