5 Reasons Why American Football Hasn't Caught On Abroad

[TimmyB]

"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.

Exactly.  At moments when they should be reviewing what just happened on that last play, their producer gave them a promo to read for a show coming up on that network that has zero to do with the game!!!

[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.

Exactly.  At moments when they should be reviewing what just happened on that last play, their producer gave them a promo to read for a show coming up on that network that has zero to do with the game!!!

They also like to go into talking about a player's personal life or whatever. It's pretty cringeworthy. They do that in the Olympics, too, and it makes it really hard to watch. It's okay not to talk.

I also think that Chris Berman helped ruin sports television. He was funny at first, but now it's out of hand. Everyone has to have a catchphrase or "funny" thing to say. It's like that "sweet sassy molassy" skit on SNL:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUjnEJNeG8k

[I-10east]

That soccer jersey advertising is over to the to me. It would be like the Jags just having a big 'CSX' across the chest of the jersey with nothing really identifying with Jax or the Jaguars. Soccer also don't 'have a whole lot' of scoring, which turn Americans off; Look no further than baseball.

[TimmyB]

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

Signed- Fly Emirates, Etihad Airways, and Betway.

I'll look at those on my shirts any day of the week, as opposed to 90 minutes per game of Viagra, fantasy betting sites, and that bearded hipster who is trying to convince me how smart Chevrolets are!

[Adam White]

That soccer jersey advertising is over to the to me. It would be like the Jags just having a big 'CSX' across the chest of the jersey with nothing really identifying with Jax or the Jaguars. Soccer also don't 'have a whole lot' of scoring, which turn Americans off; Look no further than baseball.

Yeah, I can see that. The advertising on the shirts doesn't faze me, but sometimes you see one that looks terrible. And in some leagues, the shirts are covered in multiple adverts, which looks tacky and ugly.

Also - the scoring thing is something that people mention. That said, a lot of American football games don't have too much scoring either - a 21-7 game is essentially the same thing as a 3-1 soccer game (I don't think a point after counts as a separate score for entertainment purposes).

That said, a 3-1 or 3-2 soccer game is fairly high scoring, whereas a 21-7 football game isn't considered too great.

[I-10east]

I also think that Chris Berman helped ruin sports television.

I totally agree with that!!!

Here's a pretty funny Berman diss on youtube. It has more thumbs down, mostly because the person hates the NFL.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7kAOttzD3Q

[Adam White]

I also think that Chris Berman helped ruin sports television.

I totally agree with that!!!

Here's a pretty funny Berman diss on youtube. It has more thumbs down, mostly because the person hates the NFL.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7kAOttzD3Q

I did used to think he was funny when I first saw him. But his schtick got old pretty quick.

[TimmyB]

That soccer jersey advertising is over to the to me. It would be like the Jags just having a big 'CSX' across the chest of the jersey with nothing really identifying with Jax or the Jaguars. Soccer also don't 'have a whole lot' of scoring, which turn Americans off; Look no further than baseball.

That, to me, is a VERY SMALL price to pay for zero commercials during the game.  I have never looked at Manchester United and not recognized them, simply because they have a small crest on their shirt, as opposed to some gigantic logo.

As for the scoring thing, I am in total agreement with you.  Americans like things that are easy.  Witness the NBA, in which you can get a technical foul called on your team for playing an "illegal defense"!  WTF???  Yeah, we don't want teams playing defense; we want scoring!  Probably why it took so long for hockey to grasp a foothold in the USA.  Once people realized that you can have end to end action AND excitement, without a lot of scoring, they slowly came around.  Now, it's gigantic in America.

Like I said, I didn't post my thoughts in order to rile anyone up or to start a p***ing match.  I'm simply stating what I hate about the "sport" ruining the "game".  When I see these college football players up to the line of scrimmage, looking over to the sideline to see if the play should be changed because the coaches upstairs see the hole in the defense, it makes me puke.  Coach the kids during practice, let them go out and play the game.  We used to talk about great catchers in baseball calling great games, handling pitchers, etc.  Now, they look over at the dugout for each and every pitch.  <<sigh>>

[TimmyB]

They also like to go into talking about a player's personal life or whatever. It's pretty cringeworthy. They do that in the Olympics, too, and it makes it really hard to watch. It's okay not to talk.

I also think that Chris Berman helped ruin sports television. He was funny at first, but now it's out of hand. Everyone has to have a catchphrase or "funny" thing to say. It's like that "sweet sassy molassy" skit on SNL:

Put 99% of espn into that.  I was SO excited when they came on the air in '81.  It was revolutionary.  Within 10 years, they had become the most self-serving pos in broadcasting.

[RattlerGator]

Adam, TimmyB -- have either of you watched the RedZone channel? No advertising, jumps from game to game to game and follows the ascending action.

Soccer will *never* be able to quite do that like the NFL can.

Technology is completely changing how these games are consumed. Completely. I'm curious on this component; neither one of you have addressed that point, I don't believe. The RedZone channel helps feed the interest in fantasy football which, in turn, allows for greater interest in the game among a select (and wealthier) niche audience.

[JaxJersey-licious]

Soccer also don't 'have a whole lot' of scoring, which turn Americans off; Look no further than baseball.

This too me is one of the more ignorant statements on why football is better than other sports like soccer. First off, that 24-14 "high-scoring" game football fans find so exciting? Welcome to the illusion of multiplication, suckers! Out of the 60+ chances each team had on top of all the huddles, intermissions, stoppages of plays, and TV timeouts, one team only scored on 3 and a half of it's opportunities while the other team only twice. Baseball at bats normally have a significantly greater scoring rate.

And you think a lot of football fans love high scoring games? Well teams like Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, Baylor, and Texas Christian light it up regularly when they play, particularly against each other. If most fans really like their scoring, then how come hardly anyone anxiously awaits Big 12 football games as if they were anticipating Christmas fucking morning? Truth is we love the teams we love but for everything else most fans are hype and sheeple-driven.

Football is my favorite sport, but that shouldn't stop me or other football fans for calling out ignorance, hypocrisy, and when things are just plain wrong with the sport and its fans.

[Adam White]

Adam, TimmyB -- have either of you watched the RedZone channel? No advertising, jumps from game to game to game and follows the ascending action.

Soccer will *never* be able to quite do that like the NFL can.

Admittedly, I haven't. It is not available where I live. I believe that NBC has a similar product for Premier League soccer matches. But I'm not entirely sure what it is called.

[TimmyB]

Adam, TimmyB -- have either of you watched the RedZone channel? No advertising, jumps from game to game to game and follows the ascending action.

Soccer will *never* be able to quite do that like the NFL can.

Technology is completely changing how these games are consumed. Completely. I'm curious on this component; neither one of you have addressed that point, I don't believe. The RedZone channel helps feed the interest in fantasy football which, in turn, allows for greater interest in the game among a select (and wealthier) niche audience.

No, I haven't but that is because I couldn't give a flying you-know-what about the nfl.  However, you are completely incorrect about soccer.  First of all, there is NBC Extra Time.  EVERY single Premier League match, every single weekend, is on.  I don't have to worry about "which" game will be featured this weekend; they're ALL on!  I can decide which one(s) to watch, record, whatever.

As for fantasy sports, don't even get me going with that.  A bunch of people who are betting on certain players having good days, people who couldn't care less which teams win and which ones lose, as long as their player does well, is supposed to be GOOD for the game???  Yikes.  You just kinda validated much of point of the "sport" ruining the "game", don't you think?

I'll go back to this, though.  My comments weren't designed to get into a war between "which sport is better".  People should be able to watch whatever they want.  It appears we are both doing that!

[Adam White]

I play fantasy Premier League. But I'd rather "my" team have a good week over my fantasy team.

[TimmyB]

I play fantasy Premier League. But I'd rather "my" team have a good week over my fantasy team.

And, I don't doubt that there are many like you, Adam.  My point is, I don't see sports betting as being "good for the game" in any way.  People aren't being attracted to the game; they're being attracted to the thrill of possibly winning money.