[NU Sports] Bears/Packers

[SjT (Stephen J. Truog)]

> Two smaller market teams in the Super Bowl instead of
> Chicago or
> New York, I wonder if that will affect ratings?  My

Given the Steelers' and Packers' vast national followings, probably not much.

And remember that last year's small-market Super Bowl between New Orleans and Indianapolis shattered ratings records ... as did the small-market NFC title game between the Saints and Vikes the week before.

Which is something Major League Baseball and the NBA need to look at -- in an era where the World Series, NBA games and even flavor-of-the-decade NASCAR are losing viewers, the NFL is soaring on the strength of SMALL market teams like New Orleans, Green Bay, Pittsburgh, Indy, Kansas City, etc.

Sure, you get the occasional New York - Boston Super Bowl (and it was a great game!), but the small market teams have a fair shot to get there as well, so their fans are interested in the sport overall and the NFL is truly a national game. By contrast, baseball only matters now on the coasts in NY/Bos/Phi and LA/SF and basketball seems headed that way. I have no idea why fans of the Indians, Brewers, Twins, Pirates, Royals, etc. even bother buying tickets - they're out of it before opening day and any decent players they have will be bought up by the Yanks or Sawwwx.

But yeah, I expect this year's Super Bowl to be a tough ticket and a ratings bonanza. Two storied franchises, compelling players - should be a great game.

Of course, I preferred last year's game. :(
Good to see another NU alum in the big game, though.

GO CATS!!!
-SjT