Inclusion Paradox Sighting: NFL Has Big and Growing Fan Base Among Women

Posted on October 10, 2009

With the predictable image that American football is a guy obsession, come these unpredictable stats: 40% of the National Football League’s (NFL) fan base is women, making it one of the largest and fastest growing female fan bases in all of sports in the US. Each weekend 45 million women watch NFL games and 375,000 attend games in person. They also spend more than $150 million on fan apparel including handbags and interior wear. For an illuminating story by a die-hard female fan on what is it about the NFL that attracts women, see Queens of Sunday in American Way magazine.

About Andrés

Andrés Tapia is President of Diversity Best Practices, the preeminent diversity and inclusion thinktank and consultancy. In this role, he helps companies create first-in-class diversity strategies and develop innovative solutions for culture change. Previously he served as Hewitt’s Chief Diversity Officer and Emerging Workforce Solutions Leader. As a published writer and prominent speaker, Andrés offers thought-provoking views about diversity’s impact around the world. He is the author of The Inclusion Paradox: The Obama Era and the Transformation of Global Diversity. Find his bio here.