“You might not admit it, but you’re going to Walmart within the next few weeks and it’ll probably be to get some items to watch an NFL game.”
The NFL has the highest average attendance of all professional sports leagues in the world. Yes, even more than European Football Clubs. The Super Bowl is the most watched TV program in America, by a long shot. Backup quarterback Nick Foles and the Philadelphia Eagles upset victory against the New England Patriots during Super Bowl LII was watched by 103 million people. There are 320 million people in the United States, so roughly 30%, or 1 out of every 3 people in the U.S., watched the Super Bowl. The second most watched sporting event in America is The Olympics, which pulled roughly 30 million viewers, less than 1/3 the viewership of the Super Bowl.
So yes… even with the debate over protesting, football being linked to permanent brain damage, viewership down, and youth participation down in American cities and towns… the NFL is still very popular and it isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
Switching gears for a minute, Walmart has become the poster child for meager employee benefits and low wages. With that being said, they’re still the premier shopping destination in the U.S.… despite having 20,000 checkout lanes in every store and only 3 being open… despite the shame of being open everyday of the year except Christmas… and despite weekly videos on social media showing “Walmart shoppers” shopping in pajamas using motorized wheelchairs (when they’re not handicapped).
The premier shopping destination in the U.S.… how?
Walmart’s business model is a relic of the past. It’s a big-box retailer that sells several products that have been linked to animal cruelty. They’ve promoted their social conservatism via the removal of certain magazines, and they’ve chosen to not sell certain artists records that they’ve deemed inappropriate. Approximately 70% of their employees leave within their first year, yet 1.4 million Americans receive a paycheck from them. Yes, 1.4 million people work for Walmart, and they have what we want… known products at the cheapest price. Most Walmart shoppers aren’t the grown women in SpongeBob pajamas like their advertisements suggest. Instead, it’s someone who needs to pick up some cereal or a phone charger, and they need to get all of these items in one place before traffic picks up again.
Everyone shops at Walmart, everyone, most just hate to admit it.
Speaking of everyone… No other sport in the world has an unofficial holiday like the NFL with Super Bowl Sunday. No matter if you agree with the NFL protests, if you’re a fantasy football guru, or if you’re not totally sure Brett Favre doesn’t play anymore, you’re going to a Super Bowl Party.
Why is that?
Despite steps to make it a safer game, it’s inherently dangerous. The NFL protests have become as great of a contentious wedge issue in this country as abortion. The average career for an NFL player is roughly three years. (Do not be fooled by 41-Year-old Tom Brady, he’s not the norm.) The NFL Players union (the NFLPA) is easily the weakest in all professional sports. And like Walmart, it continues to lead the pack in its respective category.
How?
Well, a touchdown is still an awesome thing to watch. The excitement and buildup of a football game is unparalleled in any other sport. Inevitably, it’s simply a great game and gives an equally great feel. And no matter where you stand with Colin Kaepernick and the player protests, it simply won’t derail that feeling… especially with legal gambling being a thing.
So yes, Walmart and the NFL have a lot of work to do to get better… to better its workforce and public image. But both still provide a need, and unless that need is replaced, both will remain on top. Need proof? Like I insinuated above, Walmart is and will continue to be packed every year in preparation for Super Bowl Sunday, and you’ll most likely be one of their shoppers.
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