Cricket more popular than football in England?

OldFanatic · 15 Aug 2005, 11:50 PM

Is cricket popularity overtaking football right now in England?

http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0...-23210,00.html

Is this a short-lived thing while Ashes are going on, or do you expect it to have some life? One theory I have is that this year, the Premiership had a break much shorter than usual. (Sven Goran Ericsson wanted Premiership to start early on August 13 to give England team rest before 2006 World Cup.) But there has been a bit of football overdose on the television, and the close Ashes series is bound to snatch some fans away from football. Speaking of football overdose (and not just Premiership overdose), it didn't seem too long ago when Liverpool beat A.C. Milan and they were immediately back playing qualifying matches for 2005-2006 Champions' League season. Not to mention the Confederations Cup was on the TV in between as well. It seems that football has just turned into a no-stop 365 day cash cow, and if it is overmilked, other sports like cricket may catch curiosity of some fans.

michaec · 16 Aug 2005, 04:34 AM

Football is the number one sport in England by miles. Even now, when the England cricket team are doing really well in the Ashes, I have mates who would do well to name an England player outside of Flintoff (And one or two might not even get him). It's got a high profile in the press at the moment and there are plenty of people talking about the series, but there are many more non-cricket watching football fans who wouldn't have a clue.

white riot · 16 Aug 2005, 04:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by michaec

Football is the number one sport in England by miles. Even now, when the England cricket team are doing really well in the Ashes, I have mates who would do well to name an England player outside of Flintoff (And one or two might not even get him). It's got a high profile in the press at the moment and there are plenty of people talking about the series, but there are many more non-cricket watching football fans who wouldn't have a clue.

At the moment? No. In the future maybe, ever since SKY got involved and the Premiership was formed the game has been heading for a fall what with it’s over pricing and over paid fancydan foreigners any idiot can see that’s it’s only a matter of time before the whole thing falls over quicker than a French winger in a hair band.

Premiership attendances are falling and now is as good a time as ever for England to have possibly to best Test Cricket team in the World, love it or hate it 20/20 is also generating interest and the future of English Cricket has never looked brighter.

That said if Englands footballers qualify for the World Cup next year and mange to reach say the QF stages media coverage and public interest will exceed anything that the cricket authorities could ever dream of.

michaec · 16 Aug 2005, 05:42 AM

Your post is confusing. Do you mean football is not more popular than cricket at the moment? Or that cricket hasn't got a high profile in the press at the moment and it will get better in the future?

white riot · 16 Aug 2005, 05:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by michaec

Your post is confusing. Do you mean football is not more popular than cricket at the moment? Or that cricket hasn't got a high profile in the press at the moment and it will get better in the future?

I shouldn't have quoted your post it was a straight reply to the question is cricket more popular than football? It's not at the moment but it maybe sometime in the future.

eejit · 16 Aug 2005, 02:49 PM

NO cricket is not more popular than soccer in England.

Cricket is currently undergoing a spike in interest due to some exceptional matches and a long overdue recovery in the ability of the England team.

Soccer will return to saturation coverage and is still easily the number1 spectator sport. Soccer's popularity does seem to be declining slightly after strong growth over the past decade or so. People seem to be tiring of the relentless fixture lists and increased commercialisation of the sport. Higher ticket/kit/TV fees leave the average soccer fan feeling ripped off thus further disillusioning them.

At the moment the cricket coverage is on the back and front pages, and deservedly so as two of the greatest tests ever have been played back to back.

For the last day of the most recent test (a regular working Monday) tickets went on sale early in the morning but so many showed up that over 20,000 were turned away at the gates.

The scenes inside the ground on Monday were described as unprecedented in English cricket as 5 days of tension, drama, and first-class cricket built to a dramatic climax.

However as other posters have pointed out, after the Ashes, soccer will return to its saturation coverage, particularly in world cup year. I personally find that sad and unhealthy for British sports in general. The contrast to the behaviour of these cricket players in the Ashes and typical overpaid soccer players couldn't be greater.

In future years the Ashes is going to be on satelitte TV so this could well just be a golden summer for cricket. In general basic league cricket is not well supported and there is little money outside of the international set-up. Only hardcore fans take an interest in the county game but with the Ashes a large % of people have become interested, even the ones that aren't are aware that it is taking place.

keller · 16 Aug 2005, 05:35 PM

Well no, its not more popular but as the last few posters have said ,at the moment there is big interest which i think is for three reasons, 1. we are bloody good again, 2. Its the ashes. 3. Its the best chance we have had in ages.

Most test matches in this country do sell out for the first three days but come sunday and monday tickets are usually readily available. County cricket does have a hard time attracting big crowds which is why they introduced the 20/20 cup. A new exciting short form of the game to attract youngsters and bigger crowds.

Though i will say (and i have said this before) that whenever England play a test series abroad, the numbers of England fans who follow them is amazing. In the Windies last year, you would have thought England were at home, with almost 17,000 to 20,000 Barmy army at every game.

BhoysFC1995 · 16 Aug 2005, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by keller

Though i will say (and i have said this before) that whenever England play a test series abroad, the numbers of England fans who follow them is amazing. In the Windies last year, you would have thought England were at home, with almost 17,000 to 20,000 Barmy army at every game.

i'd say alot went also though due to the fact it was in the caribbean, you know, nice weather and beaches and all that stuff. would that many go to new zealand (for example)?

keller · 17 Aug 2005, 01:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BhoysFC1995

i'd say alot went also though due to the fact it was in the caribbean, you know, nice weather and beaches and all that stuff. would that many go to new zealand (for example)?

Probably not the 17,000 to 20,000 they were getting in the caribbean, but probably at least about 10,000. Which is still very good for the other side of the world, plus you have to remember many ex-pats will go along as well which will swell the english contingent.

OldFanatic · 17 Aug 2005, 05:53 AM

Thanks. Very good input by pretty much everyone, which goes along with what I had suspected anyway. Still, I think that football's popularity cannot continue forever after 2006 World Cup. I worry about its oversaturation with fixture congestion and extreme commercialization. Anyway, that's a topic for another thread, another forum.

Speaking of commercialization:

http://content.cricinfo.com/engvaus/...ry/216189.html

Quote:

More prosaically, The Times reported that England cricket shirts are outselling football strips across the country...