Football will be king from next week. The $150 billion World Cup in Qatar will be the most expensive World Cup in history. Big business football is thriving, the ball game has been and remains the most popular sport in the world. Despite all the fears and scandals.
But behind them, globally speaking, there is no undisputed number 2. American football wants to change that. The National Football League (NFL) is on the rise, aiming for Europe. The Americans have been visiting London for a long time, and the very first NFL game on German soil will take place on Sunday in Munich.
Like football, American football requires a lot of money. But the system is more sporty and fair, and therefore more balanced, exciting and enjoyable. Each NFL team can spend a maximum of $208 million this season. In Philadelphia, no sheikh of Saudi Arabia can come and buy the championship, as Manchester City did. It comes down to good management, not wallet size.
The environment is also more pleasant in American football. In Zurich, I was attacked and spit on the GC shirt in front of the stadium. The fan curve is sometimes used by opposing fans with 1000 degree pyrotechnics. In Los Angeles, during a football derby, two camps of Rams and Chargers fans mix in the stands. Peaceful. A family.
American football is an event. Football is a tradition. For a long time, people in Europe and Switzerland were unwilling to put up with the commercialization of sports in the US. This has slowly changed over the past few decades. Today’s football is pure commerce. With this cultural shift that’s not over yet, the way has been paved for the NFL.
And this path is golden. The NFL made over $17 billion last year. This is more than the top three European football leagues combined. In Europe, many billions of dollars are idle for the NFL. The American capitalist, of course, does not want to miss such an opportunity.
Behind the scenes, American football has already become the second most popular (!) TV sport in Germany, ahead of Formula 1, hockey, skiing, tennis and handball. In Switzerland, the NFL also wants to attack the top 3 and thus at least leave ice hockey or alpine skiing behind.
Instead of rooting for Lara Guth down the slope, the Swiss should be looking at Tom Brady in the Super Bowl 10 years from now. Incredible? Alpine skiing is a thing of the past among the younger generation, American football has entered. Slowly getting used to the round egg.