Why did only basketball become popular in Europe?

Hello everyone, and welcome to Sobre La Bocina (At The Buzzer). Usually, my posts are in Spanish, but today I wanted to write an article in English, so that I can reach a more worldwide audience.

As a Spanish-based writer, I often write about the NBA or other American sports, so that the people from my country can learn a few things about the American culture I am such a fan. In this occasion, I want to do the opposite thing, and in this first article written in English I want to give my impression on European culture so that other people can get to know it better. One of the thoughts I have been having for a long time is why only basketball became popular in Europe out of all the American sports there are, and I think I have one main reason to explain it, which comes through experience of different sports events throughout the years.

Sports in America are thought to be a social gathering, an event that brings people together as an excuse to eat, drink and have a good time. Taking this statement into account, it makes you think that people would want these events to be as long as possible, so that you can be with your family and friends for a longer time. The best example of this is something that does not exist in Europe, or at least, in Spain: tailgates. Sometimes we do meet before the game to have some drinks, but that is it, no bigger party, nothing organized, no games, just a few drinks and that is all. In America, tailgates are bigger than that, and they usually go on for hours before the game even starts. Once the match has begun, you still have a lot to drink and eat (like the turkey legs people had at Lane Stadium in Virginia Tech), and you do not mind a 4-hour long game, because you are enjoying more the company rather than the game itself.

I never though tailgates could be this big until I experienced them myself

That is widely different in Europe. If we have to go to games by ourselves, we do it. For us is not usually about the company, but about what your team makes you feel. It is a much more emotional experience, but those emotions cannot happen for four straight hours, it is too much, so we need shorter times, and that is one of the reasons soccer is the King Sport here at Spain. A 90 minute game, only 120 minutes in very special ones and because there is an overtime, but a time that makes you enjoy that emotion in its fair amount. If you look at basketball, especially with FIBA rules, it does not take more than 2 hours usually, and it is often just 1 hour and a half. On the other hand, a sport like baseball, one that you never know if the game will be 2 hours or 5 depending on the performance of the players, is something not really attractive for us.

Another issue is the fact that in Europe you do not usually get up from your seat in the middle of the game, only in cases of toilet emergencies or if the game is about to end and the score is already sealed. However, in every sports event I have been in America, I found it surprising how the people around me did not care what part of the game they were watching, or even if it was a very interesting time, if they felt hungry or thirsty, they would get up and go to the concessions stands without a doubt, and in many occasions, the same person would go more than once during a game. In Europe, standing up so many times would be considered annoying, and everybody tries to minimize trips.

The TV shows the game is still on, but there is people at the concessions stand

So, as you can see, in Europe sports are not just an event where you can meet your friends and family and enjoy a nice game. They have emotional ties, and a defeat from your team can easily ruin your weekend, while a victory, cheer it up. In the case of Americans, given the fact that it is very usual to move to different towns to where you were born, it is a little harder to have those belonging feelings towards a team that you did not grow up following. You only want them to succeed so you can enjoy high quality entertainment and have a reason to get out of the house and meet with your family and friends.