This week, the big news was about the NFL having games scheduled over seas. So the big question was should the NFL go global? And will the international public be receptive to American Football? The National Football League is the main association for anything related to American Football and the game of football is a uniquely American sport, so when the NFL had a scheduled a game in London England this past Sunday, everyone was talking about the possibility of the NFL expanding to the global stage.
In many sports news shows sports analysts were asked the question, “how much appeal does the game of football have on the international stage?” The success of the games and the outcome of the previous games played outside North America happen to suggest that the NFL and the game of football have impacted at least England and some other European countries (Chase, C 2009). For example, the history of the NFL in England goes back to 1986 when the Chicago Bears played in Wembley Field in London. Since then the NFL hosted some games in London and even as recent as 2007 when the Dolphins and Giants played at the famous field, but the game played last weekend by the New England Patriots and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was the most successful game ever played outside the US by any NFL team when attendance comes to count. For starters, the tickets for the game sold out in 90 minutes costing nearly $90 proving indicating that NFL was on to a great future in England (ESPN.com) . There were at least 85,000 Brits who were enthused about American Football similar to the energy they display when soccer fans go wild with pandemonium this according to the NFL in London website. Furthermore, the game had the same appeal to the English television audiences as well that is why the league is planning on televising the sold out games of the 2010 International series games. The success of last Sunday’s game proved that the international community can handle and even appreciate a game that has deep traditions with the American public and since the international audience has gotten a taste of American Football it would not be long before cities like London and Barcelona Spain will introduce themselves to the American public with the induction of their teams to the NFL. Which leads us to my next question, Will the NFL replace soccer?
The game of soccer is the most popular game in the world for many reasons and I don’t think that it would be replaced by football. The reason football would not replace soccer is because soccer is more widely accepted and it is easier to play. For example, the game of football has many rules and regulation which soccer doesn’t have. The 100 yard play by play rule does not exist in soccer and soccer is 90 minutes of running and kicking where football is a constant stop and go. Also, there is the limitation of gear. Soccer is easier to play because all one needs is a ball and in football there are a number of materials that are necessary to play the game. So in terms of entertainment yes American football would have an appeal with the masses, but it would not replace the global pastime known as soccer.
References
2009, October 25). International Series 2009 - New England Patriots v Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Retrieved October 29, 2009, from National Football League: http://www.nfllondon.net/
Chase, C. (2009, October 25). Is London really showing 'tremendous interest' in the NFL?. Retrieved October 30, 2009, from Yahoo Sports: http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Is-London-really-showing-tremendous-interest-i?urn=nfl,198015
(2009, May 16). NFL regular-season game in London a hot ticket. Retrieved October 30, 2009, from ESPN and Associated Press: http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2872326
In many sports news shows sports analysts were asked the question, “how much appeal does the game of football have on the international stage?” The success of the games and the outcome of the previous games played outside North America happen to suggest that the NFL and the game of football have impacted at least England and some other European countries (Chase, C 2009). For example, the history of the NFL in England goes back to 1986 when the Chicago Bears played in Wembley Field in London. Since then the NFL hosted some games in London and even as recent as 2007 when the Dolphins and Giants played at the famous field, but the game played last weekend by the New England Patriots and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was the most successful game ever played outside the US by any NFL team when attendance comes to count. For starters, the tickets for the game sold out in 90 minutes costing nearly $90 proving indicating that NFL was on to a great future in England (ESPN.com) . There were at least 85,000 Brits who were enthused about American Football similar to the energy they display when soccer fans go wild with pandemonium this according to the NFL in London website. Furthermore, the game had the same appeal to the English television audiences as well that is why the league is planning on televising the sold out games of the 2010 International series games. The success of last Sunday’s game proved that the international community can handle and even appreciate a game that has deep traditions with the American public and since the international audience has gotten a taste of American Football it would not be long before cities like London and Barcelona Spain will introduce themselves to the American public with the induction of their teams to the NFL. Which leads us to my next question, Will the NFL replace soccer?
The game of soccer is the most popular game in the world for many reasons and I don’t think that it would be replaced by football. The reason football would not replace soccer is because soccer is more widely accepted and it is easier to play. For example, the game of football has many rules and regulation which soccer doesn’t have. The 100 yard play by play rule does not exist in soccer and soccer is 90 minutes of running and kicking where football is a constant stop and go. Also, there is the limitation of gear. Soccer is easier to play because all one needs is a ball and in football there are a number of materials that are necessary to play the game. So in terms of entertainment yes American football would have an appeal with the masses, but it would not replace the global pastime known as soccer.
References
2009, October 25). International Series 2009 - New England Patriots v Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Retrieved October 29, 2009, from National Football League: http://www.nfllondon.net/
Chase, C. (2009, October 25). Is London really showing 'tremendous interest' in the NFL?. Retrieved October 30, 2009, from Yahoo Sports: http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Is-London-really-showing-tremendous-interest-i?urn=nfl,198015
(2009, May 16). NFL regular-season game in London a hot ticket. Retrieved October 30, 2009, from ESPN and Associated Press: http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2872326
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