Seahawks, Patriots Reportedly Will Be Participants in Preseason Game in China
The Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots reportedly will be the participants in the preseason game that the NFL plans to play in China next year.
The Tacoma News Tribune reported today that league officials are discussing plans to have the Patriots spend a week in Seattle, perhaps even playing an exhibition game there, before both teams would travel to China for several practices and another game.
Outgoing NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue previously has expressed a desire to have a preseason game played in China next year as part of the buildup to the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.
By Mark Maske |
August 27, 2006; 9:30 PM ET
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Posted by: Yellow River | August 28, 2006 4:49 PM
My take is that the biggest thing--and perhaps the only thing--you could fault the NFL for during Paul Tagliabue's reign as commissioner, from a business perspective, is being outhustled and outmaneuvered by the NBA in popularizing a sport globally. The NFL sees what the NBA has done in creating international interest (and revenue) for itself and is jealous. It's one of the things that Tagliabue talked about constantly as he prepared to leave office, and it will be one of the big things for Roger Goodell as he takes over as commissioner. I think the NFL looks at China and other foreign markets and sees unbelievable revenue opportunities. The NFL doesn't need the rest of the world to play American football. It only needs the rest of the world to be interested in American football.
Posted by: Mark Maske | August 29, 2006 8:54 AM
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Mark, what's your slant on a practice game being played in China?