Comment on American football growing quickly in Brazil

American football growing quickly in Brazil

American football — once the sport nobody could understand — is quickly gaining space in the land of soccer, attracting a growing number of fans and participants. Some of the country's most traditional soccer clubs have created their own American football teams, with one of them boasting the fact it has more Facebook fans than some NFL teams. "American football is just pregnant right now in Brazil, getting ready to give birth to something great," former New York Jets tight end Johnny Mitchell told The Associated Press in a phone interview. Some traditional soccer stadiums are also hosting American football games. ESPN began broadcasting NFL games in Brazil in the early 1990s, and in the last few years ratings started to reach significant levels. ESPN had cable TV's top rating the day of this year's Super Bowl, and in 2013 it led all sports channels watched by men 18-24 when NFL games were shown. Another former NFL player taking a chance in Brazil this season is Nic Harris, a linebacker who played for the Buffalo Bills in 2009 and the Carolina Panthers in 2010. Made famous by Pele in the 1960s, Santos is among the top Brazilian soccer clubs taking advantage of the growth of American football. Great sports country, fantastic infrastructure, getting better by the year at the moment with all sporting events, said Mark Waller, NFL's executive vice president of international.

 

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