45 gets it wrong why NFL ratings and attendance is down.

[coolsandy]

Supporters of Kap started the boycott to support him because they believed in his cause. 45 co-opted their boycott by publicly asking his supporters to boycott. So the boycott for both are working. But it is just like everything blacks do in this country, whites co-opt it, take it over, change meme and make money from it. It happens in music, literature, government, science and medicine and Civil Rights.

[underpants]

1. My response to this talking point - Then explain NASCAR's free fall

NASCAR attendance is so bad that Richmond removed all the seats on the backstretch because the optics were horrible.

There are a lot of factors for the NFL and they've been worried about for several years before Kaepernick. Cost of attendance, violence/bad behavior in the stands/parking lot, but the big factor (to me) is the multiple platforms now available that greatly decrease the cost and make immeasurably more convenient.

[Wounded Bear]

2. They call them cord-cutters...

cable viewership is down, including traditional sports viewing. I suspect the whole "Trump effect" is just that, a fart in a windstorm.

[Bengus81]

12. I can't watch THREE games this year because of the coverage....

Two are televised by ESPN which I don't have and one coming in late Nov is on the NFL channel. The NFL channel?!?!? Honestly does the NFL think everyone has ESPN and NFL channel?

[underpants]

14. Even though we cut the cord we still get 2 ESPN's and the NFL Network

I'm note sure if we get games on the NFL network, I just haven't looked.

Two weeks ago we got home and I found (cue the light and music from heaven) that we had THE RED ZONE!!! The next day Apple TV emailed my wife - Did you enjoy your one-time free sample of The Red Zone?

Oh well. It was fun while it lasted.

[Not Ruth]

3. Supporting CTE is also a negative

[handmade34]

4. ...

[maxsolomon]

5. Its the CTE as much as the BLM

I just don't care to see the endless parade of athletes getting crippled. The game must evolve or die.

And the Seahawks are boring AF.

[JoeStuckInOH]

6. I think it's 95% cost of attendence and it has become less entertaining than ever.

1) I can't even go see my terrible Browns without $50 tickets (for not great seats), $20 parking, and $5/bottle shitty light beer. Too expensive.

2) People have computers in their pockets nowadays... c'mon man. Your phone and your home TV give you 5 different slow mow views from every possible playback angle along with commentary. In the stadium, the scoreboard rarely shows detailed replays on the jumbo-tron, you don't get good (any?) commentary, and the live action is viewed with your naked eye 50 yards away AT BEST. NFL Replay and 360 views with the flying camera are sooo goo nowadays, you really miss a lot not watching on network TV. This is set of complaints is the same for MLB, too.

3) Too many penalties now too. A long time ago, I remember thinking when the "new" horse collar tackle penalty was horse... shit. Now it seems like someone rushing the QB gets called for a penalty if they even give him a dirty look. Letting receiver cross the middle and go up for high passes right through the middle of the box uncontested (or get a penalty if you hit them "too soon&quot ?? Absurd. Let 'em play.

[Dulcinea]

9. Yep.

I'm a lifelong football fan, & I'm not very interested in going to games. I'd just as soon stay home where there's no line for the bathroom, the beer & food are free, & I don't have to pay to park or fight traffic.

[Johonny]

7. It's called Redzone channel and fantasy/gambling.

People aren't gambling the traditional way as much anymore. They're gambling through fantasy sites which mean direct game outcomes are less important. Thus people are watching less games and following rezone or fantasy trackers. It's a trend that started a few years ago. I think game versus game ratings aren't down that much from last year when fantasy gambling exploded.

[Dulcinea]

8. You might have something there.

I know lifelong football fans who don't watch their teams anymore--it's all about their fantasy teams. They watch the Red Zone Channel, not full NFL games.

[RhodeIslandOne]

10. I think both sides are wrong that they think it's "their" boycott that's working

1. Thursday night games are a ratings black hole. Even good teams look bad on a Thursday night playing four days later.

2. Monday night games are not much better. They are not premier matchups anymore.

3. More people are watching on tablets, phone, etc....especially younger people raised in a world where you do not need TV or cable.

[former9thward]

11. The most correct post in this thread

[Dreamer Tatum]

13. Ratings have been down for a while

The NFL has had problems brewing for a while.

[OldHippieChick]

15. I am an old fart and became a Denver Broncos fan early.

We got tickets to a game in 1963 and actually sat in Row 1 w/ our feet in the dirt at Bears Stadium. Despite my many moves throughout the country I have always remained a Broncos fan. However, over the years as we have learned more and more about the concussion problem, my enthusiasm has waned. I admit to having my interest renewed w/ Gary Kubiak and Peyton Manning, but I did not have the passion I once felt for the Elway era.

I do support Kap and feel strongly that enough is enough. We ask these young men to be our gladiators and though we reward them handsomely w/ our dollars, we expect them to give up their quality of life as they age. Their return is not worth it and I find myself not paying attention this year as I am truly disgusted.