5 Reasons Why American Football Hasn't Caught On Abroad

[Metro Jacksonville]

5 Reasons Why American Football Hasn't Caught On Abroad





Read More: http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2015-nov-5-reasons-why-american-football-hasnt-caught-on-abroad

[Redbaron616]

I wouldn't call it socialism because 1) it is not administered by the government and 2) owners buy a team knowing the rules in advance. It's merely a contract.

Only soccer I really enjoy is the World Cup. At least most are playing for their country there.

Calling soccer football in the rest of the world probably doesn't help either.

Thanks for the facts and comparisons. Very interesting.

[spuwho]

US Football is actually growing in Russia.  Still a club sport throughout but the number of participants is growing.

NFL works in the US because it has adapted itself to the use of television perfectly, in many cases to the detriment of the people in the stadium.  How many times in a game do fans in the stadium hear, "there is a time out on the field" so TV can run yet another lo-cal beer, fantasy gambling, or "our truck is toughest" ad, over and over and over?

My cousins from Africa thought US baseball was stupid compared to cricket, until we sat down and explained all the nuances and strategies involved. After that they were hooked and watch the Cubs on satellite.

My rugby friends from England call US football as "organized rugby" which in a way it is since it is a derivative just like Aussie Rules.

[TimmyB]

...NFL works in the US because it has adapted itself to the use of television perfectly, in many cases to the detriment of the people in the stadium.  How many times in a game do fans in the stadium hear, "there is a time out on the field" so TV can run yet another lo-cal beer, fantasy gambling, or "our truck is toughest" ad, over and over and over?

This is a perfect example of the "sport" ruining the "game", and one of the reasons I like American football less and less (and, trust me, I DO love the game).  It is a 60-minute game that takes 210 minutes to play, because of what the "sport" has done to sell itself.  Seriously?  That is preposterous.  When I watch my soccer team play, it is a 90 minute game that is done in 110 minutes.  And yet, those soccer players are just as richly rewarded for their play as the professional athletes over here, without all those commercials.

College basketball, which I used to absolutely love, has become the same way.  A 40-minute game that takes 120-150 minutes to play.  It's not bad enough that they get eight, three-minute long media timeouts, plus a 15-minute halftime, but then each coach is given 97 timeouts per half that they feel the need to spend.

[Gunnar]

I can sort of agree with reason two (it's too complicated) - the first game I ever saw must not have been too enjoyable for my American Dad since I kept pestering him with questions non - stop. Soccer is a lot easier to follow.

Other than that, I don't really buy the rest of the reasons and don't think they have anything to do with it.

For one there is the name - it's called football but honestly, there is not too much foot - ball interaction, is there ? (which is why the rest of the world refers to soccer as football instead).

As for American football being socialist - no, not really, as (and correct me if I'm wrong), a spot in the league is bought and not earned, plus a team can be transplanted to any city.

In soccer, on the other hand, a team is formed in a city and stays there (some cities can even have several teams that play in the same league). If you want to play in the premier league, you have to earn the spot, not buy it. Having deep pockets to buy top players certainly helps but it's not a guarantee.

There are also many more teams, plus different tiers of leagues - there are the premier, secondary, third and regional leagues and if you are one of the top two / three teams of your current league you move one up (and vice- versa for the bottom two / three). You have teams that were title contenders (and / or actually held the title) years ago that are now playing in the third league, and you have third league teams that marched through to the premiere league in two years. This makes things exciting.

As the teams stay where they are, there is also a lot more attachment to the team since there is no possibility that Paris Saint Germain  may be Brussels Saint Germain  the next season if the owner so desires (most teams don't even have an owner but are clubs). It really is your hometown team, one in whose youth team you or your friends may have played.

Next thing are the players: While many of the more known teams consist of players bought all over the world, you still often have a large percentage of players who actually started training with the team as kids.

There are probably many more reasons, but I feel that the above are some.

[RattlerGator]

I think the NFL is going to surprise many in Europe with the growth over the next decade. There is a superiority component (in the mind, I mean) to those who insist the popularity will never grow beyond North America that hasn't properly accounted for one fundamental "new" thing that is seriously changing the equation -- fantasy sports.

This easily allows Europeans (and others) into the game, just as it is allowing American kids to follow international soccer like never before.

With respect to technology and sports, everything is changing. And it is changing quickly. That's why Shad has been so smart with his London initiative, and that's why other NFL owners are trying to get in on it. It's taking off (sellouts every game; big-spending fans crowding London streets), it's clearly headed to Germany, and the other owners want to not be left behind.

A better article would have looked forward; this one is looking backwards into time it seems to me. For instance: the advertising is ridiculous? TV timeouts are a bummer? Dayyyuuuummmm -- I guess these writers have never heard of the RedZone Channel.

[Gunnar]

Actually, there NFL has already been present in Europe (NFL Europe). I know the Frankfurt Galaxy were actually pretty popular in the area.

That league was terminated in 2007, however, so don't count on too much enthusiasm of the then fans...

[ProjectMaximus]

Actually, there NFL has already been present in Europe (NFL Europe). I know the Frankfurt Galaxy were actually pretty popular in the area.

That league was terminated in 2007, however, so don't count on too much enthusiasm of the then fans...

The easy argument is that was D-level talent. That's also why the NFL isn't sending preseason games there either. It remains to be seen whether A-level talent will become a hit, but it's clear D-listers weren't cutting it.

[Adam White]

I wouldn't call it socialism because 1) it is not administered by the government

It sounds like you don't really have a very broad understanding of socialism. That said, it's not socialism because the teams or league isn't owned by the workers. It's more like some sort of capitalist cartel or something.

[Adam White]

...NFL works in the US because it has adapted itself to the use of television perfectly, in many cases to the detriment of the people in the stadium.  How many times in a game do fans in the stadium hear, "there is a time out on the field" so TV can run yet another lo-cal beer, fantasy gambling, or "our truck is toughest" ad, over and over and over?

This is a perfect example of the "sport" ruining the "game", and one of the reasons I like American football less and less (and, trust me, I DO love the game).  It is a 60-minute game that takes 210 minutes to play, because of what the "sport" has done to sell itself.  Seriously?  That is preposterous.  When I watch my soccer team play, it is a 90 minute game that is done in 110 minutes.  And yet, those soccer players are just as richly rewarded for their play as the professional athletes over here, without all those commercials.

College basketball, which I used to absolutely love, has become the same way.  A 40-minute game that takes 120-150 minutes to play.  It's not bad enough that they get eight, three-minute long media timeouts, plus a 15-minute halftime, but then each coach is given 97 timeouts per half that they feel the need to spend.

One thing I have noticed is people seem to think it's odd that an NFL team has different teams depending on whether they have the ball or not (or are kicking, etc). If it were more like rugby, it would maybe seem a bit more normal. Rugby with the forward pass (which is basically what makes American - and Canadian - football so exciting).

Speaking of which, the NFL is quite popular in Canada and the CFL is the second-most popular Canadian sports league. Yes, Canadian football is a different code of the game, but it's quite similar.

[TimmyB]

One thing I have noticed is people seem to think it's odd that an NFL team has different teams depending on whether they have the ball or not (or are kicking, etc)...

Which is yet ANOTHER reason that I have gravitated away from our football and towards futbol.  There are wonderful athletes who play American football; yet, there are guys who can run the 100 and be timed with a sundial, who can't play three plays in a row without being totally gassed.  And, yet, these guys are stars?  Soccer demands that you be an athlete, someone who can endure for 90+ minutes, with only a 15 minute break at halftime.  I'm not trolling, trying to get anyone upset.  I'm just explaining why I have loved American football less and less each year.  I haven't watched the nfl in over a decade, other than Thanksgiving, and that's only because others are watching it.  I still like the college game, but I see elements that I despise, such as those I already mentioned, plus a couple of others.

[Adam White]

One thing I have noticed is people seem to think it's odd that an NFL team has different teams depending on whether they have the ball or not (or are kicking, etc)...

Which is yet ANOTHER reason that I have gravitated away from our football and towards futbol.  There are wonderful athletes who play American football; yet, there are guys who can run the 100 and be timed with a sundial, who can't play three plays in a row without being totally gassed.  And, yet, these guys are stars?  Soccer demands that you be an athlete, someone who can endure for 90+ minutes, with only a 15 minute break at halftime.  I'm not trolling, trying to get anyone upset.  I'm just explaining why I have loved American football less and less each year.  I haven't watched the nfl in over a decade, other than Thanksgiving, and that's only because others are watching it.  I still like the college game, but I see elements that I despise, such as those I already mentioned, plus a couple of others.

I am sort of in the same boat. I slowly stopped watching NFL (and eventually college football) over the past 15 - 20 years (and certainly in the last 10). Once I moved overseas, it was pretty much a done deal. I used to try to watch the Super Bowl, but that just doesn't hold too much interest for me. I think the game has just got too absurd. And I really hate the way the commentary has become more and more obnoxious.

I don't necessarily think that soccer players are better athletes - they're just different athletes. But I do like the fact that soccer is pretty much non-stop action for 2 45-minute halves.

[Charles Hunter]

Football uniforms are "sacred " and devoid of advertising? Both the NFL and NCAA unis have logos strategically placed to be in every TV shot.
True, it isn't like the grocery store on the Armada jerseys,  but there are ads.

[I-10east]

"Boy, the advertising is really really ridiculous in American football"

Signed- Fly Emirates, Etihad Airways, and Betway.

[Adam White]

"Boy, the advertising is really really ridiculous in American football"

Signed- Fly Emirates, Etihad Airways, and Betway.

I think the level of advertising in NFL football is way over the top - but this is due in large part to the vast number of commercial breaks. Since the action stops so much, you frequently cut to commercials.

In soccer, you've got the shirts and the advertising boards (during each half of the match). You don't have a whole lot else (little things here and there). And no commercials during the halves.

Also, at least in Europe, the commentators don't talk nearly as much during the course of the match. American football commentators hate any dead air. And they also pitch stuff, like upcoming shows on the network, etc.