NFL in London

magnet · 01-17-2007, 01:54 AM

Next year, the NFL will play it's first regular season game outside of North America next season. London will be the city; site and date to be determined.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2732567

marc · 01-17-2007, 01:57 AM

The London Silly-nannies?

Sdpm100 · 01-17-2007, 05:18 AM

Whilst it could be Twickenham, I can safely say it will be at Wembley (if it's ever finished). Simply because if "Twickers" had to have their arms twisted for years to allow the opposing rugby code (league) to play games there, even though they had nicked some of their players and staff, there is no way they will allow 500lb behemoths in to wreck their pitch.

And it will almost certainly be the Miami Dolphins vs. the New York Giants.

I think it's just a bad idea all-round, and will be a one-off and then scrapped by the NFL.

bababui · 01-17-2007, 05:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sdpm100

Whilst it could be Twickenham, I can safely say it will be at Wembley (if it's ever finished). Simply because if "Twickers" had to have their arms twisted for years to allow the opposing rugby code (league) to play games there, even though they had nicked some of their players and staff, there is no way they will allow 500lb behemoths in to wreck their pitch.

The only people even in the distant range of 500 lbs are the corporate execs who will be freeloading their way across the ocean on some sort of a junket. And Rosie O'Donnell.

Erik W. · 01-17-2007, 05:49 AM

Why they chose England instead of Canada or another NFL-friendly country is beyond me. They don't really think that one game will change the UK's complete apathy toward American Football, surely.

Sdpm100 · 01-17-2007, 05:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Azamien

Why they chose England instead of Canada or another NFL-friendly country is beyond me. They don't really think that one game will change the UK's complete apathy toward American Football, surely.

I think the NFL have some sort of an interest in the CFL?
If so, I doubt they will want to risk a game in Canada being popular, as it would put the future of the CFL at risk.

Sdpm100 · 01-17-2007, 05:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bababui

The only people even in the distant range of 500 lbs are the corporate execs who will be freeloading their way across the ocean on some sort of a junket. And Rosie O'Donnell.

That doesn't matter to our media. If they don't like something, they'll exaggerate it to its fullest.

Bluenoser · 01-17-2007, 06:10 AM

I think it's a good idea. A number of years ago they held a pre season game in London and it drew very well. Also, it will help promote NFL Europe. Exposure is good for the game, even if you gain only a few new fans. You have to start somewhere. You know the old saying, start small and grow from there.

Kekkonen · 01-17-2007, 06:21 AM

Does Wembley have enough room down on the grass for a full-sized football field?

Big Hugg · 01-17-2007, 06:56 AM

Quote:

Over the next 16 seasons, each of the league's 32 teams will participate in a regular season game outside the United States.

http://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/817615/detail.html

All I know is they better not send the Bengals to Amsterdam.

Sdpm100 · 01-17-2007, 07:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kekkonen

Does Wembley have enough room down on the grass for a full-sized football field?

Yes it does.

CBL-Commish · 01-17-2007, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kekkonen

Does Wembley have enough room down on the grass for a full-sized football field?

Considering the fact that soccer fields are bigger than American football fields I'd have to say yes. One big concern in MLS is finding places to play that will accomodate full sized soccer pitches - many football stadiums in the US simply aren't big enough and several teams have ended up playing on 90% scale fields.

A football field is 120 x 53 yds, while a soccer pitch can be as big as 130 x 100.

reds1 · 01-17-2007, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sdpm100

I think the NFL have some sort of an interest in the CFL?
If so, I doubt they will want to risk a game in Canada being popular, as it would put the future of the CFL at risk.

A NFL game in Toronto has been penciled in for 2008.

Edit: The only reason Toronto wasn't considered this time around is because the City is hosting the Grey Cup this year.

http://www.tsn.ca/nfl/news_story/?ID=192433&hubname=nfl

Kekkonen · 01-17-2007, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CBL-Commish

Considering the fact that soccer fields are bigger than American football fields I'd have to say yes. One big concern in MLS is finding places to play that will accomodate full sized soccer pitches - many football stadiums in the US simply aren't big enough and several teams have ended up playing on 90% scale fields.

A football field is 120 x 53 yds, while a soccer pitch can be as big as 130 x 100.

Yeah, but it can legally be as short as 100 yds in length. Plus, you probably don't want to have those old-fashioned H-shaped goal thingies at the end of end zones, so you need some additional space there. I know the local gridiron teams here in Finland (yes, we do have a small-time amateur league) have a hard time finding full-size playing fields.

Sdpm100 · 01-17-2007, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kekkonen

Yeah, but it can legally be as short as 100 yds in length. Plus, you probably don't want to have those old-fashioned H-shaped goal thingies at the end of end zones, so you need some additional space there. I know the local gridiron teams here in Finland (yes, we do have a small-time amateur league) have a hard time finding full-size playing fields.

Rugby league games will be held at Wembley (as they were at the old stadium) and end-to-end the field is 110 metres long, which is over 120 yards.

EDIT: confirmation from last line of this - http://www.wembleystadium.com/pressb...ases/turfstory

Florida Tiger · 01-17-2007, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BruceM

Also, it will help promote NFL Europe.

This is what I don't understand. Imagine that you're a season ticket holder for the Frankfurt Galaxy or the Berlin Thunder - the NFL bypassed your town to hold this game in a city that doesn't even have an NFL Europe team.

This game would only promote NFL Europe if they're planning on putting an expansion team there. Otherwise, I don't get it.

Bluenoser · 01-17-2007, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Florida Tiger

This is what I don't understand. Imagine that you're a season ticket holder for the Frankfurt Galaxy or the Berlin Thunder - the NFL bypassed your town to hold this game in a city that doesn't even have an NFL Europe team.

Same reason why the NHL holds a fair number of exhibition games in non NHL cities, to promote the game.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Florida Tiger

This game would only promote NFL Europe if they're planning on putting an expansion team there. Otherwise, I don't get it.

So are you saying that because a city doesn't have a Pro Team, then that city shouldn't get games from Pro Leagues? Just because a city doesn't have an NFL Europe team doesn't mean they don't have fans of the sport and league. Obviously the cities with Teams have fans. Now they start the process of building that fan base in other cities, which may in fact lead to expansion down the road. I live in a city that has no Pro sports teams and am much too far away to travel and see a Pro game live. That doesn't mean they shouldn't play games in this city. It expands your fan base when you do that. Marketing your product is never a bad decision.

Florida Tiger · 01-17-2007, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BruceM

Same reason why the NHL holds a fair number of exhibition games in non NHL cities, to promote the game.

Or maybe the NHL teams that play exhibition games in Peoria, Kansas City or wherever are doing so because they're getting a boatload of cash from marketers to play an exhibition game out of town - more money than if they had the game in their own venue.

Quote:

So are you saying that because a city doesn't have a Pro Team, then that city shouldn't get games from Pro Leagues?

No, I am saying that I don't understand how this game would promote NFL Europe at all. If NFL Europe was being promoted, they'd have Rhein and Amsterdam playing.

Quote:

Just because a city doesn't have an NFL Europe team doesn't mean they don't have fans of the sport and league.

Um. Okay. I agree. So what does this regular season NFL game have to do with NFL Europe? When the NBA plays a regular season game in Fort Worth, are they promoting the D-League? I don't understand the parallel you're trying to make.

Quote:

Obviously the cities with Teams have fans. Now they start the process of building that fan base in other cities, which may in fact lead to expansion down the road. I live in a city that has no Pro sports teams and am much too far away to travel and see a Pro game live. That doesn't mean they shouldn't play games in this city. It expands your fan base when you do that. Marketing your product is never a bad decision.

Are you talking about the NFL or NFL Europe? You have me completely confused.

Sdpm100 · 01-17-2007, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Florida Tiger

This is what I don't understand. Imagine that you're a season ticket holder for the Frankfurt Galaxy or the Berlin Thunder - the NFL bypassed your town to hold this game in a city that doesn't even have an NFL Europe team.

This game would only promote NFL Europe if they're planning on putting an expansion team there. Otherwise, I don't get it.

The only place there will be expansion teams is Germany. The NFL aren't interested in "spreading the game" anymore as it costs them too much money. They had a chance and blew it by thinking people would come to watch a developmental league with a load of no-hopers playing.

I fully expect NFL Europe will soon be shut down as no-one watches it or cares about it. It'd be probably cheaper to have a spring league based in cities in the USA that don't have NFL teams.

Bluenoser · 01-17-2007, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Florida Tiger

Um. Okay. I agree. So what does this regular season NFL game have to do with NFL Europe?

Well let's see - NFL Europe is directly tied to the NFL

They're both the same game played the same way

Do you need more paralells?

Try this one:

The NFL is promoting the game of football. If people in London go to the game who have never been to a live game and say "Hey, I like this", then the NFL has accomplished what they set out to do. Promoted the game of football. Now that people like it, they start asking for more. Next thing you know, London is applying for an NFL Europe Franchise. Interest in football, NFL style, has grown. Everybody wins.

Enough paralells for you yet, or do you need more?

Yes, NHL Teams are getting more money from marketers, but they're also promoting their game and building a bigger fan base. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that "The bigger your fan base, the bigger your revenue". The bigger the interest in the game, the more kids that start playing it at an early age, the more players that will come into the league in the future. It's called furutre growth planning, and planning for it now is a good plan. Not growing your product is just plain dumb unless you plan on shutting it down in the near future.

01-17-2007, 01:54 AM	#1
magnet Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 5,029	NFL in London Next year, the NFL will play it's first regular season game outside of North America next season. London will be the city; site and date to be determined. http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2732567

01-17-2007, 01:57 AM	#2
marc Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 7,505	The London Silly-nannies? __________________

01-17-2007, 05:49 AM	#5
Erik W. Global Moderator Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Rivière-du-Loup, Qc Posts: 4,615	Why they chose England instead of Canada or another NFL-friendly country is beyond me. They don't really think that one game will change the UK's complete apathy toward American Football, surely. __________________ Free agent baseball fan. Let's go (insert team name here)!

01-17-2007, 05:18 AM	#3
Sdpm100 Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2005 Location: Cheltenham, England Posts: 7,644	Whilst it could be Twickenham, I can safely say it will be at Wembley (if it's ever finished). Simply because if "Twickers" had to have their arms twisted for years to allow the opposing rugby code (league) to play games there, even though they had nicked some of their players and staff, there is no way they will allow 500lb behemoths in to wreck their pitch. And it will almost certainly be the Miami Dolphins vs. the New York Giants. I think it's just a bad idea all-round, and will be a one-off and then scrapped by the NFL.

01-17-2007, 06:10 AM	#8
Bluenoser Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: In The Moment Posts: 14,446	I think it's a good idea. A number of years ago they held a pre season game in London and it drew very well. Also, it will help promote NFL Europe. Exposure is good for the game, even if you gain only a few new fans. You have to start somewhere. You know the old saying, start small and grow from there.

01-17-2007, 06:21 AM	#9
Kekkonen All Star Reserve Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Putting the 'in' in Finland Posts: 739	Does Wembley have enough room down on the grass for a full-sized football field?