World Cup fans have been booing "hydration breaks"
NBC Sports • • sports
Key Points:
- During the U.S. vs. Australia World Cup match, a "hydration break" was called mid-first half, prompting boos from fans as Fox went to commercial.
- These hydration breaks are criticized as artificial interruptions designed to allow Fox to run additional ads, reportedly generating $250 million in revenue.
- The $250 million earned from these breaks offsets more than half of Fox's $485 million rights fee for broadcasting the entire 104-match tournament.
- Fans at multiple World Cup venues, including Dallas, Toronto, and Boston, have expressed displeasure with the frequent breaks, often booing loudly during these pauses.
- While teams use the breaks to regroup, many believe the hydration breaks are unnecessary, especially when weather conditions do not warrant them.
