# Question for Non-Americans -biggest sporting events? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 28, 2019, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-non-americans-biggest-sporting-events/839357 "2019-08-28T13:03:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2019, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-non-americans-biggest-sporting-events/839357/41 "2019-08-29T20:34:03Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > Also sometimes the halftime show but lately they have really sucked. RE: halftime show. In 2017, the DFB launched something similar with [Helene Fischer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helene_Fischer) of all people, whose music and persona you either love or hate, and the typical football fan loves to hate with a vengeance. [It didn’t go well](https://www.espn.com/soccer/german-dfb-pokal/story/3135691/german-fa-blasted-for-hollywood-half-time-show-at-dfb-pokal-final). They scrapped that idea for the following two finals and most probably for ever. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2019, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-non-americans-biggest-sporting-events/839357/42 "2019-08-29T20:44:29Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > RE: halftime show. In 2017, the DFB launched something similar with [Helene Fischer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helene_Fischer) of all people, whose music and persona you either love or hate, and the typical football fan loves to hate with a vengeance. [It didn’t go well](https://www.espn.com/soccer/german-dfb-pokal/story/3135691/german-fa-blasted-for-hollywood-half-time-show-at-dfb-pokal-final). They scrapped that idea for the following two finals and most probably for ever. I wasn’t familiar with her, so I listened to a few of her hits on Youtube. It seems to me like having her do that halftime show was the equivalent of the NFL having Celine Dion\* do the Super Bowl halftime show. \*- yes, I know she’s Canadian. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2019, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-non-americans-biggest-sporting-events/839357/43 "2019-08-29T20:52:36Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > I wasn’t familiar with her, so I listened to a few of her hits on Youtube. It seems to me like having her do that halftime show was the equivalent of the NFL having Celine Dion\* do the Super Bowl halftime show. > > \*- yes, I know she’s Canadian. 🙂 I think you got the picture :D. ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2019, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-non-americans-biggest-sporting-events/839357/44 "2019-08-29T22:48:50Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > RE: halftime show. In 2017, the DFB launched something similar with [Helene Fischer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helene_Fischer) of all people, whose music and persona you either love or hate, and the typical football fan loves to hate with a vengeance. [It didn’t go well](https://www.espn.com/soccer/german-dfb-pokal/story/3135691/german-fa-blasted-for-hollywood-half-time-show-at-dfb-pokal-final). They scrapped that idea for the following two finals and most probably for ever. I dont know about soccer or Australian football and such but one thing about our “Super Bowl” is that often its a blowout game where the outcome is basically decided early on. So often people just watch the first half up to halftime and then turn it off. ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2019, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-non-americans-biggest-sporting-events/839357/45 "2019-08-29T22:50:28Z")
> [@TokyoBayer](#): > > For a while in the 1990s, sumo had been quite popular, but again, it’s lost popularity. I love sumo! Was it back in the 90’s when that American from Hawaii won the sumo championship? ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2019, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-non-americans-biggest-sporting-events/839357/46 "2019-08-29T23:15:19Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > I dont know about soccer or Australian football and such but one thing about our “Super Bowl” is that often its a blowout game where the outcome is basically decided early on. So often people just watch the first half up to halftime and then turn it off. This would never happen to a soccer fan. If one side lead, say, 3-0 at halftime, which is rarely enough in a final, everybody would be to afraid to miss on a dramatic comeback like in the [2005 Champions League final](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005_UEFA_Champions_League_Final) to turn it off. ETA: halftime in soccer (which lasts exactly 15 minutes) is for going to the bathroom, drinking beer and eating bratwurst (that’s exclusively for Germany). No show necessary. ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2019, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-non-americans-biggest-sporting-events/839357/47 "2019-08-29T23:56:29Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > ETA: halftime in soccer (which lasts exactly 15 minutes) is for going to the bathroom, drinking beer and eating bratwurst (that’s exclusively for Germany). No show necessary. Regarding the US focus on showy commercials, I’m going to suggest to **Urbanredneck** that outside of the US, the pursuit of the almighty dollar is just not the absolute A#1 ultimate that it is in the US. It really is a different world outside of our borders in this respect. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2019, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-non-americans-biggest-sporting-events/839357/48 "2019-08-30T00:01:18Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > I think the point about commercials, particularly during the Super Bowl, is that many of the ads which run on that game are being shown there for the first time ever (due to the large audience), and advertisers often use those spots to launch new campaigns, or run unusual ads. > > Because of that, the ads, themselves, have become part of the event. And, there are a lot of Super Bowl viewers who say (sometimes in jest, sometimes not) “I only watch the game for the commercials.” Agreed, I’ve heard about that sort of thing. But it doesn’t mean a sporting event is not a big sporting event if it doesn’t have commercials, which is what it sounded like that question was implying. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2019, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-non-americans-biggest-sporting-events/839357/49 "2019-08-30T05:05:47Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > ETA: halftime in soccer (which lasts exactly 15 minutes) is for going to the bathroom, drinking beer and eating bratwurst (that’s exclusively for Germany). No show necessary. The FA Cup Final would have a military band playing and doing marching manoeuvres. More importantly, they used to be there to support the community singing before the match (a very 1920s thing - I don’t know if it still happens or has been changed, but traditionally it included the hymn Abide With Me). ---
**Author:** ![williambaskerville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f14d63/32.png) [@williambaskerville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/williambaskerville)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2019, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-non-americans-biggest-sporting-events/839357/50 "2019-08-30T05:36:44Z")
Here in Ireland, it would be the All-Ireland Gaelic football and hurling finals. Croke Park, the largest stadium in the country (82,000 capacity and the third largest stadium in Europe) was pretty much built to host them. I have little interest in sports, but even I will know which counties are playing in the finals, Outside the competing counties, particularly in Dublin, lots of houses will display the relevant county colours, The actual counties playing will be festooned in flags. As it happens, I was once driving from the Beara Peninsula, in West Cork, to Cork city on an afternoon when Cork were playing in the football final :- the county and city were deserted. I wculd drive miles and not meet a single vehicle, other than commercial ones. In Dublin, even if Dublin aren’t playing, it’ll be quiet, as people gather to watch. ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2019, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-non-americans-biggest-sporting-events/839357/51 "2019-08-30T13:08:39Z")
> [@williambaskerville](#): > > Here in Ireland, it would be the All-Ireland Gaelic football and hurling finals. Croke Park, the largest stadium in the country (82,000 capacity and the third largest stadium in Europe) was pretty much built to host them. > > I have little interest in sports, but even I will know which counties are playing in the finals, Outside the competing counties, particularly in Dublin, lots of houses will display the relevant county colours, The actual counties playing will be festooned in flags. > > As it happens, I was once driving from the Beara Peninsula, in West Cork, to Cork city on an afternoon when Cork were playing in the football final :- the county and city were deserted. I wculd drive miles and not meet a single vehicle, other than commercial ones. In Dublin, even if Dublin aren’t playing, it’ll be quiet, as people gather to watch. Question: Would people invite other people over to their homes to watch the game on tv and make a party out of it? ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2019, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-non-americans-biggest-sporting-events/839357/52 "2019-08-30T13:09:47Z")
I’d like to ask, these big games outside the US- are they televised in high definition and with stereo sound? ---
**Author:** ![bucketybuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@bucketybuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bucketybuck)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2019, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-non-americans-biggest-sporting-events/839357/53 "2019-08-30T13:28:15Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > Question: Would people invite other people over to their homes to watch the game on tv and make a party out of it? Thats what pubs are for. > [@Urbanredneck](#): > > I’d like to ask, these big games outside the US- are they televised in high definition and with stereo sound? We watch them on potatoes. Its not like we are a 1st world country or anything. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2019, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-non-americans-biggest-sporting-events/839357/54 "2019-08-30T14:47:38Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > I’d like to ask, these big games outside the US- are they televised in high definition and with stereo sound? No, all UK TV is black and white and mono sound. ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2019, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-non-americans-biggest-sporting-events/839357/55 "2019-08-30T19:25:38Z")
> [@SciFiSam](#): > > No, all UK TV is black and white and mono sound. Look, I’m not slamming anyone. Just wanted a straight answer. They make a big deal of having games in HD in the US and wanted to know if its the same in other countries. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2019, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-non-americans-biggest-sporting-events/839357/56 "2019-08-30T19:57:06Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > Look, I’m not slamming anyone. Just wanted a straight answer. They make a big deal of having games in HD in the US and wanted to know if its the same in other countries. Only His Lordship who lives up at the Big House can afford a stereo device. Most of us common folk have lost at least one ear to disease and pestilence anyway, so it doesn’t matter for the likes of us. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2019, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-non-americans-biggest-sporting-events/839357/57 "2019-08-30T20:11:37Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > Look, I’m not slamming anyone. Just wanted a straight answer. They make a big deal of having games in HD in the US and wanted to know if its the same in other countries. Then maybe the US stations are the ones behind the times. Here (and I suppose this applies to all of Europe and much of the rest of the world too), it is so obvious that big sporting events (and all the rest of the program anyway) are broadcast in HD that nobody specially advertises that fact. And stereo TV? That has been standard for what, 35 years? ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2019, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-non-americans-biggest-sporting-events/839357/58 "2019-08-30T21:28:32Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > Look, I’m not slamming anyone. Just wanted a straight answer. They make a big deal of having games in HD in the US and wanted to know if its the same in other countries. It really is a weird question. You have your games in HD now, so why would you think we don’t? The main channels in the UK are all HD, no matter what programme they’re showing, though they usually have an SD option. Sports isn’t special in that respect. I think that applies to most of the world. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2019, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-non-americans-biggest-sporting-events/839357/59 "2019-08-31T03:19:18Z")
The US _advertises_ the fact the game is in HD? Is this, 1999? ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2019, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-non-americans-biggest-sporting-events/839357/60 "2019-08-31T03:26:32Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > The US _advertises_ the fact the game is in HD? > Is this, 1999? I don’t know that _advertises_ is quite the right word, but I think it’s still something that gets mentioned at the start of NFL broadcasts – despite the fact that, yeah, pretty much everything on the broadcast networks has been in HD for years. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-non-americans-biggest-sporting-events/839357.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-non-americans-biggest-sporting-events/839357.md?page=4)