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As the World Cup final in South Africa approaches Sunday, one area sports researcher said Nashville leaders are doing the right thing by trying to lure games to the city if the U.S. scores the tournament in 2018 or 2022.

“In my opinion it would definitely be a plus for Nashville as a city in general, and as a sports market in particular, to be able to host first round games,” said Don Roy, sports business studies coordinator at Middle Tennessee State University.

The Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau is hosting a World Cup final watch part Sunday at LP Field. Read more here.

Roy recently released his annual “sports affinity survey,” which measures how much Middle Tennesseans like sports and particular teams. Major League Soccer saw some of the biggest increases in affinity this year, jumping from a score of 12 to a score of 20.

Football remains king in Middle Tennessee, however. The NFL scored an affinity score of 67, a five-point drop from last year, and NCAA football decreased by 7 points to 70 no fax payday advance.

The NHL scored an 8-point gain to 42, but the Nashville Predators, curiously, suffered a one-point drop to 45. Roy guessed hockey overall benefited from increased exposure during the Winter Olympics this year, but wasn’t sure why the Predators missed out on the gains. He said public questioning of the team’s financial situation this past season may have contributed.

The Predators affinity score of 45 compares to 79 for Nashville’s other professional franchise, the Tennessee Titans. Roy said the Predators have done a good job of molding fans in a nontraditional hockey market, but have more work to do to be successful.

“They are in a position to be viable,” Roy said.

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