Yes, and currently they are correct. There's little or no television or newspaper exposure. But it can change, if the first steps are taken. Go back a few decades when NASCAR sought to export its product out of the South and into the North and West. It took money and time but ultimately they succeeded. Pundits back then said NASCAR could not succeed on the west coast. They were wrong.

At U.S. cycling races it's funny seeing jerseys advertising products we in the U.S. can't buy. No one here can buy Phonak, Gerolsteiner, Davitamon-Lotto, or Saunier-Duval products or services. If bike racing can attract enough millions of eyeballs every year, then you might see Burger King, Target and Starbucks wanting to buy that jersey advertising space. I agree with UCSDbikeAnarchy, if it's gonna happen, California is the place to do it (along with Oregon and Washington too).