When is american football going to be picked up worldwide?

DirtyHawgs · 08-23-2006, 11:44 AM

American football only is really popular in the US, and getting started a bit in Canada....

Wonder if it will ever really get going in Europe or South America.

what do you think is really holding back from making a presence in other parts of the world?

CTNelson · 08-23-2006, 11:50 AM

Well I'd assume one reason is the HUMONGOUS popularity of european football or soccer as it is called in the states. Soccer is ingrained as the #1 sport in Europe and its tough for any other sports to catch on.

Basketball is making some major inroads in Europe and mostly because of the increasing popularity of the national leagues. I'd say if football were to ever make it across the pond it would have to start cultivating national leagues similar to basketball. I doubt this is possible though as just not enough people in Europe care enough about the sport.

FourBear · 08-23-2006, 01:40 PM

I agree with CTNelson: the first thing that came to mind for me was soccer/European football. Probably doesn't help that we call it "football" when "football" to them is what we call "soccer." There is also a slightly similar sport, at least in the UK: rugby. I think the popularity of soccer and rugby combined make it tough for American football to catch on.

nogard · 08-24-2006, 10:05 AM

Yeah, in the other countries football is soccer. Wouldn't it be confusing if they had to types of football?

Hasbro · 08-24-2006, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nogard

Yeah, in the other countries football is soccer. Wouldn't it be confusing if they had to types of football?

Maybe we should call our football soccer over there. And then the rest of the world could get annoyed by "You in American what we call soccer, they call football."

tbell ncsu · 08-24-2006, 07:08 PM

honestly, i don't really care if american football grows in other countries. it would be great to introduce to others, and see how the nfl talent develops down the line, but i don't really care if that doesn't happen. i don't think the australians care if "aussie rules football" gets picked up overseas. hell, asian countries didn't even want their martial arts spread.

it probably won't ever happen either, because of soccer. also, you have to consider that a kid has to find equipment, a field (which isn't as readily available in some countries), and enough other kids to play football with. it's not like basketball, which you could play/practice by yourself. basketball is also cheap as heck to play since only thing you need is a ball. you could play barefooted, if you had to, and all you need is imagination to come up with a hoop.

fetznjtown · 08-25-2006, 12:19 PM

I don't really see it ever catching on overseas. Soccer, rugby and cricket are THE sports over there. They have long histories and a huge and sometimes extreme fan base. Their are too many competing interests already.

PredsFan77 · 08-25-2006, 04:11 PM

It probably won't....atleast not until internationals start coming over to play IE. NBA/Dream Team/Olympics in Barcelona leading to Yao, Gasol, Dirk, Manu, etc.

hockeycoach · 08-26-2006, 08:54 AM

probably never with the Soccer as big as it is in other parts of the world

Mustaf · 08-26-2006, 01:54 PM

I've lived in Europe. The Superbowl would be lucky to get a postage stamp-sized article in the back of the sports section... maybe a picture for any US-expatriates.

Same goes for MLB.

Hasbro · 08-26-2006, 02:16 PM

However the MLB has latin America and East Asia in its camp.

A big barrier with football is the complexity of the game. For what a killer "not understanding" soccer is supposed to be in the US, imagine how hard it would be to figure out football if you aren't raised with it.

08-23-2006, 11:44 AM	#1 (permalink)
DirtyHawgs Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 261 vCash: 2000	When is american football going to be picked up worldwide? American football only is really popular in the US, and getting started a bit in Canada.... Wonder if it will ever really get going in Europe or South America. what do you think is really holding back from making a presence in other parts of the world?

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08-23-2006, 11:50 AM	#2 (permalink)
CTNelson Starter Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Sunrise, Florida Posts: 106 vCash: 2000 NFL Team: Miami Dolphins NCAA Team: Miami Hurricanes	Well I'd assume one reason is the HUMONGOUS popularity of european football or soccer as it is called in the states. Soccer is ingrained as the #1 sport in Europe and its tough for any other sports to catch on. Basketball is making some major inroads in Europe and mostly because of the increasing popularity of the national leagues. I'd say if football were to ever make it across the pond it would have to start cultivating national leagues similar to basketball. I doubt this is possible though as just not enough people in Europe care enough about the sport.

08-23-2006, 01:40 PM	#3 (permalink)
FourBear Starter Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 119 vCash: 2000	I agree with CTNelson: the first thing that came to mind for me was soccer/European football. Probably doesn't help that we call it "football" when "football" to them is what we call "soccer." There is also a slightly similar sport, at least in the UK: rugby. I think the popularity of soccer and rugby combined make it tough for American football to catch on.

08-24-2006, 10:05 AM	#4 (permalink)
nogard Backup Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 49 vCash: 2000	Yeah, in the other countries football is soccer. Wouldn't it be confusing if they had to types of football?

08-24-2006, 07:08 PM	#6 (permalink)
tbell ncsu bringin' sexy back Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: raleigh & fayetteville, north carolina Age: 25 Posts: 197 vCash: 2000 NFL Team: San Diego Chargers NCAA Team: NC State Wolfpack	honestly, i don't really care if american football grows in other countries. it would be great to introduce to others, and see how the nfl talent develops down the line, but i don't really care if that doesn't happen. i don't think the australians care if "aussie rules football" gets picked up overseas. hell, asian countries didn't even want their martial arts spread. it probably won't ever happen either, because of soccer. also, you have to consider that a kid has to find equipment, a field (which isn't as readily available in some countries), and enough other kids to play football with. it's not like basketball, which you could play/practice by yourself. basketball is also cheap as heck to play since only thing you need is a ball. you could play barefooted, if you had to, and all you need is imagination to come up with a hoop.

08-25-2006, 12:19 PM	#7 (permalink)
fetznjtown Backup Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 42 vCash: 2000	I don't really see it ever catching on overseas. Soccer, rugby and cricket are THE sports over there. They have long histories and a huge and sometimes extreme fan base. Their are too many competing interests already.

08-25-2006, 04:11 PM	#8 (permalink)
PredsFan77 Banned Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 915 vCash: 2000 NFL Team: Tennessee Titans NCAA Team: South Carolina Gamecocks	It probably won't....atleast not until internationals start coming over to play IE. NBA/Dream Team/Olympics in Barcelona leading to Yao, Gasol, Dirk, Manu, etc.

08-26-2006, 08:54 AM	#9 (permalink)
hockeycoach Walkon Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 26 vCash: 2000	probably never with the Soccer as big as it is in other parts of the world

08-26-2006, 01:54 PM	#10 (permalink)
Mustaf Dueño de Nada Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 57 vCash: 2000	I've lived in Europe. The Superbowl would be lucky to get a postage stamp-sized article in the back of the sports section... maybe a picture for any US-expatriates. Same goes for MLB.

08-26-2006, 02:16 PM	#11 (permalink)
Hasbro Starter Join Date: Aug 2006 Age: 34 Posts: 240 vCash: 2000 NFL Team: Denver Broncos NCAA Team: Troy Trojans	However the MLB has latin America and East Asia in its camp. A big barrier with football is the complexity of the game. For what a killer "not understanding" soccer is supposed to be in the US, imagine how hard it would be to figure out football if you aren't raised with it.