Do we need sport Americanised?
Unless you have just returned from a two-week trip to Mars, you may be aware that Superbowl XLIV took place last weekend with the New Orleans Saints claiming victory in their maiden final.
Now there have been 44 of these things, i think it’s safe to now assess the impact the pinnacle of American sport has had on sport in old Blighty.
The record-breaking 153m Americans who saw some part of Super Bowl XLIV become the most watched programme in US history were treated to fireworks, music, ticker tape, Brangelina, $2.5m commercials spots and The Who.
There was also a game taking place.
Franchises and team nicknames are now spreading throughout sport – what ‘Yorkshire Phoenix’ meant on its inception i have no idea. It’s certainly not native to the great county.
On the other hand, the Twenty20 format has flourished due to its American-style format: The match lasts less than three hours – a nanosecond in cricketing terms; bright kits with meaningless nicknames are a standard; a 10-second blast of the Black Eyed Peas for every boundary scored; a friendly family atmosphere and a high likelihood of meeting David Lloyd.
American sport is certainly a spectacle and serenely draws in those with a passive interest through light, colour and music. Well, not so serene – more a strobe light of shorts skirts, commercialisation, “boo-yahs” and Kanye West.
In contrast, British sport is earthed in the game itself and many struggle to entertain the growing ADHD audiences of the 21st century. American aspects to ‘sports entertainment’ should be more considered when adopting to sporting events in this country.
Fireworks and ticker tape are not required in football. Whichever Events Co-ordinators thought that burning gas added atmosphere to the occasion was greatly mistaken. Football is about the teams that are taking part – Manchester United vs Liverpool could be played in a park with jumpers for goalposts and still stir the same passion - the participants of the Super Bowl are almost secondary to the razzmatazz and pom-poms.
That is principally the major difference – American sports focus on the peripheral aspects to keep the spectators happy, British sport relies on the game itself. Certainly one day these two will be fully integrated… not too soon i hope.
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