NFL continues American football export drive to UK

Jimbuna · 10-26-12, 07:00 AM

Looks like the US are about to invade one of its closest allies

Quote:

The star-spangled NFL caravan has entered town for another year, with a huge crowd at Wembley set to cheer on the New England Patriots and the St Louis Rams in the latest American football game to be staged in the UK.
The US's most popular sport is in the middle of a serious export drive, as it seeks to make continued inroads into a market usually seen as the home of that other form of football, soccer.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-20049783

mookiemookie · 10-26-12, 08:15 AM

You think they'd at least showcase good games over there. I doubt that the Premier League would send someone like late 2000s-era Derby County over here to show soccer at its best.

Jimbuna · 10-26-12, 09:25 AM

That's a question I was going to ask but forgot in the original post Mark....are either of these teams top drawer over in the US or are they also rans?

Takeda Shingen · 10-26-12, 09:32 AM

New England is usually a contender, but St. Louis is not very good, and hasn't been for some time. It will likely be a very lopsided game.

10-26-12, 09:53 AM

A few friends are heading over for the game, they also went up for the NotreDame-Navy match in Dublin.

Sailor Steve · 10-26-12, 09:58 AM

I still say if they're gonna try to sell it in Yurrup they need to go with the "HandEgg" thing.

Jimbuna · 10-26-12, 10:01 AM

I wouldn't mind seeing a game played without all that protection

10-26-12, 10:10 AM

Quote:

I wouldn't mind seeing a game played without all that protection

Have you considered importing Rugby?

Sailor Steve · 10-26-12, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimbuna

I wouldn't mind seeing a game played without all that protection

I don't know. American football is more like ancient land combat, where lines of soldiers faced each other and fought it out. The object really seems to be to run over the other guy as hard and fast as you can. I know the Aussies do it without armor, but how long do their careers really last? You can only break so many parts before they don't work so well anymore.

Takeda Shingen · 10-26-12, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimbuna

I wouldn't mind seeing a game played without all that protection

It wouldn't be the same game. It would be rugby. You don't hit the same way without pads that you do with pads. Not passing judgement one way or another, but if you watch the two games, the mechanics are completely different.

BossMark · 10-26-12, 10:35 AM

I wonder what kind of attendance they are expecting at Wembley

Jimbuna · 10-26-12, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

I don't know. American football is more like ancient land combat, where lines of soldiers faced each other and fought it out. The object really seems to be to run over the other guy as hard and fast as you can. I know the Aussies do it without armor, but how long do their careers really last? You can only break so many parts before they don't work so well anymore.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Takeda Shingen

It wouldn't be the same game. It would be rugby. You don't hit the same way without pads that you do with pads. Not passing judgement one way or another, but if you watch the two games, the mechanics are completely different.

Good and fair points....different sporting cultures I guess.

eddie · 10-26-12, 03:24 PM

Well, we had the British Invasion back in the 60's now its our turn. The NFL is taking over

STEED · 10-26-12, 03:32 PM

They will send Obama over when he looses..........Oops that was hush hush.

Cough...LOOK OVER THERE A HOTDOG STAND!

Takeda Shingen · 10-26-12, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eddie

Well, we had the British Invasion back in the 60's now its our turn. The NFL is taking over

Not really. There are some British fans, but the game is largely alien to them, not having grown up with it. I can understand that too. American football has a great deal of peculiarities that make it an acquired taste. There's a ton of people on the field, a bizarre scoring system and about 7 million rules. The action also stops about every 15 seconds.

Personally, I love the game, but I grew up with it. I also recall my earliest memories of watching football and not knowing what the hell was going on. I just thought it was exciting when they threw the ball. The way that many Europeans feel about American football is the way I feel about European football (soccer). I didn't grow up with it and I don't really get it. To the informed viewer, it is very exciting. To me, it is excruciatingly long periods where nothing is happening puncuated by the occasional goal. To me, football is the perfect television sport; giving the viewer time between plays to grab snacks, hit the head and argue with his friends. To the uninformed viewer, it is rife with breaks in the action that disrupt the continuity of the game.

It's all what you know from your environment. I don't expect the NFL to really catch on in Britian more than European football has caught on in America.

10-26-12, 08:15 AM	#2
mookiemookie Navy Seal Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 9,404 Downloads: 105 Uploads: 1	You think they'd at least showcase good games over there. I doubt that the Premier League would send someone like late 2000s-era Derby County over here to show soccer at its best. __________________ They don’t think it be like it is, but it do. Want more U-boat Kaleun portraits for your SH3 Commander Profiles? Download the SH3 Commander Portrait Pack here.

10-26-12, 09:25 AM	#3
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,481 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	That's a question I was going to ask but forgot in the original post Mark....are either of these teams top drawer over in the US or are they also rans? __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

10-26-12, 09:58 AM	#6
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	I still say if they're gonna try to sell it in Yurrup they need to go with the "HandEgg" thing. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

10-26-12, 10:01 AM	#7
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,481 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	I wouldn't mind seeing a game played without all that protection __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

10-26-12, 10:35 AM	#11
BossMark Fleet Admiral Join Date: May 2011 Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire Posts: 15,272 Downloads: 278 Uploads: 0	I wonder what kind of attendance they are expecting at Wembley __________________ Never trust the Tories look what Thatcher and Major did in the 80s and 90s and look what the wicked witch May is doing now doing now

10-26-12, 09:32 AM	#4
Takeda Shingen Navy Seal Join Date: Mar 2000 Posts: 8,643 Downloads: 19 Uploads: 0	New England is usually a contender, but St. Louis is not very good, and hasn't been for some time. It will likely be a very lopsided game.

10-26-12, 09:53 AM	#5
Tribesman Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	A few friends are heading over for the game, they also went up for the NotreDame-Navy match in Dublin.

10-26-12, 03:24 PM	#13
eddie Ocean Warrior Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 3,023 Downloads: 99 Uploads: 0	Well, we had the British Invasion back in the 60's now its our turn. The NFL is taking over __________________ Don't mistake my kindness for weakness. I'm kind to everyone, but when someone is unkind to me, weak is not what you are going to remember about me. Al Capone

10-26-12, 03:32 PM	#14
STEED Lucky Jack Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Down Town UK Posts: 27,695 Downloads: 89 Uploads: 48	They will send Obama over when he looses..........Oops that was hush hush. Cough...LOOK OVER THERE A HOTDOG STAND! __________________ Dr Who rest in peace 1963-2017. To borrow Davros saying...I NAME YOU CHIBNALL THE DESTROYER OF DR WHO YOU KILLED IT!