NFL Week 2

[Banedon]

I'm just saying, if you're the most popular sport in the country, individual teams shouldn't have problems getting more than 500,000 people to come in a given year

 

So wait, are you saying Football and the NFL aren't the most popular sport and league in the country?

 

I'm saying it's not obvious.

 

What sport do you think is close in popularity to the NFL?

 

Baseball. NFL gets great ratings/attendance for 35 days a year

 

So length of season and frequency of games played is directly related to popularity?

[jersey cubs fan]

I'm just saying, if you're the most popular sport in the country, individual teams shouldn't have problems getting more than 500,000 people to come in a given year

 

So wait, are you saying Football and the NFL aren't the most popular sport and league in the country?

 

I'm saying it's not obvious.

 

What sport do you think is close in popularity to the NFL?

 

Baseball. NFL gets great ratings/attendance for 35 days a year

 

So are you saying baseball is more popular, or that football is more popular but it's closer than some people think so I'm going to pretend it's not obvious.

[SpongeWorthy]

So length of season and frequency of games played is directly related to popularity?

 

I would say it's indirectly related at least. Allows for more spontaneous trips to the ballpark or planning certain times of the year around games you'd like to see. It's like something you can mark off on your social calendar repeatedly throughout the year. Baseball attendance is pretty good considering how many games there are.

 

And if you want to talk about how popular the sport is rather than how popular the league is, then I can entertain the idea that baseball is somewhat competitive with football given how many people play it. The NFL is the most popular LEAGUE though, no doubt. The NBA probably has the biggest individual stars.

[jersey cubs fan]

So length of season and frequency of games played is directly related to popularity?

 

I would say it's indirectly related at least. Allows for more spontaneous trips to the ballpark or planning certain times of the year around games you'd like to see. It's like something you can mark off on your social calendar repeatedly throughout the year. Baseball attendance is pretty good considering how many games there are.

 

And if you want to talk about how popular the sport is rather than how popular the league is, then I can entertain the idea that baseball is somewhat competitive with football given how many people play it. The NFL is the most popular LEAGUE though, no doubt. The NBA probably has the biggest individual stars.

 

I think college football trumps minor league baseball if we're talking about the sport in general, and high school football alone is more popular than college and high school baseball. And I think baseball participation has been shrinking in this country for a long time, no?

[SpongeWorthy]

I have to believe that little league has greater participation than any other sports activity in the country but I'm too lazy to look it up. High school and college football are definitely kings of the school based sports though.

 

Remember like 5-10 years ago when people would peddle the theory that NASCAR was bigger than football? Whatever happened to that kookery? It was never true but you heard it everywhere.

[jersey cubs fan]

I have to believe that little league has greater participation than any other sports activity in the country but I'm too lazy to look it up. High school and college football are definitely kings of the school based sports though.

 

Remember like 5-10 years ago when people would peddle the theory that NASCAR was bigger than football? Whatever happened to that kookery? It was never true but you heard it everywhere.

 

In 2005, there were 30,507 teams and 457,605 players between the ages of 4 and 12 affiliated with Little League Baseball, the Williamsport-based nonprofit that organizes local youth baseball and softball leagues throughout the United States and the rest of the world.

 

Last year, the number of teams came in at 27,814 nationally, with 417,210 players, and 1,981 state teams totaling 29,715 players, according to Steve Barr, a Little League spokesman.

 

Research conducted by USA Football, the sport’s national governing body on youth and amateur levels, shows that approximately 3.223 million American youngsters aged 6-14 played organized tackle football in 2007, up 6.1 percent from 2006 national figures (3.037 million).

[SpongeWorthy]

I'm really surprised that there are so few little leaguers and so many peewee football players. Maybe when the concussion literature starts trickling down to the soccer moms they'll start yanking their kids out of football.

[jersey cubs fan]

I'm really surprised that there are so few little leaguers and so many peewee football players. Maybe when the concussion literature starts trickling down to the soccer moms they'll start yanking their kids out of football.

 

Moms have been pulling kids out for years. When I was a kid there were several good athletes that weren't allowed to play due to injury concerns from mommy.

[Banedon]

I'm really surprised that there are so few little leaguers and so many peewee football players. Maybe when the concussion literature starts trickling down to the soccer moms they'll start yanking their kids out of football.

 

Moms have been pulling kids out for years. When I was a kid there were several good athletes that weren't allowed to play due to injury concerns from mommy.

 

I never got to play pee-wee football for that reason. Played baseball, soccer, basketball...but football was out.

[jersey cubs fan]

that is specifically little league though, and I'm sure with with things like that cal ripken league there is more, but still less than football. Baseball is also a sport where kids participate in multiple leagues/teams, so there can be double counting. I do not believe there is a whole lot of multi team participation in football.

[jersey cubs fan]

I'm really surprised that there are so few little leaguers and so many peewee football players. Maybe when the concussion literature starts trickling down to the soccer moms they'll start yanking their kids out of football.

 

Moms have been pulling kids out for years. When I was a kid there were several good athletes that weren't allowed to play due to injury concerns from mommy.

 

I never got to play pee-wee football for that reason. Played baseball, soccer, basketball...but football was out.

 

We never had it, but our school started earlier than most, in 4th grade. I had cousins who played pee wee before me and I was very jealous.

[CubColtPacer]

that is specifically little league though, and I'm sure with with things like that cal ripken league there is more, but still less than football. Baseball is also a sport where kids participate in multiple leagues/teams, so there can be double counting. I do not believe there is a whole lot of multi team participation in football.

 

That football statistic would include all middle school football teams though which is probably a significant percentage of the players playing football.

 

A lot of communities also don't play "Little League". Their champions or their travel teams never get to compete to try to go to the LLWS.

[jersey cubs fan]

http://www.clickondetroit.com/sports/25037540/detail.html

 

Detroit is getting cheerleaders but they aren't allowed to cheer for the Lions, or be affiliated with them in any way.

[Jon]

The pro atmosphere sucks, though. And this is coming from a Northwestern fan. The only atmosphere at a Bears game that would make it worth it is tailgating. If you're going to spend 3 hours before the game in the parking lot tailgating, then I can see how it's pretty appealing. Otherwise, I can listen to bad music at a loud volume and not sit around people who really care just about anywhere.

 

I'd much rather just watch a Bears game at home. It kills me not being able to attend most road Northwestern games, on the other hand. I'd much rather travel all day to a road game at a place like Indiana to see Northwestern play than to take a 75 minute el trip to Soldier Field to see the Bears. And it has nothing to do with ticket prices.

[dew1679666265]

The pro atmosphere sucks, though. And this is coming from a Northwestern fan. The only atmosphere at a Bears game that would make it worth it is tailgating. If you're going to spend 3 hours before the game in the parking lot tailgating, then I can see how it's pretty appealing. Otherwise, I can listen to bad music at a loud volume and not sit around people who really care just about anywhere.

 

I'd much rather just watch a Bears game at home. It kills me not being able to attend most road Northwestern games, on the other hand. I'd much rather travel all day to a road game at a place like Indiana to see Northwestern play than to take a 75 minute el trip to Soldier Field to see the Bears. And it has nothing to do with ticket prices.

 

The Titans/Ravens playoff game atmosphere from a couple years ago was pretty fantastic – comparable to a UT football game I believe I said at the time – but generally the pro atmosphere is nowhere near as good as the college atmosphere.

[Banedon]

The pro atmosphere sucks, though. And this is coming from a Northwestern fan. The only atmosphere at a Bears game that would make it worth it is tailgating. If you're going to spend 3 hours before the game in the parking lot tailgating, then I can see how it's pretty appealing. Otherwise, I can listen to bad music at a loud volume and not sit around people who really care just about anywhere.

 

I'd much rather just watch a Bears game at home. It kills me not being able to attend most road Northwestern games, on the other hand. I'd much rather travel all day to a road game at a place like Indiana to see Northwestern play than to take a 75 minute el trip to Soldier Field to see the Bears. And it has nothing to do with ticket prices.

 

Please explain.

[Soul]

The pro atmosphere sucks, though. And this is coming from a Northwestern fan. The only atmosphere at a Bears game that would make it worth it is tailgating. If you're going to spend 3 hours before the game in the parking lot tailgating, then I can see how it's pretty appealing. Otherwise, I can listen to bad music at a loud volume and not sit around people who really care just about anywhere.

 

I'd much rather just watch a Bears game at home. It kills me not being able to attend most road Northwestern games, on the other hand. I'd much rather travel all day to a road game at a place like Indiana to see Northwestern play than to take a 75 minute el trip to Soldier Field to see the Bears. And it has nothing to do with ticket prices.

 

The Titans/Ravens playoff game atmosphere from a couple years ago was pretty fantastic – comparable to a UT football game I believe I said at the time – but generally the pro atmosphere is nowhere near as good as the college atmosphere.

 

For me ticket prices are definitely a turn off. I'll pay them when I'm doing well, but when I feel like I'm struggling more, going to a Bear game is at or near the top of the list of things that won't happen.

 

TV coverage of NFL football is really good IMO. There are so many times when sitting in the stands, far away from the actual action on the field, that I've struggled to understand the details of what happened and needed to get home and catch the highlights to find out. And that includes attempting to review on the jumbotron. For some reason, I just don't feel that way when attending live baseball nearly as much as live football.

 

Plus, cold freezing weather, uncomfortable seats........the fact that Bear games are sold out pretty much immediately even when they aren't going to be a contending team.

 

It all adds up to staying at home, and watching NFLST.

[jersey cubs fan]

The pro atmosphere sucks, though. And this is coming from a Northwestern fan. The only atmosphere at a Bears game that would make it worth it is tailgating. If you're going to spend 3 hours before the game in the parking lot tailgating, then I can see how it's pretty appealing. Otherwise, I can listen to bad music at a loud volume and not sit around people who really care just about anywhere.

 

I'd much rather just watch a Bears game at home. It kills me not being able to attend most road Northwestern games, on the other hand. I'd much rather travel all day to a road game at a place like Indiana to see Northwestern play than to take a 75 minute el trip to Soldier Field to see the Bears. And it has nothing to do with ticket prices.

 

Please explain.

 

The atmosphere at pro games sucks to the point that it's probably not worth going regardless of the price.

[Jon]

Further from the action, no band, more music over loudspeakers, less crowd enthusiasm, worse stadiums (pro-style stadiums for football and basketball are just awful for atmosphere), etc.

 

Honestly, it seems like people are more concerned with concessions, particularly beer, at pro games. That's not the case at college games.

[Banedon]

The atmosphere at pro games sucks to the point that it's probably not worth going regardless of the price.

 

Unless the price is a contributor the poor atmosphere. The college atmosphere is good because students can get into the games for next to nothing up front. I don't know if a lower NFL ticket price would get the more enthusastic, entertaining fans to attend games more often, but I don't think it's something that can be dismissed.

 

EDIT: I see some of Jon's point with some of those issues though.

[jersey cubs fan]

Honestly, it seems like people are more concerned with concessions, particularly beer, at pro games. That's not the case at college games.

 

I was with you until this point. You think that's a bad thing?

[SouthSideRyan]

The pro atmosphere sucks, though. And this is coming from a Northwestern fan. The only atmosphere at a Bears game that would make it worth it is tailgating. If you're going to spend 3 hours before the game in the parking lot tailgating, then I can see how it's pretty appealing. Otherwise, I can listen to bad music at a loud volume and not sit around people who really care just about anywhere.

 

I'd much rather just watch a Bears game at home. It kills me not being able to attend most road Northwestern games, on the other hand. I'd much rather travel all day to a road game at a place like Indiana to see Northwestern play than to take a 75 minute el trip to Soldier Field to see the Bears. And it has nothing to do with ticket prices.

 

Please explain.

 

The atmosphere at pro games sucks to the point that it's probably not worth going regardless of the price.

 

I'd say this for the NBA moreso than the NFL.

[Jon]

Honestly, it seems like people are more concerned with concessions, particularly beer, at pro games. That's not the case at college games.

 

I was with you until this point. You think that's a bad thing?

It's the acquisition of beer that's the problem. Why are you at the game if you're getting up to get beer during the action? It's just a distraction.

 

I realize that there's never a good time to get in a beer line at an NFL game because of how short the breaks are, including halftime, but it seems to hurt crowd participation.

[Jon]

I'd say this for the NBA moreso than the NFL.

Bulls games are what you'd expect if you went to the park, put a dome over it, and added a "de-fense" chant and a kiss cam.

 

But certainly NBA games are worse than NFL games.

[jersey cubs fan]

Honestly, it seems like people are more concerned with concessions, particularly beer, at pro games. That's not the case at college games.

 

I was with you until this point. You think that's a bad thing?

It's the acquisition of beer that's the problem. Why are you at the game if you're getting up to get beer during the action? It's just a distraction.

 

I realize that there's never a good time to get in a beer line at an NFL game because of how short the breaks are, including halftime, but it seems to hurt crowd participation.

 

Why are you asking why somebody is getting a beer? It's actually not that hard to avoid missing most of the action while acquiring beer. Buy 2 before sitting down, try and time another run after one of those touchdown, commercial, kickoff, commercial breaks, buy a couple at halftime and then 2 more on your way back to your seat. Or if you are going with your wife let her volunteer to go get some when she inevitably has to get up to pee 10 times a game.

 

And I've been to quite a few Northwestern games, the atmosphere is about as lame as any big time college. I've seen some disinterested Penn State crowds, as well as some student sections that were far more interested in sneaking booze around, starting fights and hooking up than watching the game. I think the best regular season NCAA crowd is better than the best regular season NFL, but I've been to plenty of NFL games that actually were very enjoyable.