# Why has gridiron football never gained popularity outside North America?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-gridiron-football-never-gained-popularity-outside-north-america/950113>\
**Category:** The Game Room\
**Tags:** football-nfl\
**Created:** [September 4, 2021, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-gridiron-football-never-gained-popularity-outside-north-america/950113 "2021-09-04T19:22:46Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 5

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\
**Post date:** [October 25, 2021, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-gridiron-football-never-gained-popularity-outside-north-america/950113/81 "2021-10-25T15:53:13Z")

</div>

I’ve been in Steelers Bars in St Martin, Sint Maarten, Jamaica, and Barbados. Steelers pennants on the walls, framed autographed 8x10s of Steelers players, Iron City beer in bottles and cans for sale, etc.

I’ve never been in one in the US, though.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [October 25, 2021, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-gridiron-football-never-gained-popularity-outside-north-america/950113/82 "2021-10-25T16:34:55Z")

</div>

> [@kayaker](#):
>
> I’ve been in Steelers Bars in St Martin, Sint Maarten, Jamaica, and Barbados. Steelers pennants on the walls, framed autographed 8x10s of Steelers players, Iron City beer in bottles and cans for sale, etc.

I wouldn’t be surprised if they were owned by (or had their decor influenced by) American expats who lived in the area.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\
**Post date:** [October 25, 2021, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-gridiron-football-never-gained-popularity-outside-north-america/950113/83 "2021-10-25T16:42:52Z")

</div>

Yes, indeed! The Sunset Beach Bar in Sint Maarten used to be owned by an American. When he sold it they changed the decor, so no longer Steelers, but it is still a bar where women can get a free drink if they are topless.

If you ever watch YouTube videos of planes landing just overhead, Sunset Beach Bar is usually in the picture.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![The\_Stafford\_Cripps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_stafford_cripps/32/7167_2.png) [@The\_Stafford\_Cripps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Stafford_Cripps)\
**Post date:** [October 30, 2021, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-gridiron-football-never-gained-popularity-outside-north-america/950113/84 "2021-10-30T14:36:48Z")

</div>

> [@The\_Stafford\_Cripps](#):
>
> Having said that, New Zealand is the only country in the world where rugby (union) is unequivocally the most popular type of football. France is the only non-English speaking country where rugby is a really popular sport

Sorry to bump this thread yet again but there was a correction to this I was expecting to come in which hasn’t happened so I’m going to do it myself: some form of rugby is in fact the most popular sport in some other Pacific nations including Fiji, Samoa, Tonga and Papua New Guinea.

[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-gridiron-football-never-gained-popularity-outside-north-america/950113.md?page=4)