American football rising in popularity in Britain?

[renard_ruse]

American Football is undoubtedly not only America's game, but one of the most recognisable sports in the world. Visit any area of the globe and ask a local what word they associate with Touchdown, they will say football. Ask what they associate with shoulder pads & a helmet, they will say football. Show them a football with the signature stitching, they will recognise it. Could you do this with Basketball? Baseball? Hockey? As a UK citizen, I can tell you for definite that you cannot!

So what am I hitting on? From being a little understood sport followed by an elite of die hard fans, the popularity of football among casual fans is growing rapidly, most of our top Universities now sport teams, there are teams popping up all over the nation. It is watched in Monday Night Football on 5ive, Sunday Night Football on Channel 4, Sunday Games on Sky Sports 1, College Football on ESPN America, re-runs on ESPN Classic and of course the Superbowl being the first UK Isolated sport broadcast by the BBC. A lot of the national sports stores are stocking NFL Jerseys and Replica Footballs. Madden 2011 sold out in many stores on opening day. The UK may have said no to the failed Europa League, but is falling in love with the NFL.

http://www.bleedinggreennation.com/...he-lockout-erase-6-years-of-positive-progress

Interesting that the NFL would become a popular sport in England, when they already have an even better similar sport in rugby. If they want an alternative to soccer, which I can certainly understand, why go with American football? Its boring, play stops every 10 seconds, there are commercials every two minutes or so all game long. They already have a superior contact sport in rugby (and even rugby league) that doesn't stop play every 5-10 seconds.

 

[oggbashan]

It's not seen as an alternative to soccer or rugby but as another sport that can be watched and appreciated.

Me? I'd like more Australian Rules on TV. That is a rough sport.

 

[mark197205]

This isnt a sudden thing, NFL has been growing slowly here in the UK for 20 years or more, some of my schoolmates were into it a fair bit but I still think its a long way off being "popular" here.

 

[SgtSpiderMan]

It can't become any LESS popular.

 

[Liar]

They suck at hockey, so it's the only other sport in which men can wear helmets and still be tought of as tough.