What do you all think of American Football and it’s fans here?

Omackeral

American Football, Gridiron, NFL... whatever you want to call it. I can’t place it in Irish society. Is it niche? Is it popular? Is it somewhere in between? What’s the profile of the Irish NFL fan?

Stevieluvsye

Has a cult following macker. I know a few of them. IT types, geeky. Always take the following monday off after superbowl. Tend to be "Pats" or "packers" fans

Have a horn for Tom Brady

GLaDOS

It'd be entertaining if there wasn't 5 minutes of ads for every 1 minute of action

Omackeral

Stevieluvsye wrote: »

Has a cult following macker. I know a few of them. IT types, geeky. Always take the following monday off after superbowl. Tend to be "Pats" or "packers" fans

Thought the same with regard the IT types but for some reason I think a few D4 types would be in to it too? The ones I know personally who are really into it are a bit odd. Then you’ve the fellas who just watch the Super Bowl to say they watched the Super Bowl.

Beechwoodspark

Yeah it’s a niche following here.

Went along to one of their events in captain America’s on grafton st years ago with a buddy

Was good craic. Mix of Irish and good few Americans who live here -

hot dogs/chicken wings and LOTS of drinking - lads passed out asleep on the couches at one point.

All good fun. I remember one American got bit aggro over being told to stub out his cigar inside.

The game itself is what it is. Stops every 2 mins or so and goes to ads.

Omackeral

The weird obsession with the Super Bowl ads is particularly mental carry on.

JP85

The red zone, Sunday evening on sky is the only way to watch it

Stevieluvsye

Omackeral wrote: »

Thought the same with regard the IT types but for some reason I think a few D4 types would be in to it too? The ones I know personally who are really into it are a bit odd. Then you’ve the fellas who just watch the Super Bowl to say they watched the Super Bowl.

Ye, what i found it's generally the odd types. Tried to get involved in a group conversation once and it didn't go down well. Said i liked the Jacksonville jaguars and got a barrage of questions of who was their wide receiver, who threw the most yards blah blah.

Harmless bunch. The same lads in to call of duty and online participation video games. Generally overweight and ugly fcukers

corks finest

Omackeral wrote: »

American Football, Gridiron, NFL... whatever you want to call it. I can’t place it in Irish society. Is it niche? Is it popular? Is it somewhere in between? What’s the profile of the Irish NFL fan?

Don't understand it tbh but I'll watch it occasionally but like chess I only get it in dribs and drabs - hurling - GAA - local soccer for me

corks finest

Stevieluvsye wrote: »

Ye, what i found it's generally the odd types. Tried to get involved in a group conversation once and it didn't go down well. Said i liked the Jacksonville jaguars and got a barrage of questions of who was their wide receiver, who threw the most yards blah blah.

Harmless bunch. The same lads in to call of duty and online participation video games. Generally overweight and ugly fcukers

Pc packed up last year so no Cod but wow what a game - world at war was unreal

.anon.

I'm not really a fan of anything American, least of all their sports. Something about it, the loudness and brashness of the commentary, the glitzy spectacle of it all, just really annoys me. Also, I have a weird mental block when it comes to baseball and American Football - I can never remember which is which.

PARlance

Aren't they all just wrestling fans who have matured to watching something more grownup???

world class wreckin’ cru

Omackeral wrote: »

American Football, Gridiron, NFL... whatever you want to call it. I can’t place it in Irish society. Is it niche? Is it popular? Is it somewhere in between? What’s the profile of the Irish NFL fan?

Well I'm not into it myself, but know a few who are. Just normal everyday people.

Omackeral wrote: »

Thought the same with regard the IT types but for some reason I think a few D4 types would be in to it too? The ones I know personally who are really into it are a bit odd. Then you’ve the fellas who just watch the Super Bowl to say they watched the Super Bowl.

Ah, so that's what the thread is really about. Got it.

The ones I know, fwiw don't fit you're description whatsoever.

Omackeral

PARlance wrote: »

Aren't they all just wrestling fans who have matured to watching something more grownup???

I would say there’s definitely a cross-over there between the fans.

A Shaved Duck?

world class wreckin’ cru wrote: »

Well I'm not into it myself, but know a few who are. Just normal everyday people.



Ah, so that's what the thread is really about. Got it.

The ones I know, fwiw don't fit you're description whatsoever.

It took all of 12 minutes for the OP's mask to slip

Stevieluvsye

Not cheap either. The same lads went to wembley for a game and forked out 150 for a ticket. They say it is more than about the game though. Plenty of entertainment apparently

ELM327

Stevieluvsye wrote: »

Ye, what i found it's generally the odd types. Tried to get involved in a group conversation once and it didn't go down well. Said i liked the Jacksonville jaguars and got a barrage of questions of who was their wide receiver, who threw the most yards blah blah.

Harmless bunch. The same lads in to call of duty and online participation video games. Generally overweight and ugly fcukers

Check

PARlance wrote: »

Aren't they all just wrestling fans who have matured to watching something more grownup???

Check




Yeah it's a stereotype of the "scene". Go to the woolshed (pre covid) and you'd have seen them all on a sunday evening.
I've watched obsessively since 2000, when I rented Madden 99 on the PS1 and my "random team" on my first play was the Drew Bledsoe led Patriots.


I was also a big wrestling fan.

French Toast

I've been a casual follower of the Colts for a few years now. My interest comes and goes, definitely not a die-hard of any sort.

The NFL is interesting. I'd struggle to sit through a full game with all the stoppages, more often than not I'll catch up with highlight segments.

I'd probably sooner watch NHL.

Omackeral

world class wreckin’ cru wrote: »

Ah, so that's what the thread is really about. Got it.

The ones I know, fwiw don't fit you're description whatsoever.

No need to be so defensive. I’m only asking! I said the ones I know who who are really into it, which is less than 3 people btw, are a bit odd. That’s why I’m asking others what their experiences are. I don’t really know many who follow it and wanted to get a jist of it.

Montage of Feck

I've tried watching it but just can't get into, infuriatingly stupid game due to all the stopages and ad breaks.

EmmetSpiceland

PARlance wrote: »

Aren't they all just wrestling fans who have matured to watching something more grownup???

No, that’s MMA cage fighting.

Omackeral

A Shaved Duck? wrote: »

It took all of 12 minutes for the OP's mask to slip

Not in the slightest. Very sensitive bunch in here. I watch bloody wrestling for God’s sake, hardly in a position to sneer!

ELM327

Stevieluvsye wrote: »

Not cheap either. The same lads went to wembley for a game and forked out 150 for a ticket. They say it is more than about the game though. Plenty of entertainment apparently

That was for better seats, they started at 70 odd quid a ticket. Same as concerts or soccer tickets, there's a spectrum of prices.

French Toast wrote: »

I've been a casual follower of the Colts for a few years now. My interest comes and goes, definitely not a die-hard of any sort.

The NFL is interesting. I'd struggle to sit through a full game with all the stoppages, more often than not I'll catch up with highlight segments.

I'd probably sooner watch NHL.

I often watch the games live, only watching the late game on record the next day. It's great to fast forward the many ad breaks. I havent been into NHL since Ed Belfour played for the Stars!

Omackeral

Omackeral wrote: »

I would say there’s definitely a cross-over there between the fans.

I'd say a lot of that is because they tend to be awake at US nighttime hours.

theteal

I have a soft spot for it but some parts I hate - mainly head tackles. I wouldn't watch much really but if there's nothing else on I'll give it a go. I'd actually be more inclined to watch a college game instead of NFL - that's just because BT shows the college stuff and I rarely have Sky.

I'm really interested in the culture of it though and how it brings small backar$e towns together for the big Friday game. Check out QB1 and Last Chance U on Netflix. They get mad crowds for games.

I did watch 30 mins of a game nobody wanted to win last week. Tom Brady kept throwing the ball away and the other team made some frankly weird decisions in an effort to give it back. I think that was a semi-final so the super yoke should be on soon.



Edit - oh and I only know the rules thanks to John Madden on the Mega Drive way back when

ELM327

For me, the interest is due to my asd tendencies. The game is loaded with stats, records, etc and it's driven towards analytics. I follow F1 obsessively too, have done since 94, for similar reasons.

callaway92

I generally associate it with people who weren't good at Soccer or GAA (and in-turn not fans of them) when growing up and had to find a different Sport to be a fan of and have knowledge of then.

Stevieluvsye

ELM327 wrote: »

That was for better seats, they started at 70 odd quid a ticket. Same as concerts or soccer tickets, there's a spectrum of prices.






I often watch the games live, only watching the late game on record the next day. It's great to fast forward the many ad breaks. I havent been into NHL since Ed Belfour played for the Stars!

Yes, obviously the tickets vary in prices. But they were more expensive than and premiership game. I'm not 100% on this but the price ranged up to a grand for the game they went to. They didn't have halfway line seats for the 150 they paid either.

Last prem game i went to i paid 75 quid for halfway line seats. Appreciate though that there was a novelty factor having the NFL in london so could charge as much as they wanted with a big demand in England especially

KaneToad

I've been to NFL, NHL, NBA and MLB games. All entertaining in different ways. The only one I'd be bothered looking at on TV would be NBA.

The average American sports fan really likes their precision stats. Although this is creeping into 'our' sports now...rugby/soccer now record the most obscure of stats...

bocaman

Because of the stop start nature of the game and the frequent and breaks I never got into it. But in saying that I wouldnt begrudge anyone their enjoyment. To each their own.

DraftDodger

I worked as a bartender in NY for years and despite it having a massive following over there and being on the bar big screens every night during the season i never got into it, ice hockey, baseball also utter tripe the lot of them. Basketball now there's a sport the yanks do well and i'd been to see a few Knicks games back in the 90's.

Panrich

I would be an NFL fan and would have followed it from the 80s onwards. It started for me when it was on Channel 4 and we could see it regularly. The pull for me initially was to understand the attraction, and it became fairly popular here in the mid 80s so it gave plenty of opportunity to stay late in the pub watching the likes of the Chicago Bears win Superbowl XX.

I am not really in to the trappings or the hot dogs and have never attended an event or went to a game but I do watch it on Sunday night and keep up to date with news etc. and yes I have booked next Monday off.

I suppose that I'm a sports fan first and foremost, so I follow a few niche sports that others probably don't. The AFL is another of those. Funnily enough, I could never really get into basketball though but I'd probably watch anything else.

I'm probably not the type that you'd have in mind though as a stereotypical NFL fan who has it as a main sporting interest. My main sporting interests would be Gaa, Soccer, Horse Racing and Golf.

DraftDodger

KaneToad wrote: »

I've been to NFL, NHL, NBA and MLB games. All entertaining in different ways. The only one I'd be bothered looking at on TV would be NBA.

The average American sports fan really likes their precision stats. Although this is creeping into 'our' sports now...rugby/soccer now record the most obscure of stats...

Yeah absolutely. Pet hate of that of recent for me with the football. Also all the video assistant referee bollox. I guess it's the American owners getting their claws into everything. How long before the game is broken up into 4 quarters?

A2LUE42

Going to games here in Ireland for the local teams, it can be quite entertaining, but attendance numbers would be similar to Junior rugby. Participants are a mix of fans of the sport from Ireland and Americans living/studying here.

granturismo

Omackeral wrote: »

American Football, Gridiron, NFL... whatever you want to call it. ..?

American throwball. There seems to be very little kicking of the ball.

Stevieluvsye

Apparently NBA games are good but again i think the prices to attend can be enormous. Not sure what kind of fanbase NHL has. Baseball too, i'm assuming that's more of the hispanic population

Omackeral

Panrich wrote: »

and yes I have booked next Monday off.

I love this. Load of munchies or beers on Sunday night?

Omackeral

granturismo wrote: »

American throwball. There seems to be very little kicking of the ball.

:P

I see sheep

I wouldn't say it's a 'niche' following at all, anyone I know who loves watching sport loves American Football once they've watched it a few times and understand what's going on. It's much more exciting to watch than soccer/Gaelic football imo.

Fuzzy Logic

Omackeral wrote: »

American Football, Gridiron, NFL... whatever you want to call it. I can’t place it in Irish society. Is it niche? Is it popular? Is it somewhere in between? What’s the profile of the Irish NFL fan?

Can't beat the obligatory Super Bowl week/NFL bashing threads to appear.

Stevieluvsye

I see sheep wrote: »

I wouldn't say it's a 'niche' following at all, anyone I know who loves watching sport loves American Football once they've watched it a few times and understand what's going on. It's much more exciting to watch than soccer/Gaelic football imo.

I would say your wrong

I'd agree about Gaelic maybe. Stupid sport. Along with that other one with the sticks

Omackeral

Fuzzy Logic wrote: »

Can't beat the obligatory Super Bowl week/NFL bashing threads to appear.

What’s bashing in the OP? At all?

I see sheep

Stevieluvsye wrote: »

I would say your wrong

I'd agree about Gaelic maybe. Stupid sport. Along with that other one with the sticks

Fair enough, I've watched soccer all my life but imo soccer matches are much duller by and large.

Re. hurling - Limerick are boring to watch in fairness but any match with 2 out of Tipp/Galway/Kilkenny playing each other is the finest sporting match on the planet. :cool:

Panrich

Omackeral wrote: »

I love this. Load of munchies or beers on Sunday night?

I'll be having a few beers alright but not as much these days.

Sugarlumps

I enjoy it, like many have mentioned its long winded. There’s no flow to most American sports.

Buttros

Ive been watching it since college so about 20 years. Id watch most sports to be fair and will give most things a go. Some I dont stick with others I do. I could easily end up watching 5 or 6 different live sports on a weekend when the options are there.

I'll watch redzone every Sunday which is class. Non stop action. Love the playoffs too. I like the limited number of games. Each loss is important in a 16 game regular season. With other american sports you can lose a silly amount of games and still make the playoffs. The short season compared to other sports mean I never get overloaded and bored due to constant blanket coverage (soccer cough cough)

The more I understood the schemes and tactics the more I enjoyed it. Soccer fans will say NFL is too stop start. NFL fans will say soccer is boring because nothing happens. Both are right for most games.

Prefab Sprouter

Been a fan of American Football since the 80s when I saw the first Superbowl televised on Channel 4, Raiders against the Redskins. Obsessively follow the Raiders ever since.

Yes I have Monday night off. Like other Sports too. Prefer Battlefield series of games to Call of Duty. Am I a nerd? Yeah probably. Thats some of the American Football fan stereotypes ticked off.

The stereotypes go both ways though!

So, you are out in Irish society and you are asked "What do you think of American Football" and you answer in the affirmative, there are a number of different types of people who respond to you:

There's the "All that padding, not a REAL game like Rugby/GAA/Soccer" (delete the sport as appropriate)

You could meet the "Whats with all the stops and starts, that just makes it boring" person

There is the "Thats not football, thats Hand Egg" response as well

You also get the person whose eyes glaze over before you have finished your first sentence, almost wishing the person who asked the initial question could have just shut up!

Its a niche sport, I get it. But you do tend to come across the above quite a bit. So I dont tend to answer enthusiastically anymore.

OneEightSeven

It's boring and the ads are blatant false advertising. We got Sky Digital on the week of its soft launch in June 1998, enabling me to watch wrestling and Premier League football for the first time in 4 years. Along came January and Sky Sports begin airing ads for the Superbowl. It looked like the greatest sport ever. Flying shoulder tackles. Crunching shoulder checks. Men being flipped into the air and landing hard on the turf. Hot women in cheerleader outfits. Even though I stayed up 'til 4 a.m on a school night the previous Sunday night to watch the Royal Rumble, I decided I must watch this sport and had high expectations.

I sat there for half an hour wondering when all the hard-hitting action begins, but the ref kept blowing the whistle every 10 seconds to interrupt play, which was very frustrating. It was very anti-climatic and I decided it's not worth going into to school tired following morning, so I went to bed and never watched the sport since. Out of all brands of football, it's by far the worst of the lot and it's also the least deserving of the title "football" seeing as they rarely use their feet.

FatherTed

I've been in the US for a long time and although I've been to Giants Stadium/Meadowlands over 20 times(concerts/soccer), I haven't had the stomach to go to an NFL game. I've been to a few college games locally like Yale-Harvard which is good fun and also High School games as my nephew was a kicker on his HS team.

As for the NFL, there are only actually 8 minutes of action per game i.e. snap to snap. When you add in there is the offensive and defense teams, a player on average would see only 4 minutes of action per game. Also, a stupid name, Football.... on an NFL gameday roster of 47 players only two(kicker and punter) will actually use their foot lol. Plus some players can go through a whole 10 year career never having touched the ball.

raven41

Been watching it since Channel 4 televised it in the 80s. Following NY Jets since then, Ken OBrien being the very Irish sounding quarterback in those days. Have only been to one game which was in Thomond Park, college football between Notre Dame and Navy if I remember correctly. On a side note, met a few of the players in a bar afterwards bt chance and it was like a scene from Animal House, complete with togas and general drinking/rowdyness.
I feel there is a good game waiting to get out. Yes iti is stop start by nature and I do believe the constant advertisements ruin the flow. Suppose revenue comes from tv and as such its a case of he who pays the piper etc.
Will stay up to watch SB on Sunday. Cant help but think much more entertaining games take part in earlier part of the season.

Hulk Hands

callaway92 wrote: »

I generally associate it with people who weren't good at Soccer or GAA (and in-turn not fans of them) when growing up and had to find a different Sport to be a fan of and have knowledge of then.

It was maybe like that 15 years ago with the weird wrestling wannabe American types. It's gone completely mainstream now. Any Soccer/GAA team ive been around in the last few years have had loads interested. You can see that by the amount of city bars that have it on TV's on a Sunday eve

Your typical group of lads nowadays who like soccer, gambling and pints are very likely to be at least passing fans of it

Match going experiences in the US are expensive but generally shiit all over Soccer and Rugby here in terms of value and atmosphere. Not to mention the absolutely mental stadiums which are a sight in their own right