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Patrick Mahomes is changing professional football in Kansas City, and the proof lies in the numbers. The rating for Pro Bowl viewers in Kansas City was ridiculous.
Sunday's #ProBowl telecast on ESPN & ABC drew 8 million viewers. Top market by a wide margin is Kansas City (13.9). https://t.co/lC1c1floOI pic.twitter.com/vGGkTejOet
— bill hofheimer (@bhofheimer_espn) January 28, 2019
Kansas City drew a 13.9 rating for the Pro Bowl, followed by Pittsburgh (8.6), Norfolk (8.2), West Palm Beach (8.1) and Cleveland (8.1).
The total audience for the game peaked from 4-4:30 p.m. Arrowhead time with 8,931,000 viewers, according to ESPN.
For comparison’s sake...
NFL Pro Bowl averaged 8 million viewers on ABC and ESPN yesterday, down from last year's 8.6 million but much higher than most other sports telecasts. A quick comp: the top college basketball game this year -- Duke-Kentucky -- averaged 2.8 million viewers.
— John Ourand (@Ourand_SBJ) January 28, 2019
The AFC edged the NFC, 26-7, in an exhibition game that was never really competitive. Patrick Mahomes was named the game’s offensive MVP thanks to his 156-yard, one-touchdown effort.
We noticed that Mahomes began impacting ratings back in Week 6, when the Chiefs played the New England Patriots on Sunday Night Football.
The NFL officially has its next star, and he plays in Kansas City.
Poll
How much of the Pro Bowl did you watch?
This poll is closed
-
19%
None
(307 votes) -
49%
Up until Patrick Mahomes left the game
(778 votes) -
24%
The full game
(383 votes) -
6%
I’m done with football until after the Super Bowl
(102 votes)