In this entry, I focused on the recently played NFL regular season game at Wembley Stadium (pictured left) in London, in an attempt to ascertain the level of progress in terms of generating interest in American football abroad, a task that has been historically difficult. However, the game played last Sunday between the Saints and the Chargers represented a new stage of positive growth for the NFL. After last year’s rainy, sloppy game between the Dolphins and the Giants, the NFL opted to schedule two offensively oriented teams, and undertook a variety of well-designed publicity measures in order to generate interest in the UK. As a result of the high-scoring, highly entertaining game, many believe that the UK is finally paying attention to the NFL, possibly even enough so to raise the possibility of an eventual team in London. In order to further investigate this developing story, I discovered and commented on two highly regarded blogs. I first commented on “N.F.L. in London, Part II,” written by Naila-Jean Myers of the well-renowned New York Times N.F.L. blog, “The Fifth Down.” In her entry, Myers highlights and provides links to a multitude of articles from UK sources devoted to different phases of the game as a means of exhibiting the rising degree of interest for American Football. I then unearthed another distinguished blog from FOX Sports, written by Senior NFL writer and current president of the Pro Football Writers of America, Alex Marvez, and responded to his entry, “English interest in NFL is picking up.” He accurately identifies a great deal of varying signs pointing towards progress for NFL interest in the UK, before raising the prospect of a permanent NFL team in London. In addition to publishing my comments directly on the authors’ respective blogs, I have also posted these comments below. "N.F.L. in London, Part II"
Comment:
I would like to first thank you for your dynamic and detailed post regarding the NFL game in London last weekend. I find that the aspect of expansion for the NFL is one of extreme importance in the coming years, particularly with other popular American sports, such as basketball, undergoing similar transformations. You did a fine job of exploring this concept through the use of varied and helpful links to multiple UK sources that demonstrated the growing popularity of American football. Moreover, the depth of your entry immediately impressed me, specifically concerning your thoughts on international soccer expansion from the UK as somewhat of a response to the fact that “N.F.L. owners have already infiltrated the Premier League.” Still, I find it unsurprising that their proposed “39th game” (an extra game played at a foreign site) has not received much support from FIFA and fans alike, considering the additional costs and implications for home fans. I would guess that fans of Arsenal, for example, would be just as discontented with the proposal as the thousands of New Orleans Saints fans that lost one of their cherished home games this year.
With that said, however, I agree with you that the NFL is on the right track. Although expansion may not be realistic for the Premier League, it has begun in full force for the NFL. Granted, last year’s rainy, poorly played slugfest between the Giants and Dolphins left much to be desired, but this year’s game benefited from not only much better game play, but also much improved marketing. By bringing in two high-scoring teams (Saints and Chargers), the NFL smartly advertised the most intriguing facet of their game: offense. Furthermore, as you mention, newspapers from The Guardian to The Times featured prominent stories on different features of the game, from a profile of LaDainian Tomlinson to the positive steps taken by Saints players to revive post-Katrina New Orleans. Clearly, Kevin Cadle’s claim that the game was the equivalent of the Super Bowl was hyperbolic, but his point is well taken. As you indicate early in the post, “talk of N.F.L. team in London is rampant,” an idea that would be the next logical step to take. I wonder, then, whether or not you believe this a realistic goal for the NFL to achieve in the next several years?
"English interest in the N.F.L. is picking up"
Comment:
I would like to thank you for this thoughtful and expansive post pertaining to the recently played NFL game in London last weekend between the Saints and Chargers. Your entry initially struck me for its ability to approach the topic both from a statistical standpoint and from a personalized perspective (the comments made by Jay Boyd and John Page). 
Prior to discovering your blog, I had only unearthed information regarding the overall implications of this game for the NFL as a whole; as such, it was refreshing to learn about the experience of an average fan. Likewise, I particularly enjoyed the progressive manner in which you detailed the many positive signs that this game provided for the NFL, from a vague interest level (“They’re screaming, ‘Football!’”) to a more calculated and determinable level (a sold out stadium and a surprising profit margin). Perhaps what impressed me most, however, was your attention to detail concerning the specific steps taken by the NFL to increase interest in and raise awareness of American football. It seems to me that the league learned from the failings of last year’s game, choosing this year to simplify the media circus (no twenty-six foot statue of Jason Taylor, pictured right), and instead focus on teaching the game, in part by airing messages during the game that “show such basics as ‘how to catch the ball, tackle, and what a block is.’”
Nevertheless, team sports rely on their home fan bases for support and revenue; thus, the NFL will not truly catch on until London is home to a permanent team. Will this happen? I certainly agree with you that the NFL is heading in that direction, especially if the schedule eventually expands to eighteen games as I expect it will. Still, such a commitment is unlikely to occur in the near future for several reasons that you illustrate. Primarily, it is a lot to ask for teams such as the Chargers, a team forced to travel overseas immediately following its game the prior week, obliging them to practice all week in a foreign country with an eight-hour time difference. Moreover, one sellout game is not enough to suggest that the NFL could sustain enough interest in a permanent team to turn a profit. In any case, the game itself exemplified progress for expansion and is a very positive sign for years to come.
1 comment:
Great post. Seeing as though I am not quite as knowledgeable in the arena of sports as some, it was an interesting to see and read about the inner workings and system behind the NFL and the controversy or debate that any decision could possibly ensue. I found it very useful at the beginning of your post, when you outlined the circumstances revolving around the event, making it simple for a reader, such as myself, to understand the debate in its entirety. Particularly in regards to your comment to Alex Marvez, I found your style very useful and professional, indicating the strengths of the post and relating it back to your own personal opinion on the issue. Particularly, it was intriguing at the conclusion of your first post when you pose the question “I wonder, then, whether or not you believe this a realistic goal for the NFL to achieve in the next several years?” This, I feel, was a strong addition to the post, posing a significant question back to the author for further information and elaboration.
Additionally, in your second post, I also found it to be very interesting how you acknowledged the style of argument of the writer, when you commented on "the progressive manner in which [he] detailed the many positive signs that this game provided for the NFL," varying from “a vague interest level (“They’re screaming, ‘Football!’”) to a more calculated and determinable level (a sold out stadium and a surprising profit margin)” It brings to light the uniqueness of the writer's perspective and, I feel, it gives the writer somewhat more of an authority over the issue. The fact that you, also, pay mind to such details I feel gives you the same amount of authority as it does to the other writer.
The style of writing in each of your posts indicates a great deal of intricacy and brings you as a blogger to the forefront of the issues. In regards to the issues, the only thing that I could have seen which would have made your posts more prevalent would have been a greater elaboration on your own research, thoughts and ideas on the issues and also on their posts. Although it is also a strength that your posts are not too wordy and, essentially, filled with useless fluff as some would say, everything you have stated is very relevant and I feel as though adding more to it would only add to its significance. Look forward to reading more from you!
Post a Comment