While the 2019 World Cup was going on, we were treated to some incredible sporting events. After years of dominating world sports, it was finally cricket’s turn to show us what it really means to be the best. In the final, New Zealand defeated England by a close margin of 18 runs to win the cup. Apart from the cricket, we got to see great football matches in the quarterfinals and semifinals of the tournament. It also happened to be the last tournament held in England before the country transitioned to the ‘New’ England. But, even before the World Cup, England had been struggling for a while. In 2012 it was rumoured that the government would have to step in and provide extra money for football teams who wanted to take part in the tournament.
Now that the world cup is over, and New England is no longer part of the United Kingdom, we can reflect on the sporting events that happened this year. One of the big stories of the year was the surge in popularity of American football overseas. Thanks to the NFL, fans had access to a whole different side of the game. In Germany, for instance, American football is now such a popular sport that people have adopted the ‘U.S.A’ nickname for their countries’ football team. American football is said to have been brought to Europe by the US military, and played initially only by American soldiers. In fact, the first club to take the field against an EU opponent was the American army’s team Frankfurt Am Main, in 1871. While many were excited about the game, especially in the UK, where there’s a large population of American expats, people in Germany had to wait more than 100 years to see a game. In the last year alone, there have been more than 50 cases of people in the U.S. getting AIDS from contaminated dirty needles, and there was even one death linked to the disease. It was initially reported that the man died from viral hepatitis, but AIDS was eventually confirmed. In light of this, it’s important to note that safe sex practices can dramatically reduce the risk of being infected with AIDS. There is also a cure for hepatitis C: the recently discovered, and extremely effective, NS5B polymerase inhibitor, so-called ‘Harvoni’. In late 2018, the FDA approved a drug, sofosbuvir, for sale in the U.S. that, when used in combination with a protein, ribavirin, can drastically reduce the amount of hepatitis C virus in the blood. However, access to the drug remains limited because of its high cost. Even in the U.S., only about 70% of people with hepatitis C virus can get insured coverage for the treatment.
The Rise In Popularity Of American Football
Thanks to the NFL, American football is now one of the most popular sports in the world. It’s a great game to enjoy with friends and family, and is gaining a lot of popularity in the U.S. According to the Sports Marketing Blog, there are currently more than 300 million American football fans globally, and this figure is expected to grow to 375 million by next year. The U.S. Department of Defence, in collaboration with the NFL, runs the International Football Camp each summer in Germany. The camp brings together young players from around the world, giving them the opportunity to improve their football skills and make new friends. In Germany, American football is classified as a ‘Sportsgemeinschaft’ (sports community), which means that registered clubs can band together to form a team. This is a similar concept to the NFL’s ‘Franchise’, where a group of teams can come together to form a super league.
In the U.S., American football is still largely seen as a ‘working-class’ sport. However, this is slowly changing, and new research from Harvard University shows that a football fan’s social class is more likely to be determined by what team they support than what position they cheer for. The findings show that amongst Gen Z, 64% support the New England Patriots, while just 14% support the Dallas Cowboys. This is because the former is one of the most popular teams in the U.S., and is a traditional symbol of working-class culture, while the latter is largely associated with rich sports franchises and corporate sponsorships.
Forbes named the Jacksonville Jaguars as the most valuable franchise in the NFL. The team is valued at more than $1 billion, and this is largely because they have a successful business model that relies on selling access to a football stadium and encouraging fans to spend money on branded merchandise, such as T-shirts and coffee mugs. The New England Patriots are valued at $1.67 billion, and the Los Angeles Chargers are valued at $1.5 billion. These are some of the most valuable teams not just in the NFL, but in all of sports. Perhaps unsurprisingly, most of these teams are in California. The San Francisco 49ers are the most valuable franchise in all of sports, with a value of $3.68 billion. The Dallas Cowboys are valued at $2.3 billion, and the Los Angeles Lakers are worth $2.17 billion. If you happen to be the proud owner of any of these franchises, then you can rest assured that your investment is paying off. Just last year, the Dallas Cowboys made a $140 million profit from a single game.
Friendly Fights And Family Feuds
Last year was the first time the Denver Broncos played in the Super Bowl, and it was one of the most memorable games. The team was on the receiving end of one of the greatest upsets in sports history when they faced off against the New England Patriots. But even before that game, there had been plenty of friendly fights and even a few family feuds amongst the NFL’s 32 teams. While the Patriots and the Broncos may have fought each other with some intensity, there were never any hard feelings. After all, it’s a friendly rivalry, and both teams were always grateful to be able to root for and against each other.
But this was nothing compared to the disputes that took place amongst the Buffalo Bills and Oakland Raiders. The teams had a particularly heated rivalry, and it wasn’t just limited to football. The two teams took part in some of the most contentious trade negotiations in the history of sports. The dispute began in 1982, when the Oakland Raiders wanted to trade their first-round draft choice (Paul Wigge) to the Bills for quarterback Jim Kelly. The offer was turned down by the Bills, leading to a 27-year standoff. In 1997, the Raiders finally got the better of the deal, shipping Kelly and their first-round pick (Jackie Smith) to the Bills in exchange for two second-round picks and quarterback Ty Detmer. The standoff between the two teams continued, and in 2013, the Raiders finally got the best of the deal, shipping Detmer to Buffalo in exchange for a fourth-round pick.
In the 2019 NFL season, there have been some great rivalries. The New England Patriots and the New York Jets have developed a fierce rivalry in recent years, and it has been exciting to see the intensity of their games this year, with many dramatic finishes. The Seattle Seahawks and Chicago Bears have also had some memorable matches. The Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers have been rivals for a long time, and watching them fight for possession of the football has been incredible. One rivalry that has been particularly close this year is the Los Angeles Chargers and the San Diego Chargers. These two teams have been fighting for supremacy in the Pacific Ocean for more than a century, and the intensity of their matches has been astonishing this season. While some fans of both teams were happy that the rivalry was taking place, there were undoubtedly some who were rooting for the other team. In the end, it was the Chargers who came out on top, as they are currently valued at $1.5 billion, compared to $1.3 billion for the Chargers. The most valuable rivalry in all of sports might just be the Patriots-Jets rivalry. Both teams value themselves at more than $1 billion, and this year has seen some amazing matches between the two. It begins with the AFC Championship this year, with the two teams battling it out to determine who will play in the Super Bowl. It really is the beginning of the end for the Patriots, as they have lost three of their first four games this year, and it’s far from over. The question is: will Bill Belichick’s squad even make it to the Super Bowl?
Whether you’re a Manchester United supporter or an Arsenal fan, it’s always great when rival clubs get together to face off against each other. As the years go by, these rivalries become bigger and more memorable. In 2019, we’ve seen the rise in value of some of the most successful teams in the world, with many poised to do even better in 2020. It’s not just about the money; it’s about the passion.