My thoughts on ratings decline in NFL.
- Thread starter mrtailgate
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I've got an acquaintance that works for EA Sports and worked on Madden 18. He said that EA Sports is changing to make sure that millennials are invested in the NFL to maintain their gaming skill set. This, along with spending a ton to finance fantasy football, is their plan to bring Millennials into the fold.
Throwing in my $0.02 - too much saturation of the game was a major contributor. Sunday and a game on Monday - fine. That way for decades - then they threw in the Thursday night games. Was anyone really clamoring for a game on Thursday night in the middle of the week? Then they started double headers on Monday nights - often starting too late or too early for half the country. Now they have some games on Saturdays when the cfb season ends so you wind up with games on 4 days a week. It's turned into an afterthought anymore, plus with channels like the NFL network re-running games throughout the week there's even less of a reason to catch anything live.
More recently I've been really turned off by their efforts to play games overseas. You mean to tell me the owners who have used tax payer dollars to build these modern day coliseums, and are used to play only 8 games a year, are now sitting vacant for one of those 8 games so the nfl can grow its brand in Eurpoe and Asia? If I was a season ticket holder I'm beyond pissed at that fact.
More recently I've been really turned off by their efforts to play games overseas. You mean to tell me the owners who have used tax payer dollars to build these modern day coliseums, and are used to play only 8 games a year, are now sitting vacant for one of those 8 games so the nfl can grow its brand in Eurpoe and Asia? If I was a season ticket holder I'm beyond pissed at that fact.
Well of course he is going to celebrate - his contract has a $10K per tackle for loss clause!
Wentz played under center as ND St ran a pro style offense. Goff struggled in 1st year and is doing better in 2nd year with new coach and system. Link below to an article that discusses the issue
In recent years, NFL coaches and executives have lamented the difficulty in evaluating and training spread quarterbacks. The league has borrowed concepts from the spread, but two primary features — spacing of players and quarterback runs — can be smothered by fast, sophisticated NFL defenses.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/spor...1076f6d6152_story.html?utm_term=.306f583f3e61
The original point was that when Brady et al retire, there will be a huge drop in QB play. My point is that Wentz and Goff are now playing at a high level. There’s reason to believe some of the younger QBs will develop into the All Pros who need to be replaced.
Yesterday was Miami's 3rd straight week playing in a National PrimeTime game.
Scheduling stuff like that --- the NFL isn't doing themselves any favors.
Scheduling stuff like that --- the NFL isn't doing themselves any favors.
That would be the most entertaining thing coming out of the NFL this week.
1. The game is boring.
2. There are far too many commercials.
3. The in-stadium experience is awful, for the reasons stated above.
4. Players are playing for a paycheck, not for their teams/fans, and I can't blame them, but it does take some fire out of the action.
5. Too many flags.
6. Antiseptic stadiums.
7. Boorish fans (college has its share of these bozos, too, but NFL games are downright awful)
8. Oversaturation
9. Gouging fans for everything -- tickets, food, drink, parking, merchandise. At some point people wise up and realize it's not worth the money.
10. CTE
11. Lack of loyalty to fans. You can't just move a franchise and expect people to think you give a crap about them, their city, etc.
It's way too easy to blame everything on the anthem protests. That stuff is ultimately irrelevant. The slide started years ago.
2. There are far too many commercials.
3. The in-stadium experience is awful, for the reasons stated above.
4. Players are playing for a paycheck, not for their teams/fans, and I can't blame them, but it does take some fire out of the action.
5. Too many flags.
6. Antiseptic stadiums.
7. Boorish fans (college has its share of these bozos, too, but NFL games are downright awful)
8. Oversaturation
9. Gouging fans for everything -- tickets, food, drink, parking, merchandise. At some point people wise up and realize it's not worth the money.
10. CTE
11. Lack of loyalty to fans. You can't just move a franchise and expect people to think you give a crap about them, their city, etc.
It's way too easy to blame everything on the anthem protests. That stuff is ultimately irrelevant. The slide started years ago.
Don't get me started on the History Channel. Let me know the next time they air a show about history. Prime example, September 11. I don't know why, but I cannot watch enough 9/11 shows. Tune in to the History Channel on 9/11/17...3 hours of Pawn Stars in prime time.well, you missed a hell of a rerun on American Pickers.
I agree with the original poster regarding the saturation and parity, plus, the game has changed. You don't see the big hits anymore, there are too many penalties, and the penalties/reviews take all the flow out of the game.
I also agree with you about looking to a new demographic but they should have kept the politics out of it. You don't piss off the older fans that have made the league what it is.
Question for those who are saying the league is catering to millennials - what specifically are they doing in your estimation to cater to that demographic?
I'm personally on the borderline between Gen X and Millennial so I don't fit into either category and I'd like to know what you think the league is doing that is trying to influence the millennial demographic. Whatever it is it's obviously not working.
I'm personally on the borderline between Gen X and Millennial so I don't fit into either category and I'd like to know what you think the league is doing that is trying to influence the millennial demographic. Whatever it is it's obviously not working.
The referees have taken over the game. With all the flags thrown about, the commercials, the coaches challenges, the game is slow and dull. I can see why the Europeans think soccer is a much better game because the action is continuous. NFL is nothing but stops and starts, mostly stops. Really how many stupid Budweiser ads do I need to see? They don’t even talk about how their beer tastes anymore, I suppose they’re afraid to. Dilly Dilly my arse!
The 18-34 year olds are watching more soccer. I have heard this from numerous people. Its in the AM, 1'45 minutes...done. Looks at the reasons stated here; too long, too many commercials, too many stops in play. All the things soccer avoids (aside from the diving, which the NFL has adopted).
Also the media controls the NFL. Look at the coverage of the "kneeling." ESPN was listing who was kneeling on the ticker. There was a great piece NBC did on Michael Bennett (after his Vegas incident) and how he reached out to his local law enforcement. Both sides were open and honest. Great middle ground working on a solution. Never saw it again. Media doesn't like middle ground. It thrives on extremes.
Also the media controls the NFL. Look at the coverage of the "kneeling." ESPN was listing who was kneeling on the ticker. There was a great piece NBC did on Michael Bennett (after his Vegas incident) and how he reached out to his local law enforcement. Both sides were open and honest. Great middle ground working on a solution. Never saw it again. Media doesn't like middle ground. It thrives on extremes.
Question for those who are saying the league is catering to millennials - what specifically are they doing in your estimation to cater to that demographic?
I'm personally on the borderline between Gen X and Millennial so I don't fit into either category and I'd like to know what you think the league is doing that is trying to influence the millennial demographic. Whatever it is it's obviously not working.
This graph shows why the NFL is in trouble. 50% less viewers in younger demographic. 55+ is losing viewers due to age and death. Being replace by 'new' viewers who watch 50% less than the person that no longer watches. Plus the 35-54, which was always the coveted demographic as spend the most money is also going down and at a faster rate. So NFL is losing viewers on every front.
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anon_xdc8rmuek44eq
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Question for those who are saying the league is catering to millennials - what specifically are they doing in your estimation to cater to that demographic?
I'm personally on the borderline between Gen X and Millennial so I don't fit into either category and I'd like to know what you think the league is doing that is trying to influence the millennial demographic. Whatever it is it's obviously not working.
Meanwhile, ratings for Game of Thrones goes up every year; I think I have a solution for this....
NFL is a boring game, OSU gets crushed by Iowa then crushes MSU. PSU destroys Michigan. NFL doesn't offer this unexpected excitement. College offers more plays, more gadget plays, NFL just plods along and makes sure to get in far too many commercials, college may get in the commercials too but not as noticeable.
It is the obvious. It is boring and appears scripted. I don't find high scoring games that interesting. The players are a bunch of spoiled millionaires who are self indulgent. There is no running game to speak of, so the rest of the game seems to be two-hand touch for millionaires. Way too many games on TV. Announcers are awful. Over patronizing to military crap. Fans have been completely hosed by the teams and local governments. To quote the formerly famous Duane Thomas to Tom Landry after losing a super bowl game: Coach, if it is so important, how come they are going to this again next year.
People may hate Goodell, but owners have made millions upon millions during his tenure.
I've tried to watch a few games this year for the first time in a long time. After a few series of handoff, handoff, short pass...handoff, handoff, short pass, not to mention three or four penalties, I get bored and find something else to watch. I don't recall pro football being this boring in the past. Watching Marino, Kelly, Favre and others sling the ball all over the field, it's tough to watch Jay Cutler dink and dunk it in between 27 handoffs. Bottom line, it's boring as hell.
From a guy who has been around longer than most of you, though probably not as all of you. The idea that the new thug era of athlete is a turnoff is nothing new.
Yes,it’s tattoos, rap, and jewelry now, but a few decades ago it was long hair, Afros, rock and roll, and bell bottoms. There was a generation that thought it was the end of the civilized world as well.
Players of today not being committed and working together for the good of the team? They’ve never worked more together. Plays are more complicated than ever, the players are all specialized and review not only every game film, but every practice film together. They are expected to know the playbook from the first day of camp, and attend OTAs throughout the year. They used to show up at camp cor the first time since the last season ended, and would play their way into shape over a 6 game pre-season. Plays were more simple and while teamwork was still necessary, it wasn’t the fine exact maneuvering of today’s game.
What has changed is less diversity in styles of play. Teams are pretty much identical in what they run, some teams are just better and more talented. Free agency has changed the relationship with players. For better or worse, the players your team drafted used to generally stay with the team for most of their career. Your players may have been bad on your favorite team, but they were your players.
I think that there has also been an over exposure of the sport. You can see your team any time. It used to be if your favorite team wasn’t your local team, the only time you got to see them in action was on Monday Night Football, if they were a playoff contender or were playing a playoff contender, and on the weekly NFL Films highlights.
Finally the expectations have changed. Patriot fans still like the NFL, but if your team isn’t in the playoffs every other year, or hasn’t won a Super Bowl in the past three or four years, it is a disappointment.
Finally, as stated above kids don’t follow the NFL or even play football as much as they used to so so. You used to watch with your dad and emulate your older brothers who played.
Yes,it’s tattoos, rap, and jewelry now, but a few decades ago it was long hair, Afros, rock and roll, and bell bottoms. There was a generation that thought it was the end of the civilized world as well.
Players of today not being committed and working together for the good of the team? They’ve never worked more together. Plays are more complicated than ever, the players are all specialized and review not only every game film, but every practice film together. They are expected to know the playbook from the first day of camp, and attend OTAs throughout the year. They used to show up at camp cor the first time since the last season ended, and would play their way into shape over a 6 game pre-season. Plays were more simple and while teamwork was still necessary, it wasn’t the fine exact maneuvering of today’s game.
What has changed is less diversity in styles of play. Teams are pretty much identical in what they run, some teams are just better and more talented. Free agency has changed the relationship with players. For better or worse, the players your team drafted used to generally stay with the team for most of their career. Your players may have been bad on your favorite team, but they were your players.
I think that there has also been an over exposure of the sport. You can see your team any time. It used to be if your favorite team wasn’t your local team, the only time you got to see them in action was on Monday Night Football, if they were a playoff contender or were playing a playoff contender, and on the weekly NFL Films highlights.
Finally the expectations have changed. Patriot fans still like the NFL, but if your team isn’t in the playoffs every other year, or hasn’t won a Super Bowl in the past three or four years, it is a disappointment.
Finally, as stated above kids don’t follow the NFL or even play football as much as they used to so so. You used to watch with your dad and emulate your older brothers who played.
I think every franchise is trying to copy the Patriots which leads to the teams being identical. The first team to break the mold will have success at least for a while.
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anon_1eeb2b426hv3y
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And local teams no loner have as many guaranteed fans in the making. Used to be that you cheer for the teams you see in person or live (with few live or , or perhaps a particular player. But it’s becoming harder and harder for average Joe to afford tix for his family, players move all the time and the local team isn’t the only one on TV. So teams will have a harder time developing the next gen of rabid fans.
only reason I’d care if it folded is that it’d presumably hurt the college game. It’d kill the top incentive for the top college players.
#toobigtofail
With few exceptions, NFL teams are generally copies of each other with the variation coming in the quality of the copies. In contrast, tune into a college game and you may see two teams with entirely different approaches to offense and defense. If you don't have a rooting interest, it's still interesting. There's also a level of enthusiasm and spirit in the college game that just isn't there at the pro level. Most of my NFL viewing is through the Red Zone channel with some exceptions for the Steelers and Eagles. I get to skip a lot of predictable, dull play and still the see of stuff that matters.
Growing up in the 60's if you stuck for anyone other than the Eagles, or Giants in Northeast Pa. , you were considered mentally ill.
I'd bet if Brady were traded to the Browns, he'd have thousands of followers. Fan loyalty is important , that's why college football is more successful, with the exception of Miami or Notre Dame they are like cicadas.
I'd bet if Brady were traded to the Browns, he'd have thousands of followers. Fan loyalty is important , that's why college football is more successful, with the exception of Miami or Notre Dame they are like cicadas.
Well said. Where I am at with the NFL. Literally cannot sit down and watch a game start to finish, just way, way too many commercials and stoppages of play. Red Zone channel is no commercials and typically the best game on most of the time.
So we have kijanacat saying that the game is too boring due to too much scoring and no run game and AWS1022 saying the game is too boring due to too many runs.
To kijanacat - you can't be upset with the players for being millionaires, it's the teams and the cba that set the salaries. No one said a team has to use all their cap space and the league minimum for a year 1 rookie is $465k.
And no one has explained to me yet how the league panders to millennials.
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anon_xdc8rmuek44eq
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So we have kijanacat saying that the game is too boring due to too much scoring and no run game and AWS1022 saying the game is too boring due to too many runs.
To kijanacat - you can't be upset with the players for being millionaires, it's the teams and the cba that set the salaries. No one said a team has to use all their cap space and the league minimum for a year 1 rookie is $465k.
And no one has explained to me yet how the league panders to millennials.
The only way I can think of is by diversifying the way they provide content, ie Twitter, PlayStation, other mobile platforms, etc. They've eased penalties for celebrations, though that's something most fans have been calling for forever.
I still haven't watched 1 minute nor made a single click since the first preseason game Kaperdick started protesting. I'm a long time Eagle fan here whose family had season tickets in the early thru late 70's and I don't even know their record this year, nor do I care.
But, it's the commercials...
But, it's the commercials...
Sports betting and Fantasy Football have been two things keeping the NFL as lucrative as it has been, and will keep it from dying completely. Eventually I expect it to become a flag football league.
I wouldn't be surprised if Fantasy Football is actually a reason for the NFL decline. It kind have makes sense considering College Football, which has avoided the fantasy craze, is more popular than ever. Fantasy Football has caused people to root for individuals rather than invest themselves in a favorite team. If has also caused people to spend the game time looking at their phones to see if there have been any injuries so they could make a waiver, rather than enjoying the game itself.
So we have kijanacat saying that the game is too boring due to too much scoring and no run game and AWS1022 saying the game is too boring due to too many runs.
To kijanacat - you can't be upset with the players for being millionaires, it's the teams and the cba that set the salaries. No one said a team has to use all their cap space and the league minimum for a year 1 rookie is $465k.
And no one has explained to me yet how the league panders to millennials.
I never understood the whole "poor quarterback play" excuse as a reason the NFL is boring. Look at passer ratings now and compare them with ratings from the past. Today's ratings are much higher than not only the pre-1980 ratings where DBs could rough up WRs, but are even much higher than 1980s and 1990s. Look at John Elway's stats prior to 1993. He would be considered a terrible QB by today's standards, but was going to Pro Bowls and winning AFC championships several of those years. If anything, the game may have gotten too boring because there are too few interceptions.
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anon_xdc8rmuek44eq
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Report: NFL Owners Have Discussed How To Kick Out Jerry Jones
Photo Credit: Matt Dunham/AP
An update on the current petty infighting among the NFL’s most powerful men, courtesy of the Wall Street Journal: multiple team owners have reportedly discussed the possibility of removing Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones over his recent threat to sue the league, part of his attempt to block a contract extension for commissioner Roger Goodell.
Jones has been claiming that the league’s compensation committee, chaired by Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank, has been misleading about the contract negotiation process for Goodell’s extension. He first threatened to sue a week and a half ago and was promptly stripped of his non-voting committee role as a result. Now, per the Journal, the NFL has sent a letter to Jones’s attorney calling his behavior “detrimental to the league’s best interests.”
That language represents exactly the standard that would be needed for Jones to be booted from the league—proof that his conduct goes against the best interests of the NFL. While the league’s letter reportedly doesn’t make that suggestion outright, some owners have been discussing the potential there, according to the Journal.
Jones called the possibility of his removal “ridiculous” in a radio interview yesterday. But, of course, this whole thing is ridiculous.
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