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British Fans v American Fans

Posted by Alex Holowczak
765 days ago


Britain doesn't really care, or want for the NFL. The majority of people would much rather you stay well away, in all honesty. They hate American Football, think it is only for wimps, and will take every opportunity to ridicule the sport.

However, 90,000 people quickly snapped up tickets to see the game at Wembley Stadium tomorrow.

When Formula One tried to go to the United States, which is probably more popular than American Football over here, the place was empty, compared to Indy500 standards, and even compared to normal Formula One standards. Okay, Tony George etc. But still.

If a Cricket World Cup match was played in the United States (possible if the West Indies ever host the event), and there was a 50,000 seater stadium big enough to host it, would it sell out? I mean, with a neutral crowd? The cricketing equivalent would be Zimbabwe v New Zealand, so there would be very little fan support, but still, the spectacle remains.

I guess my point is, British fans seem more eager to see the spectacle. Whereas American fans, maybe, aren't so much?

London has hosted NFL and NHL action so far this year, and each time the place has been packed. If America hosted cricket, or another British sport... Rugby perhaps, had one of its fairly mainstream occasions in the USA, would it be fully packed out?

Try to think about this, rather than something flippant and a bit rude.



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JuTMSY4Legend
765 days ago
Score 1+-
"flippant and a bit rude"
Permalink | Reply
SSreportersLegend
765 days ago
Score 1+-
The Brits know about the NFL, NHL and the NBA. The average American would think that you play cricket with the insect. I would also like to ask, you were never ever specific about stadium size or anything like that. You could get 500 people to watch cricket at a local park, or 3000 for a Rugby game. If you're talking about larger stadiums, not a chance does any British sport sell out here.
Permalink | Reply
RawbeezeitzMajor Leaguer
765 days ago
Score 3+-
I don't know if it is as much a difference in quality of sports fans as it is a difference in cultural curiosity. Americans rarely travel outside the country, rarely watch foreign movies (that they know of, Brokeback Mountain was shot in Alberta, and Titanic was shot in Mexico), almost never watch foreign television (any foreign show we might like is immediately Americanized, see: Whose Line is it Anyway), and rarely imbibe much non-American culture. The English, on the other hand, are within a two hour flight of dozens of countries, have a long history of Empire (which results in cultural mixing both in England and in former English possessions), and seem much more eager to travel and experience other cultures. Just an example: English vacation in the Mediterranean and Dubai, we vacation in Florida and Las Vegas.
Permalink | Reply
SSreportersLegend
765 days ago
Score 1+-
Brokeback Mountain was shot in Alberta And Alberta was one of the last provinces (I believe), to jump on the gay marriage bandwagon.
Permalink
ThecrookedcapAll-Star
765 days ago
Score 2+-
Also to end to Rawbeezeitz's point, Americans who do imbibe foreign influences tend to be perceived as snooty intellectuals.
Permalink
HappyskinnyAll-American
765 days ago
Score 1+-
I'm just curious. How is American football only for wimps? Because they wear pads?
Permalink | Reply
SSreportersLegend
765 days ago
Score 2+-
Yes, because in Rugby or Soccer, you don't have pads all over your body. Yet, in those sports, life threatening or career threatening injuries do not happen as often.
Permalink
HappyskinnyAll-American
765 days ago
Score 1+-
I can maybe understand why rugby players might think they are wimps, although they are not, but soccer players should have nothing to say about it.
Permalink | Reply
SSreportersLegend
765 days ago
Score 0+-
Ignore the pussyfoot divers. How about the other guys who have their achilles torn and their legs broken on nasty tackles?
Permalink
HappyskinnyAll-American
765 days ago
Score 1+-
If football players did not wear pads, like soccer, then there would be so many more injuries, the game could not even be played. The soccer argument is not even worthy of an argument.
Permalink
Alex HolowczakHall of Famer
765 days ago
Score 1+-
You're quite right. But that doesn't stop some ignorant people complaining about it. I would never really argue about our football v yours on that score, but rugby is percieved to be less "wimpish."
Permalink
HappyskinnyAll-American
764 days ago
Score 1+-
I understand that Alex. However, while I was talking to my roommate today about this topic, he said he found a study that they did where they found that rugby players at most hit with 1,000 PSI. In American football, they hit at 4,000 PSI. That is the reason they wear pads. When I find that study, I will try and put it up on the site.
Permalink
Cougar2000All-American
763 days ago
Score 0+-
Well, personally, I am tired of the world dumping soccer on us. Noticed I said SOCCER, not football! Football pays the bills, soccer doesn't. Football is a little more democratic with who can touch the ball. There is no added time in football for injuries. When a team scores in football, the clock stops. Maybe if the world will come to the reality that the United States is NOT a soccer nation, then maybe the two sports could co-exist.
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Categories: Lockerroom | Lockerroom by User Alex Holowczak | October 27, 2007 | October 2007

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