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The UK and North America have always shared similarities. Nowhere is this more evident than in the
two countries’ love of sports. However, sports fans in the UK might be a bit surprised when they
head to the USA and discuss the local sports traditions and vice versa.
So, how do these two nations of fans differ, and why? This article will take a look at sports from a
fan’s perspective to discover how the UK sports scene varies from North American Sports scene.
Football Fans
Football is a big point of contention between the UK and the USA. The UK game involves eleven
players moving a spherical ball with their feet to score goals in a net, while the USA version has
players moving a ball up the pitch with their hands, with the aim being making up yardage to score
touchdowns. The British version of football in America is known as soccer, and American football is
named so because of the length of the ball, rather than the actions of the players.
The difference between the fans, then, is that British football is a much
more accessible game.
Therefore, you are more likely to see fans bring their families and young kids to a game and make a
day of it. At the same time, American football is far more technical. There are often several strategic
plays running at once which makes it difficult for the uninitiated to jump on board. This means that it
appeals to a specialist group of people.
Local Sports
Sports are so important in these two nations that playing is often encouraged from an early age.
That means that almost every school has a team to represent each sport. However, it is rare to see
anyone other than the parents of the children participating in these sports on British shores.
On the other hand, local sports are extremely popular in the USA, and it is normal for the
neighbouring community to rally around their high school games, even if they do not know anyone
on the field. This passion also extends to the college level, and big games are considered an event for
the entire town.
Betting
Gambling is a big part of sports, and you could end up enjoying a game a lot more if you are lucky
enough to bet on the right team. While it is perfectly legal to bet on sporting events in both the UK
and the USA, the USA has a much bigger market for such behaviour.
This is in part because the UK only legalised the act of advertising gambling in 2005, while it has been
available for marketers in the US since 1934. This has given American fans more time to become
accustomed to the act of gambling at sporting events, which means that they have spent more time
visiting
top casino sites. UK sports fans do still engage in this type of activity; however, many have
been slower to embrace it. Many UK sports fans play online casino games while on the way to
games.
Showmanship
It should come as no surprise that American audiences prefer sports with a large personality, and
there is no bigger example of this than in the world of professional wrestling.
The art of professional wrestling pits two muscle-clad individuals in tights against each other in a
demonstration of showmanship, rather than skill. Every wrestler is decked out with a back-story and
unique move-set that is designed to look cool, rather than do any damage to the opponent.
Professional wrestling hasn’t exactly made waves in the UK, but that does not mean that Brits don’t
enjoy a bit of good-natured banter during their sporting events. Take the game of darts, for example.
Darts is a slow-natured game of accuracy, but that doesn’t mean that the fans treat it as such. Since
the game originated in a pub, it is not unusual for a darts crowd to consume large quantities of
alcohol during a match. What’s more, the players are not shy about showboating to entice and bring
out some noise from their audience. Therefore, while both countries have very different ideas of
showmanship, it is still encouraged by fans from both sides of the pond.
Food
You can’t expect an entire crowd of fans to watch a game of sport without getting hungry. The
players will often have a break to rest and rehydrate, which provides the audience with a chance to
grab something to eat. However, what you eat will differ depending on what country you live in.
Sports arenas in the UK will offer warmer food to combat the fact that most fans are stood still
during a winter’s afternoon. Pies, soups, and burgers are all
acceptable options to serve at a football game, for instance. Fans will often purchase their food and then sit back in their seats and wait for
the game to resume.
In the USA, half-time is a more social experience. Tailgating is a staple at NFL games, and many fans
will congregate in the carpark for a barbecue once the game is out. The food isn’t always great;
again, it is mainly burgers, hot dogs, and pies. The fans mainly join in to associate with their peers,
talk about the game, and have a few cold beers from an ice box. This means that a game of American
football is more like a day-long event, rather than a few hours spent on a field.
Atmosphere
Citizens in both Britain and North America have been subject to two tired stereotypes throughout
the years. Brits are viewed as well-mannered, polite individuals that are quite meek, whereas
American citizens are pictured as loud, brash, and brutally honest. However, when you go to a sports
game in either country you will find that these perceived behaviours are switched.
American fans are usually very respectful at their sports games. There is little tolerance for rude
behaviour and you could be asked to leave if you do not follow the rules, whereas British fans are on
the other end of this spectrum. They will chant, taunt players, and are encouraged to drink vast
quantities of alcohol. As you can imagine, both sets of fans provide a different atmosphere in their
respective areas.