The NFL has a bigger problem. It (and the less popular NHL) is the major sport with the most patriotic fan base. If it lets its games become a showcase for overpaid anti-American thugs, it will eventually turn off its base. You’re not going to have 100,000 people standing at attention while a jet squadron does a fly-by if clods like Kaepernick won’t get off their ass during the national anthem.
It’s bad enough that some of the announcers have tried to inject their lefty views on gun control into their football commentary. Most people treat the commentators like background Muzak. But, if the main act becomes insulting to them, it will have bigger repercussions. I know that multiple Kaepernicks would turn me off.
IMHO, of course.
It’s not about attending games, they could probably get by with zero attendance at actual games. It’s TV contract money and the huge number of casual fans that watch NFL as a social/cultural activity. Did the NFL get more popular or less popular after fruity celebration dances and chest pounding became common place? Why or why not? Same thing about rule changes to promote scoring. That makes me think that the average casual fan probably doesn’t care about the anthem too much and in any case won’t change their viewing habits over it.
Look around at general popular culture. It isn’t really surprising the NFL dwarfs all other pro US sports combined.
Freegards