Will American Football Ever Achieve World-wide Popularity?

[greaves]

I'm prompted ask this question after reading this article in today's London "Times".

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/us_sport/football/article2056467.ece

What do you think?

 

[Ramindra]

In answer to your question, I would ask another. "What chance does a snowflake have in hell?" None. When the kids in the streets of the barrios can afford to play so-called American football, the game may have a chance. In the meantime, real football or soccer as it is sometimes called will rule.

 

[warmwoods7]

Nope. Its a strange sport. So much different from the popular sports of Europe for example.

For me it's too stop start. Its like 5 seconds of play and then a minute of messing about. I just don't get it.

 

[JayHew]

It will always be something uniquely American. It is a popular sport here but essentially nowhere else. I've known a number of people in the UK who have watched it and just don't understand it and when I've tried to explain it, still don't understand it. So very likely will be an American only sport, which is fine with me.

 

[Overated]

No

Does that answer

 

[donnykabob]

It is unlikely since it isn't an International league sport. Why would someone from Japan ever watch a game between the Packers and the Browns? Or the Buccaneers and the Rams? There would be no emotional attachment to teams. If there was an international league, like soccer, then probably you would get people from all over the world viewing those matches.

 

[Overated]

From what i have seen Rugby is similar (although more aggressive/faster etc)...

There are similar sports...already with considerable fanbases.

Its the same as 'football' in America. Soccer will not take off

 

[TriBi]

Well, Soccer and Rugby are very much established as world wide /international Sports.

Sorry to the aficionados - but American Football is never going to get there...

 

[G-Lexington]

Soccer in fact IS taking off in America. People seemed to think there would be this huge explosion in the 70s, but instead, it's been a slow build. I don't know if it'll ever supplant the Big Three in terms of popularity, but it certainly will hold its own.

Football in the world? Never. Hell, we couldn't even get the XFL up and running here.

Lex

 

[ComNavFdgPk]

Come on, people. When the NFL has exhibition games in Europe and Asia and Mexico the stadiums are filled to capacity. And, apparently (even though I doubt they all understand the whole thing), the fans seem to love the game!

Will it ever be as popular as "soccer" with the "under-developed" nations? Probably not...at least not as far as having it in the schools and what-not. But, I think it will remain popular as a spectator sport.

 

[olides74]

Not a flippin chance.

I refereed American Football games when I lived in New Zealand becuase I was probably one of 5 people in Wellington who knew the rules. I always asked the guys why they were playing rather than rugby union or league, and they just did it because it was a cool fringe sport to do, but I think it was they were too out of shape to consistently run like in rugby.

I mean at least baseball is the number two sport in much of the americas and also popular in japan, korea, taiwan, even a bit in Oz, but american football is US and canada and that's it.

 

[scrapple]

Football is so popular in the US, nothing else comes close. Not even the national past-time, baseball. After these two, basketball and hockey. Soccer isn't even considered a viable sport in the US. I've been hearing "it's about to explode" since the days of Pele, but nobody is the slightest bit interested in soccer (after age ten) in the US. Actually, many sports radio shows often use the "sport" of soccer as the butt of their jokes.

 

[paceyjack]

American Football is, well, quite American. While exhibitions in foreign countries are quite successful, they only occur once or twice every preseason. NFL Europe may be successful but its not as successful as it should be in order for the game to be more of a staple. The reason American football is so successful and popular in the USA is because of the marketing the NFL folks have done. You gotta give em credit, they managed to make NFL football the most popular sport in the land surpassing America's past time - baseball. Soccer (football everywhere else in the world) is the world's sport because its been around forever and because (as noted in a previous post) can be played by anyone regardless of demographic, race, etc.....and all it takes is a ball. I don't mean it doesn't take talent, etc. I am referring to mere equipment. But then again, same goes for basketball so there goes that theory. I guess an equally important question is: will soccer ever achieve popularity status with Americans in comparison to football, baseball and basketball? Why is the sport so popular with the kids from grade school through college only to see a drop in popularity with the mass public when it enters the professional leagues? I admit I'm only a fan of soccer when it comes to World Cup, Olympics or big tournaments where the U.S. is competitive. Otherwise, I bypass it every time on the tele.

 

[scrapple]

Two words: It's boring.

 

[skinIsIn]

Thankfully, most of the world was lacking an agressive, fast-paced, winter(indoor) sport, to keep the soccer jocks occupied.

Enter American Basketball, stage left.

Basketball found its niche, a great active, indoor sport perfect for when the "pitch" (soccer field) is sopping wet from winter rains and snow; plus it is very simple, all you need is a spherical ball with bounce, a pole/tree/high wall, and a basket with a hole in the botom, hung from said height.

Football cuts into the soccer season, so I don't ever see it happening, in terms of popularity, abroad.

 

[_AJ_]

Compared to this there is no chance


also we switched our soccer season to summer so it does not compete head to head with the footy which has been quite successfully for soccer here

 

[Shepherd 2]

Coach will now give a pre-game talk!
The word is TEAM not STAR.
Beckham is a star, now in a big pool or swamp
depending on your opinion or perspective.
We need whole teams?
Case closed.

 

[blackbeltninja]

Nope. Its a strange sport. So much different from the popular sports of Europe for example.

For me it's too stop start. Its like 5 seconds of play and then a minute of messing about. I just don't get it.

Yeah. The fact that a game takes about 3 days to play is against it.

-d-

 

[hotcbr]

From what i have seen Rugby is similar (although more aggressive/faster etc)...

There are similar sports...already with considerable fanbases.

Its the same as 'football' in America. Soccer will not take off

Have you watched much American football? I watch a lot of rugby (and love both) but the hits are nowhere near the same intensity as an average Am. football game. These guys end their careers in HORRIBLE physical shape due to all the abuse. There are always going to be the big three in the US that won't catch on to the same level in the rest of the world. I for one, LOVE college football here...nothing better IMO!

 

[backpacker]

The real issue is the lack of understanding of the game. American Football is like a Chess match played with athletes. The complexities and intricacies are lost on those who don't have in depth knowledge of the sport. Unfortunately it take years to really understand the sport. In The United States kids grow up watching and playing football, therefore there is a broad base of knowledgeable fans. The NFL has yet to realize this fundamental problem. I don't believe simply having top tier players and teams in Europe are going yield significantly different results than NFL Europe. The reality is that it is going to take decades of exposure before it will catch on. Until they get kids playing the sport, the sport will not catch on. I really think they were better off with the NFL Europe model, but should have expanded it to provide support for youth football. The reason why other American sports have had more success in expanding around the world is that they are much easier to learn and understand.