Help me find something to like about Arena Football

[NuclearNed]

My wife has started watching arena football lately. Over the years I've watched a few games, including 1.5 quarters of one last night. I just don't get it.

One of my biggest gripes concerns something I dearly love about "real" football. In "real" football, scoring points is equivalent to landing a bone-crushing uppercut during boxing match, and thus doesn't usually happen real often. In arena football, its almost like watching a basketball game - points are scored almost at will. I can't shake the notion that the team with the last possession is the team that will always win.

Also, I can't help but feel that I'm watching 2nd tier athletes (i.e. guys who couldn't make it in the big leagues). Sure, these guys have way more talent than I'll ever even come close to having, but they aren't the best in all the land.

I've heard people say that its something to watch during the offseason, but I just don't find it all that enjoyable.

Am I the only one?

 

[vi edit]

It's uhhh....not NASCAR? That has to be something going for it.

 

[Svnla]

I like it because: (speaking of watching it live in person)

1. It is the only football game in town at the moment.
2. It is much cheaper than NFL games to attend.
3. It is fun to watch if you like offense to score, especially by passing. I haven't seen a long scoring drive by rushing for a long time.
4. You can see the players and the game up close (smaller arena and playing surface).
5. PLayers/coaches/ballclubs are much much more fan friendly. You can get up close to the players for autographs, chat, etc. before and after the game.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

It doesn't have overpaid athletes whining.

 

[NuclearNed]

Originally posted by: Svnla
I like it because: (speaking of watching it live in person)

1. It is the only football game in town at the moment.
2. It is much cheaper than NFL games to attend.
3. It is fun to watch if you like offense to score, especially by passing. I haven't seen a long scoring drive by rushing for a long time.
4. You can see the players and the game up close (smaller arena and playing surface).
5. PLayers/coaches/ballclubs are much much more fan friendly. You can get up close to the players for autographs, chat, etc. before and after the game.

Yeah - just last night I commented to my wife that Arena Football is probably more fun when seen live.

1. sad but true.
2. doesn't affect me - I only watch NFL on tv
3. I love a good passing play as much as everyone else, but nothing is more satisfying than seeing a good running game. Marginalizing the running game makes AFL more one-dimensional, and thus not nearly as fun to watch.
4. good and bad. Seeing the game better = good. Smaller field = bad.
5. Always a good thing, if you attend the games in person. The NFL could learn a thing or two here.

 

[NuclearNed]

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
It doesn't have overpaid athletes whining.

A good valid point. Now if they just hadn't mucked with the game so much...

 

[bigrash]

I love football, but I can't watch arena football no matter how hard I try.

 

[purbeast0]

the only part I like is how the guys behind the offensive line can sprint to all hell from 15 yards behind the line of scrimmage, and as soon as they hit the line of scrimmage the QB snaps the ball so they are at a full spring from the get go.

actually that's pretty lame cause the defense can't match that speed from the get go.

 

[LeiZaK]

Originally posted by: bigrash
I love football, but I can't watch arena football no matter how hard I try.

same here