Posted on 07/31/2017 11:34:28 AM PDT by Thistooshallpass9
The NFL took a massive ratings dive last year after a number of players, led by former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, refused to stand for the National Anthem. At the time, NFL officials claimed they didn't exactly know why ratings were down and even used the 2016 presidential election as an excuse for why more people weren't watching.
But according to a new survey from J.D. Power, NFL fans did in fact tune out in droves because of the disrespect and protest of the National Anthem before games. From ESPN:
National anthem protests were the top reason that NFL fans watched fewer games last season, according to a new survey released by J.D. Power.
The pollster said it asked more than 9,200 people who attended either one football, basketball or hockey game whether they tuned into fewer games and why. Twenty-six percent of those who watched fewer games last season said that national anthem protests, some of which were led by Colin Kaepernick, were the reason.
After that, 24 percent of those surveyed who said they watched fewer games said they did so either because of the league's off-the-field image issues with domestic violence or with game delays, including penalties. After being dropped from the 49ers last year, sports pundits and fellow players have accused anyone and everyone of racism for Kaepernick's failure to resign with another team. Turns out he's not only a bad quarterback, but a business liability.
Patriotism is still winning in America and that's a good thing. Here's to hoping this season comes with more respect on the field from players who are privileged to live in the greatest country on earth.
The Raven’s are looking at Kaepernick. I think there is a huge fan backlash in the making but they should be used to felons playing on their team.
The NFL is to blame.
Players who are loyal only to themselves, coaches and GM’s who won’t control their players, outrageous ticket prices and garbage like the former SF quarterback.
The NFL let it spread to other teams, that was the sign they didn’t want me as a fan.
I tuned out. The year before was a GREAT year in football. There were some really good games played. Last year, I watched the Super Bowl. That’s it. A few years before that, the league was already insufferable and I watched very few games. It’s back to being insufferable.
I also watched it for the longest time. I am through with the whole thing since politics entered into it. Just turned me off.
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/videos/sports/nfl/packers/fans/2016/08/29/87903546/
Young kids galore at Green Bay
Black players are more than willing to take the NFL down. Young and don’t know that this could end. Marginal players don’t count.
hey NFL, have every game broadcaster take away the protester soapbox, broadcast the audio of the Anthem from the stadium and show 2 minutes of pre-produced video of patriotic themes.
Any jackass on the sidelines that wants to do whatever jackass move has a limited audience to those sitting in the stands that can happen to see the protest move. Which includes not having the stadium jumbotron input focus on the protest, plenty of other things to capture over 2 minutes of anthem.
That ends it in a classy way. Get a clue, Roger Gooddell, make an easy decision to improve the situation and actually earn some of those millions the league hands you to be a “leader”
No, people tuned out because the NFL DEFENDED and PROTECTED those who besmirched the game by protesting the National Anthem and America. I won’t be watching this year, either.
The city would be a perfect place for him but the owner is a staunch conservative and all of Krapperdick’s BLM, moslem and “cops are pigs” garbage makes him a non-starter in Charm City.
I’m going to slightly disagree. It’s not that there were suddenly disrespectful jerks in the NFL last season, because we have always had those, whether it be the NFL or another sport, like the NBA. In fact, having a villain to root against usually increases viewership, not decreases. So why was last year different? It’s because the NFL was seen as taking sides to support the villain. That sent a message to conservative fans - if you don’t like the players not showing respect for the flag, then YOU are the villain. Well, guess what, NFL, most Americans are proud of their country and their flag, and it’s nothing to be ashamed of. If you try to shame us, we’ll spend our entertainment time and dollars elsewhere. If the NFL had simply taken a stand on player conduct, it would have been a winner for the NFL. Geez, they fine guys if their socks aren’t quite the right height. They HATE individuality. It’s all about the team we are told. Unless you want to separate yourself from your team, wear pig socks to mock cops and disrespect the flag. All the NFL had to do was put out a statement saying players not standing during the national anthem will be fined, and then fine them. The fine would be chump change, but at least the NFL would have avoided yet another PR disaster, and I don’t believe their ratings would have suffered the way they dead. Ultimately, this yet another mistake made by the commish. Goodell is completely dense. He take a what he thinks are bold actions but he is tone dear when it comes to listening to what the fans are telling him. It is hard to imagine someone who is paid so much money to make so many screw ups.
Well, that would be self-inflicted, unrecoverable damage to the team, the league, the league brand, and each and every sponsor.
Marketing 101—Pissing off a sizable percentage of your customer base is not a winning strategy.
And, we will continue to tune the NFL out, this year!
This ain’t the Vince Lombardi NFL, I knew!
Yes and we will continue if the blm rabble rousers continue. Pretty stupid to cut their own economic throats....
Ahhhhh, gotta love an owner like that. That’d be totally against his beliefs.
Baltimore Ravens might hire him.
“And what do girl sideline reporters add to the game? Why are they all girls?”
I hate this. And the questions are always the same - “tell us how you feeeeel...” No. Don’t.
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