The NFL gets what it wants! Including Christmas. The NFL orchestrated a Christmas Day triple-header last year that was nothing short of gridiron magic. The league’s festive extravaganza showcased its growing influence on the holiday stage but also delivered a resounding knockout blow to the hoops competition, leaving the NBA in the dust. In a yuletide showdown, the three football fiestas averaged a staggering 21.9 million viewers. A stark jump from the Association’s feeble 4.3 million average over five lackluster contests.

Fast forward to this year, and the NFL unwrapped yet another gift for its loyal followers. Three epic clashes, each featuring Super Bowl contenders battling it out for supremacy. The day kicked off with the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles engaging in an epic spectacle against divisional rivals. And once again asserted its dominance, widening the gap between pigskin passion and hardwood hoopla.

NFL stages Christmas coup & steals the spotlight from hoops

In an audacious move that shook the very foundations of the sports broadcasting arena. The NFL shattered the NBA’s Christmas Day broadcast monopoly; boasting a jaw-dropping average of 28.4 million views. The revelation, dropped by NFL insider Joe Pompliano on social media, sent shockwaves through the league landscape.

Pompliano declared, “The NFL is now looking to steal the holiday from the NBA.” It’s a bold proclamation considering Christmas Day games have long been a cherished NBA tradition, with no other leagues daring to schedule their showdowns on this festive occasion. However, the NFL isn’t one to play it safe. Even though they’ve maintained a stance against Christmas Day games outside their standard broadcast windows (Tuesday/Wednesday). The allure of the holiday and the potential profit may be prompting a reconsideration.

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As the NFL and NBA engage in this gridiron vs. hardwood clash, a certain level of respectful deference permeates the atmosphere. Both leagues acknowledge each other’s strengths, with the NFL enjoying a significant lead in reach metrics while the NBA boasts a younger and perhaps more hip audience. It’s a nuanced dance where the leagues coordinate schedules to avoid undue strain on local stadium and arena districts.

Unwrapping the legacy of NBA vs. NFL on Christmas Day

Christmas has long been the NBA’s second opening day—a spectacle that reignites the league’s flame in the hearts of fans. Since the historic yuletide clash in 1947, where the Knicks, featuring Peter Noel, triumphed over the Providence Steamrollers in a festive showdown. Christmas Day has become a hallowed annual tradition for the NBA. Over the past 16 years, the league has orchestrated a dazzling display of five games on this cherished holiday.

Yet, the NFL has defied the skeptics. Back in 2014, Mavericks owner Mark Cuban voiced a bold prediction, cautioning that the NFL’s ambitious foray into new holidays and game windows was a risky endeavor. “Pigs get fat, hogs get slaughtered,” Cuban quipped. “And they’re getting hoggy.” However, a decade later, the NFL stands triumphant, having skillfully sidestepped the pitfalls of excess. In a sporting landscape that continually evolves, the NFL’s Christmas strategy is a testament to its adaptability and foresight. As the league continues to redefine the holiday playbook, it leaves us eagerly anticipating each twist and turn in this saga.

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