Canada’s Love for American Football Matches South of the Border – Bucs Report

The word ‘football’ can mean many different things depending in which English-speaking country you currently are. In Canada, it refers to a sport played with unique rules that resembles American football, but has a few notable differences.

The Canadian fans love their national version of the game, but they also actively follow what happens south of the border. College football and the NFL are immensely popular in Canada, and many local citizens are eagerly anticipating high-level games played in the United States. We will try to understand the rivalry between the two versions of the game, and to make sense of the factors driving up the popularity of the American rule set.

The Relationship Between American and Canadian Football

At first sight, American football and Canadian football might seem very similar. Both are contact sports played on a field that looks mostly the same, where teams try to advance the ball by running or forward passing. If you pay a bit more attention, you will also start to notice the differences – teams have an extra player in Canadian football, but compete on a larger field and have one fewer chance to achieve a first down. The divergence isn’t huge, and many players who grew up with one version of the sport have successfully made the transition.

However, fans seem to be divided regarding the football version they like to watch. The division traditionally goes along the national lines, but in recent decades there is more and more overlap. Hard-core fans in the USA are well aware of what goes on in the Canadian Football League, and the same is true in the opposite direction. Sports are undergoing rapid globalisation, so it’s not a huge surprise that two closest neighbours in North America are sharing the passion for their favourite game.

Main Reasons for Popularity of American Football in Canada

Traditionally, the sports scene in Canada was always independent from the US and focused primarily on hockey and Canadian football. While these sports remain a source of national pride, they no longer have the monopoly on the hearts and minds of Canadian fans. The ratings for American football games are going up, and it’s not rare to see NFL jerseys on the streets of Canadian cities. It’s fair to ask – why is this happening now and will it negatively affect the local sports scene?

It appears that increased availability is the main reason why some Canadians are switching allegiance and becoming American football fans. These days it’s much easier to catch a game on TV or stream it on the internet, while all statistics and game highlights are instantly available from a smartphone. Presence of NFL stars in commercials for major brands and their activity on social media certainly have an impact, drawing interest from casual fans. The fact that rules of American football are already vaguely familiar to Canadian fans makes this transition easier than for someone from Europe or Asia.

How Can Canadians Watch NFL Games in Person?

For a while, it was possible to catch an NFL game within Canada’s borders – the Buffalo Bills had a unique arrangement between 2008 and 2013 where they played some of their home games in Toronto. This is sadly no longer the case, so the only way for American football fans who live in Canada to watch their favorite sport in person is to travel across the border and visit an NFL city. For people living in urban areas just north of the dividing line, that could be a short trip that can be made on the game day.

This is the reason why some of the NFL teams with most fans in Canada are those located in northern cities. Some of those teams include the aforementioned Bills, as well as the Detroit Lions, the Green Bay Packers, the Seattle Seahawks, and the Minnesota Vikings. If Canada ever gets its own team based in Toronto or Montreal, it would of course dwarf the popularity of American franchises but so far this idea hasn’t really gotten off the ground.

Is It Possible to Bet on American Football in Canada?

Sports betting in Canada is regulated by individual provinces, which can be a bit confusing if you are not familiar with the local rules. However, as of 2024 all provinces allow betting on American football through bookmaking websites, albeit with differences in terms of legal age and other details. There are many platforms for live bets that you can access from your phone, so making a real time bet while watching the game is super easy.

Final score of an American football game is not the only thing you can bet on. Sports betting sites also offer odds on a range of other outcomes, including total number of points, yards by each team, even who scores the first touchdown or gets the first penalty. All of this makes following the games more fun and adds a competitive element to the fan experience. Still, it’s important to stay careful when placing bets and avoid providers without a license to operate in Canada.

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