Blogger Roundtable: Foreign Invasion- International Sports in the U.S.

Which of these internationally popular team sports has the most potential in the United States; Australian Rules Football, Cricket, Handball, or Rugby? Here are our thoughts, what are yours? Be sure to vote in the poll and comment to give us your opinion.

As the Winter Olympic Games approach, we will have the opportunity to see many sports that rarely receive much attention. But this is what makes the Olympics great. Not only do we get to root for our country, but we get to see the best athletes from around the world compete in seemingly foreign events that otherwise wouldn't be on mainstream television.

This got us thinking about internationally popular sports that could make the transition to the United States and gain domestic popularity. Rugby provides that roughness that we love about football and is already gaining participation among Americans. Cricket is one of the most popular sports across the globe, with a strong base in the expanding eastern marketplaces, with inroads into the western hemisphere as well . Australian Rules Football has imitated North American sports leagues, providing a stable and accessible platform for American success.

Which of these internationally popular team sports has the most potential in the United States; Australian Rules Football, Cricket, Handball, or Rugby?

And here is what they had to say:

Rick Saxe, Featured Blogger-Rugby

As Americans' frustration grows with the changing realities of NFL football, rugby has a prime opportunity to step in and become popular. Rugby seems to be able to implement rules protecting its players whilst still maintaining an unquestioned fierceness. It would never replace the NFL, but it can fill a gap that the NFL is struggling to fill.

Max Fogle, Editor-in-Chief- Australian League Football

I think Australian Rules Football has a chance to become surprisingly popular and generate significant revenue in the United States. While cricket and rugby are truly global sports with high participation rates and tens of millions of fans,their most popular events are competition between national teams. Without must-see domestic league programming, it seems unlikely that these sports will make anything more than superficial inroads into the US Market.

Australian Rules Football's model is structurally most similar to North American sports leagues. It is not hard to imagine the sport getting similar air time as the CFL or Arena Football. There's probably room on one of the new major sports networks' docket for a quality product like Aussie Rules Football.

Matthew Hakimian, Featured Blogger- Cricket

I would probably have to say cricket. Aside from soccer of course, cricket is considered by many to be the most popular sport in the world. Admittedly, I do not know much about cricket except the fact that Piers Morgan enjoys tweeting about the English national team quite often.

However, I do know that it does not involve any contact, which would likely help its potential to succeed in the United States. With more and more information being released about the dangers of head injuries in sports such as American football, hockey, and boxing; cricket has a legitimate shot to become popular in the United States.

Stephen Dreznick, Contributor- Rugby

I think that rugby has the most potential to be a popular sport in the United States. It is similar to football in the sense that it's a very physical sport that involves tackling the opponent. Americans tend to enjoy sports of this nature.

Moreover, some of my friends back home recently started playing rugby and have really enjoyed it. This leads me to believe that this sport has much more potential to prosper in America compared to Australian Rules Football and Cricket, as I do not know anyone who has played or watched any of these three sports.

Which of these internationally popular team sports has the most potential in the United States; Australian Rules Football, Cricket, Handball, or Rugby? Here are our thoughts, what are yours? Be sure to vote in the poll and comment to give us your opinion.