NFL preseason game blows Red Sox-Yankees out of the water

by David Fucillo on Aug 11, 2009 6:29 PM PDT in San Francisco 49ers News

While this is coming from a Twitter page, it's from a trusted Sports Business Journal writer. According to SBJ's John Ourand (and his Twitter page), the Buffalo-Tennessee preseason game apparently did approximately 7.9 million viewers to the Red Sox-Yankees 4.7 million viewers. Once official numbers come in I'm sure we'll see a change, but I can't imagine it'll be all that much (if these aren't official numbers)

I realize it was the first football game of the year, but for a preseason game not involving two of the bigger markets, that's pretty amazing to me. I'm not even looking at this as a "Ha ha baseball, you suck" type of moment because I'm a big baseball fan. Rather, I look it as an example of just how ingrained football is becoming in our culture. Baseball will always be the national pasttime of America. However, football is clearly the most popular sport on tv at this point. As much as I love baseball, I can see why people don't enjoy a televised baseball game as much as a televised football game.

I'm curious if anybody can think of any other reason why the first preseason game of the year would have this kind of ratings victory against the biggest rivalry in baseball?

Tweet Comment 27 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Football has 16 games. Baseball has 162. If people miss a football game they miss 1/16 of a season. Baseball 1/162. It sucks worse to miss a football game.

by BucksForever on Aug 11, 2009 7:31 PM PDT reply actions

true

But a preseason game? I think that’s what I find impressive.

by David Fucillo on Aug 11, 2009 7:34 PM PDT up reply actions

Don't foreget this was the HOF game and some all time favorites were inducted.

And along the line you noted the baseball season second half is just begun and with 80+ games played and 70-75 games left to go people are getting bored with it for now until the end of the season nears and the race for the play offs begin. So logically a first peak at the new NFL season makes for a change of pace.

by WC-Ninerhead on Aug 11, 2009 8:49 PM PDT up reply actions

There's actually less than 50 games left for most teams

But point taken.

by Brendan Scolari on Aug 11, 2009 11:17 PM PDT up reply actions

One football game to a series of games...

Maybe that comes into play?

Well, we're waiting....

by drummer on Aug 11, 2009 11:36 PM PDT up reply actions

A series of...

… series, no less.

by sfgfan on Aug 12, 2009 9:26 AM PDT up reply actions

Agreed

The marginal utility of a game of football dwarfs that of a non-playoff baseball game. Plus, who wants to watch the American League? I’ll ruin this AL season and every other one for the next thirty-bajillion years: The Angels, Yankees, and Red Sox win; they have money.

Kidding, kinda, I suppose the SF Giants’ recent struggles have simply made me bitter.

That said, while I’m a huge baseball fan, football is the sport to watch on TV. I can enjoy any game of football, but I only really enjoy a baseball game when I’m there and/or my team is the one playing.

Also, I suppose I should mention that I’ve been reading Niners Nation for some time, but have only recently decided to jump in. Great blog, guys.

by Wazl on Aug 12, 2009 7:26 PM PDT up reply actions

ahem

….don’t forget about the Dodgers baby!!!

THINK BLUE………

"There is no pressure. Pressure only exists when you're not prepared."
-The Samurai

by redrum21225 on Aug 12, 2009 8:15 PM PDT up reply actions

You disgust me.

My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.

by howtheyscored on Aug 13, 2009 7:12 AM PDT up reply actions

I heard that.. Nothing worse that

A dang stupid doger fan.. That really sucks…

Hey at least the dang frigging dodgers didn’t sweep us.. as McCarther said…“WE will be back..”

by WC-Ninerhead on Aug 13, 2009 9:30 PM PDT up reply actions

baseballl is such a slow and anticlimactic game. i’ve never understood the interest, but having been to live A’s games, i can tell you more than half of the fans are busy getting hammered in the bars and could care less about the actual game. as for television, my roomate was a die hard dodgers fan, and he would show his interest by putting the game on tv, and promptly falling asleep. thats how exciting baseball is.

by pwarren85 on Aug 11, 2009 8:04 PM PDT reply actions

could not care less.

And baseball is a great sport. But different strokes and all.

My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.

by howtheyscored on Aug 11, 2009 9:12 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

-1

by Brendan Scolari on Aug 11, 2009 11:16 PM PDT up reply actions

I fell asleep...

before halftime. The Bridgestone took a lot out of me I guess.

Well, we're waiting....

by drummer on Aug 11, 2009 8:27 PM PDT reply actions

"Ha ha baseball, you suck"

I second that

by bignerd on Aug 11, 2009 8:43 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs

I think it’s indicative of how unbelievably sick and tired we are all of the Yankees and Red Sox.

My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.

by howtheyscored on Aug 11, 2009 11:57 PM PDT reply actions 4 recs

This...

I didn’t even know there game was broadcasted.

Well, we're waiting....

by drummer on Aug 12, 2009 12:04 AM PDT up reply actions

+1

Thing A

by sam23 on Aug 12, 2009 2:24 AM PDT up reply actions

boston who? new york what?

I had no idea they were playing.

Go 49ers

by iaalexeeff on Aug 12, 2009 11:35 PM PDT up reply actions

Very true. ;-)

by Brendan Scolari on Aug 12, 2009 11:47 PM PDT up reply actions

ARE YOU READY???

FOR SOME FOOTBALL??

by WC-Ninerhead on Aug 13, 2009 9:31 PM PDT up reply actions

preseason...

Well, I imagine a lot of those people watching that first preseason game were a lot like me and I think that’s the key here. I, like a lot of others, am a die hard football fan. After the Super Bowl way back in the beginning of February, we have to wait until August to watch any game. So by the time that first preseason game comes on, we are all ready to watch any game at that point just to see some more football. It’s like waking up at 10 in the morning, starving for breakfast because you had dinner at 5pm the night before. The rest of the preseason games will drop off in viewership because, honestly, preseason IS fairly boring to watch, but that first game is nourishment for the die hard fan, and nowadays there are a lot of us.

by Steven C on Aug 12, 2009 7:02 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs

It would be nice if games other than Red Sox-Yankees were broadcast…

The first NFL preseason game is exciting. It means football season is underway. The rest of the preseason will be much less popular.

by daveofferson on Aug 12, 2009 10:36 AM PDT reply actions

Even on the east...

I am from NJ and I’m a huge Yankees fan, but I was so happy to see some live NFL contact that I watched the HOF game over the baseball game. It was also the 4th time they were playing in 4 days so I felt like I had seen most of it already. I like baseball, but I LOVE football. I think that is a big sentiment around here too.

Forever faithful to the Niners!! Niner fans of the Northeast UNITE.

by McBain10 on Aug 12, 2009 3:06 PM PDT reply actions