The
Chinese Arena Football League, kicks off Saturday, October 1st at the
beginning of their National Holiday, in the nation’s first
professional gridiron league in Beijing.
The new
league consists of six teams from Beijing, Dalian, Guangzhou,
Qingdao, Shanghai, and Shenzhen. Each team consists of 20 players,
half Chinese and half American.
Arena football is high-scoring, and high-action there’s an enormous amount of curiosity among prospective fans...the onlookers wondering what the new football is all about.
China
has for the most part been spectators and not the participants. Team
sports have never been a priority in China. The Chinese government
hopes to change this. Sports in general are becoming more important
and more entertaining in China, China’s government has promised to
make the sports industry a key economic driver, projecting over 500%
growth by eliminating regulations that previously held back the
sports industry. This should encourage private investors to build
their own facilities, and create their own teams. With all of the
related products and services, there is tremendous potential here.
China
has a profound passion for basketball and soccer, and American
football is only a curiosity at this point. American style football
will require a serious commitment to develop a fan base.
The
government has finally realized that organized sports are another way
to nurture leadership and social skills among young Chinese, and not
really a cultural threat. The Chinese government sees American
Football as another way to turn Chinese boys into men.
I
believe that the Arena style of Football can flourish in China, but
the NFL style has no chance. The facilities and space that NFL style
football would require is what the Chinese would not sacrifice for
merely sporting activities/events.
At
present there are an estimated 75 amateur teams that are developing
more than 3,000 players.
The new
Chinese League CAFL, or Chinese Arena Football League is not at this
time affiliated with the American Football League of China.
A more
thorough, detailed report can be found with the link below. Check it
out.
Here's
wishing them all success
Cheers!
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