Clark Hunt could care less about local fans-states as much

[alnorth]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

I fail to see how an initiative that detracts from the actual game itself, but makes the NFL much more money that they don't even need, is considered "good for the sport."

If a ton of people outside the USA cares about the NFL that otherwise would not have cared without the international series, that is obviously good for the sport.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by alnorth

If a ton of people outside the USA cares about the NFL that otherwise would not have cared without the international series, that is obviously good for the sport.

Advantages:
Makes NFL and rich owners more money

Disadvantages:
-Takes away a home game. Very important in a very short 16 game season
-Forces teams to prep through a short week dealing with major jet lag
-Despite the NFL fleecing cities for massive public financing of stadiums, it dicks over home markets, particularly entertainment districts. Big time.

So again. How does making more money in a league that is already dripping with money do a damn thing good for the sport? It's sad when we think that making money is "good for the sport" vs. protecting the integrity of a game

[alnorth]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

Advantages:
Makes NFL and rich owners more money

Disadvantages:
-Takes away a home game. Very important in a very short 16 game season
-Forces teams to prep through a short week dealing with major jet lag
-Despite the NFL fleecing cities for massive public financing of stadiums, it dicks over home markets, particularly entertainment districts. Big time.

So again. How does making more money in a league that is already dripping with money do a damn thing good for the sport? It's sad when we think that making money is "good for the sport" vs. protecting the integrity of a game

You are just obviously dead-ass wrong here. All of the other major sports get a ton of international talent every year. If American Football is popular outside the USA, then amateur football might develop, leading to a larger talent pool for college football, and then the pros, etc. Yes, its also profitable for the NFL, but if you can't or won't recognize the fact that having American Football be more than just a weird local sport that only Americans care about is good for the game, then I don't know what to tell you.

Also, you are getting amazingly bent out of shape over one damned home game every few years.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by alnorth

You are just obviously dead-ass wrong here. All of the other major sports get a ton of international talent every year. If American Football is popular outside the USA, then amateur football might develop, leading to a larger talent pool for college football, and then the pros, etc. Yes, its also profitable for the NFL, but if you can't or won't recognize the fact that having American Football be more than just a weird local sport that only Americans care about is good for the game, then I don't know what to tell you.

Also, you are getting amazingly bent out of shape over one damned home game every few years.

I'm bent out of shape about it? It's 6% of an entire season. Tell me another league that would marginalize that. No one game is more critical in pro sports than an NFL game because of how few games they play.

Okay, I agree that there is some small positive benefit to what you say above. But it is not worth creating competitive balance to do that. And there's a major limit to how much you can grow the sport beyond how fast it's growing now. Because football only works if you have a great deal of structure. It's not like basketball or soccer where you can learn to play well by casual pickup games.

There are ways to grow intrigue. Silly to believe you have to go all-in or bust unless you're going for a money grab. Start by shipping over as many meaningless games and events to Europe as possible.