League Announces that London Will Be Site of Next Season's Overseas Game
The NFL announced today that London will be the site of its overseas regular season game next season.
The league's team owners voted in October to play one overseas game next season and up to two regular season games per year in foreign venues thereafter. The league narrowed its choices for next season's game to sites in Germany and England before selecting London.
In today's announcement, the NFL said it will announce the precise location of the game and the teams involved later. But there have been reports that the New York Giants are expected to play the Miami Dolphins at Wembley Stadium. The Dolphins reportedly would be listed as the home team for the game. The Buffalo Bills also have been mentioned as a possible opponent for the Dolphins.
The first regular season game to be played outside the U.S. came in the 2005 season when the Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers played in Mexico City.
By Mark Maske |
January 16, 2007; 10:34 AM ET
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Posted by: unbill | January 16, 2007 12:28 PM
As a Giants fan, I'd be happy if it happens in London as advertised. If I were a 'Fins fan, I'd be upseet about being screwed out of a home game. And how did they get Wayne H to go along with this? Have they bought him off by offering the standard gate/concession $ he'd otherwise get?
Posted by: JD | January 16, 2007 12:42 PM
There must be some serious money involved for owners to give up a home game as well as the visiting team gate payout. More importantly, fans of each team get shafted out of seeing their teams in person. Maybe these games played out of the country can be added to a new NFL Network - Internationale (available in slightly few homes than ESPN 8-The Ocho).
Posted by: FL | January 16, 2007 1:26 PM
Why not play in Iraq? I am sure our troops could use a break over there. Send George too. He was a cheerleader wasn't he?
Posted by: Dimbulb | January 16, 2007 2:40 PM
What a waste of time. I will pass on this game. The NFL is getting too big for it's own good. Focus on the game - not foreign markets.
Posted by: Tyler | January 16, 2007 2:44 PM
What a waste of time. I will pass on this game. The NFL is getting too big for it's own good. Focus on the game - not foreign markets.
Posted by: Tyler | January 16, 2007 2:52 PM
I agree that expanding into foreign markets might not be such a great idea. I would be interested to see what the interest is in places such as London for the NFL. I know the NFL Europe is still alive and kickin', but I'm wondering if it will always be relegated to a lower tier of interest, given the immense popularity of sports such as rugby and "football"?
Posted by: Courtesy Flush | January 16, 2007 3:15 PM
The comments to this entry are closed.
I may be biased because I live in Germany, but I don't understand the decision to pass over Germany for an NFL game. True, the problem is that the game, if it were to be played in Germany, could not be played in Berlin (due to the lack of an appropriate stadium), but it could have been played in the Frankfurt region (also good for the Dutch fans of NFL Europe).
It would be great to have an NFL game in Germany, especially since NFL Europe plays the vast majority of its games here. It would do a lot for American football on the continent, and maybe even help the attendance problems that dog NFL Europe.
Another thing that comes to mind is that the German media is giving more attention to American sports right now because of Dirk Nowitzki. The NFL could have pushed things up a notch with a game here.
As an Eagles fan, though, I am used to optimistically saying "maybe next year".