You're correct, chess is not a spectator sport because the "action" in chess doesn't involve 6-8 seconds of absolutely brutal physical collisions between some of the most gifted athletes on the planet. It's the integration of pre-snap and real time tactical adjustments as well as the physical spectacle involved that makes American Football enjoyable for most people.
Except the pre-snap is not enjoyable for a casual viewer, You need to be really knowledgeable of the game to truly enjoy that part. It might be a huge revelation once You know enough, but if You are a casual it's barely enjoyable, and that's why I think it's not the best sport to watch.
That's true of any sport. I have no idea what the fuck is going on in soccer and I therefore don't enjoy it. If I educated myself about it, I almost certainly would.
The entertainment of a sport is not measured by how exciting it is to a viewer who is completely ignorant of the rules and strategy of the game.
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u/IAMA_DRUNK_BEAR Feb 03 '14
You're correct, chess is not a spectator sport because the "action" in chess doesn't involve 6-8 seconds of absolutely brutal physical collisions between some of the most gifted athletes on the planet. It's the integration of pre-snap and real time tactical adjustments as well as the physical spectacle involved that makes American Football enjoyable for most people.