However, the U.S. fixture list is unaffected by Christmas Day.
On the fourth Thursday in November, which is Thanksgiving, American families are accustomed to spending time together watching sports.
Then they repeat the entire process a month later. Like turkey dinners, it is an integral aspect of the holidays.
However, the NFL claims that a “new global holiday tradition” starring Beyonce and Mariah Carey will start this year.
NBA at Christmas, NFL at Thanksgiving
Originally an English custom, Christmas Day sports began in 1889 when Football League matches drew large audiences. However, as interest waned, the final game was played in 1965.
Basketball became a holiday mainstay in the United States thanks in part to the proliferation of television sets.
During the second season of the NBA, which began at Christmas 1947, games were broadcast on television from the very beginning.
Since 2011, when the five NBA regular season games drew an average of 6.3 million people, Christmas Day has grown to be the most watched day of the season.
Since there are several Christmas games per season, 277 NBA games have taken place on December 25.
In the past, American football celebrated Thanksgiving, whereas basketball had Christmas all to themselves. No more.
For what reason has the NFL entered the Christmas market?
Double overtime was played by the latter. At 82 minutes and 40 seconds, it became the longest NFL game ever.
The NFL reportedly avoided scheduling another Christmas game until 1989 due to accusations that it interfered with the service of supper.
They kicked off at 9 p.m. It continues to be the most viewed Christmas game ever, with 33 million viewers on television.
Christmas was no longer exclusive to the NBA. After 1989, there would always be at least one NFL game on December 25 if it fell on a Saturday.
Even though December 25 falls in the middle of the week, NFL games have been held every Christmas since 2020.
Even though the NFL has only played 30 games on Christmas Day, each one has drawn larger TV viewers than the NBA, and the difference is widening.
The average number of people who attend an NBA game on Christmas has decreased over the last four years, from 4.5 million to a historic low of 2.9 million last year. For the NFL, it has increased from 20.9 million to 28.7 million.
Kansas City Chiefs vs. Pittsburgh Steelers NFL games on Christmas Day (18:00 GMT)
Houston Texans vs. Baltimore Ravens (21:30)
NBA games on Christmas Day: New York Knicks vs. San Antonio Spurs (17:00 GMT)
Dallas Mavericks vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (19:30)
Boston Celtics vs. Philadelphia 76ers (22:00)
Golden State Warriors vs. Los Angeles Lakers (Thursday, 1:00)
Phoenix Suns against. Denver Nuggets (Thursday, 3:30)
