Our survey said...

[Tooting Gull]

Apparently something like 6 per cent of NFL 'fans' have ever actually been to an NFL game in the States.

If you applied that to the Premier League, what do you reckon the figure would be?

Purely on geography I suspect it would be a lot higher...maybe 30-40 per cent?

 

[Goldstone1976]

Apparently something like 6 per cent of NFL 'fans' have ever actually been to an NFL game in the States.

If you applied that to the Premier League, what do you reckon the figure would be?

Purely on geography I suspect it would be a lot higher...maybe 30-40 per cent?

30-40% of UK-based PL club "fans"? Unlikely, imo, but just about possible, I suppose.

30-40% of worldwide PL club "fans"? Never. Closer to 1% of Manure "fans", I'd have thought...

 

[seagull_in_malaysia]

Apparently something like 6 per cent of NFL 'fans' have ever actually been to an NFL game in the States.

If you applied that to the Premier League, what do you reckon the figure would be?

Purely on geography I suspect it would be a lot higher...maybe 30-40 per cent?

Only 6%? Don't their stadiums have ridiculously large capacities?

 

[Tooting Gull]

That's a good point you raise - I was kind of assuming the NFL figure meant USA-based fans, and was wondering about UK-based Premier League fans (hence geography reference, it is just less far to go).

But yes, if you made that worldwide NFL/PL fans then obviously the figure is going to take a nosedive.

 

[Gwylan]

I remember writing a story about Man U's website and the CMO claimed that 98% of Man U fans had never set foot in OT

 

[Gazwag]

Would US NFL fans in general go to their local college matches instead but still watch games on TV for their nearest big team

 

[RexCathedra]

Fewer games (16 per team w/o playoffs) > fewer tickets > higher prices.
Travel costs are a factor, too. English football is inconceivable without considering the British rail network.

 

[halbpro]

Would US NFL fans in general go to their local college matches instead but still watch games on TV for their nearest big team

Exactly. Catchment areas are absolutely huge for US sports teams. The nearest team is literally hundreds of miles away in some cases, so college and high school sports take on increased importance because people have a much stronger connection.

 

[RexCathedra]

Exactly. Catchment areas are absolutely huge for US sports teams. The nearest team is literally hundreds of miles away in some cases, so college and high school sports take on increased importance because people have a much stronger connection.

The importance of college football is higher the lower the population density.

In New England, it's a non-factor. Boston College's Alumni Stadium seats 50,000 or so, and it's never more than about 2/3rds full.
The New York/Philadelphia area is a college football desert, no matter how hard Rutgers tries.

There are also fewer, but larger, colleges as you go south and west. Chances are your school is Enormous State University.
Here in New England, college football is more likely to be Amherst v. Williams in front of 2200 fans, and the largest lineman the size of an Alabama place-kicker.

 

[halbpro]

The importance of college football is higher the lower the population density.

In New England, it's a non-factor. Boston College's Alumni Stadium seats 50,000 or so, and it's never more than about 2/3rds full.
The New York/Philadelphia area is a college football desert, no matter how hard Rutgers tries.

There are also fewer, but larger, colleges as you go south and west. Chances are your school is Enormous State University.
Here in New England, college football is more likely to be Amherst v. Williams in front of 2200 fans, and the largest lineman the size of an Alabama place-kicker.

A great point I hadn't thought of. I assume this carries over to high school too. I do also wonder if that's anything to do with relatively high concentration of NFL teams in the North East.