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Will football be as popular after a lockout season?


hepcat

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Mark my words, NFL. If you do not play the 2011 season, you will suffer a similar drop in popularity the NHL endured after it's lockout season 5 years ago. NFL football is easily the most popular sport in the USA, with a sizeable lead over MLB. But other sports will be OVERJOYED if you cancel your season next year (especially the UFL). While there will be an unusual void in January when playoff football is king, the September through November timeframe will see boosts to all other sports. There are more casual football fans than diehard ones, that might find a new favorite sport if you cancel your season.

On the flip side, the NFL relies heavily on exorbitant media coverage and video game hype to promote itself. These could still exist during a lockout season (wouldn't be surprised to see a Madden '12 released even with no football that year). So it might not be a total loss. But I wouldn't expect football to come back for the 2012 season with the same level of popularity it has now.

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If there is a lockout, when the NFL comes back it'll be like Favre returning x 100. It'll be bigger than ever IMO.

I agree, it will still be huge. It won't be like baseball (it's already a boring sport) and struggle. It came back just fine in the late 80s after the strike.

Maybe Steve Smith will open up a YMCA flag football league we can go watch on Sundays?

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The TV contracts with the league are not suspended or canceled. Front offices will still be collecting checks from the networks during the lockout. I would expect to see massive advertising efforts and hype-jobs prior to the 2012 season.

NFL football is the most heavily wagered sport in the country except for the NCAA basketball tournament. Week in and week out, it reigns supreme during the entire season as a Vegas favorite. And right behind betting there is fantasy football, which is incredibly huge. This alone will bring fans back in droves regardless.

The NFL has the best thing going in terms of professional sports and there is just no substitute. Although I do believe there will be a lockout, I certainly would not expect a full season lockout once it is announced on March 1, 2011.

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Mark my words, NFL. If you do not play the 2011 season, you will suffer a similar drop in popularity the NHL endured after it's lockout season 5 years ago. NFL football is easily the most popular sport in the USA, with a sizeable lead over MLB. But other sports will be OVERJOYED if you cancel your season next year (especially the UFL). While there will be an unusual void in January when playoff football is king, the September through November timeframe will see boosts to all other sports. There are more casual football fans than diehard ones, that might find a new favorite sport if you cancel your season.

On the flip side, the NFL relies heavily on exorbitant media coverage and video game hype to promote itself. These could still exist during a lockout season (wouldn't be surprised to see a Madden '12 released even with no football that year). So it might not be a total loss. But I wouldn't expect football to come back for the 2012 season with the same level of popularity it has now.

I honestly dont think you could be more wrong... it would come back bigger and better than ever the anticipation.. and people realizing just how borring other sports are...

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I'm hoping every single player loses their job if the union goes on strike. Not like I'm going to stop watching if that happens. I don't care about these people and their bank accounts. I watch the sport, and that's it.

seems kinda vindictive. you care about the owner's bank accounts?

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I honestly don't see there being a real Lockout next season, right now football is America's #1 sport, no ifs ands or butts about it. It grosses more money than any other sport ever year, and all the money made from sports bars, beer sales, money from ticket sales equates to there being an agreement reached before the start of next year, and making the regular season 18 games with only 2 preseason will help the owners out and an agreement will be reached.

Football in today's age is bigger than it's ever been in the US. There will be no lockout.

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honestly? players. without the players we're watching UFL ball. There's a reason I don't watch UFL ball.

If you're talking about the literal existence of the NFL? Owners. If you're talking about the quality of the sport itself? Players. Both are equally necessary in their own ways.

Watch a couple of UFL or Arena games and tell me if you'd tune into that every week.

I wouldn't.

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If they actually did not play AT ALL in 2011 then I think the NFL would suffere significantly for a while.

If the miss a few games or preseason or something then it may actually improve ratings.

But you know who gets really pissed off? Die hard fantasy football players. the guys who have been working a keeper league. Or the guys who do a destination draft every year. or the guy who is in 5 leagues.

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