NFL regular season game in UK

[Scottishbengal]

Just thought some of the folks on either side of the pond may find this interesting

taken from www.nfluk.com

UK to host regular season game in 2006?

The first NFL regular-season game outside the United States is expected to take place on October 2nd, when the Arizona Cardinals face San Francisco in Mexico City. If the Mexico event is a success, the league could bring a regular season fixture to the UK the following year, with Wembley or Twickenham possible venues for the game.

“We entered the bidding process for the Cardinals game when we first heard about it back in November,” said NFL Vice President of Strategic Planning and Development Alistair Kirkwood. “In the end the UK came a close second, but it was decided that the team’s proximity to Mexico, alongside their expressed interest to grow their Hispanic fanbase, would make it the obvious host.

“However, a number of countries were looked at, and the strength of the UK’s bid – and especially in the financial package that we could put together, has led to interest in the UK hosting a second fixture in a year’s time.”

By the time the 2006 NFL season rolls around the new Wembley would be finished, adding to a list of possible stadia that could host a game.

“When we began evaluating the stadium possibilities in the UK we came across three or four problems that need to be overcome to host the game,” adds Kirkwood. “Firstly, the stadium needs to be large enough to accommodate a 120-yard field and the sideline areas, which was a problem at Villa Park in Birmingham. We had thought that the City of Manchester stadium was an attractive proposition, given its location and facilities, but the design of the stadium seating would mean that the capacity would be severely limited as the first 10 to 12 rows would have had severely impaired viewing due to the sideline arrangements of NFL teams.

“One problem we found at several other options was the lack of facilities for NFL locker rooms. The amount of space required for the equipment, medical staff and meeting rooms for the 50 players and requisite staff attached to an American football team is significantly larger than anything that a soccer or rugby team brings with them. Twickenham and Wembley are currently the only venues that can offer all of the things we would require to host a game, and we are in ongoing discussions with their managing companies.”

The NFL’s growing fanbase in the UK – which saw a peak viewership of two million people tune into Super Bowl XXXIX on Sky and ITV combined in February this year – makes the country a likely candidate should the league decide to continue with the experiment in 2006.

“We made a big impact with the New York office with our TV ratings for Super Bowl,” Kirkwood explains. “We had a peak audience in excess of 2 million, and we averaged 800,000 viewers right up to 3:30 am. With an extra 2.5 million people listening to the game on BBC Radio 5, it is clear that we would have absolutely no problems selling out one of the larger stadiums in the UK.

“Our sport’s popularity is clearly on the rise, as further evidenced by the TV ratings for the regular season and playoffs. Although we are still interested in hosting American Bowl preseason games, we feel that a meaningful regular season contest is the next step for the UK. For us to reach or even exceed the heady days of the 1980s, we need to make a big statement like hosting the second ever regular season game outside of the USA. Although our NFL Europe teams no longer have homes here, we think that the number of NFL fans would mean that a regular season game over here would be very popular, and that such a big event would be attended by fans of all sports as well as our hardcore.”

A number of logistical issues need to be resolved before the league can confirm a game in the UK in 2006. Examples include the logistics of flying a team and all their equipment to Europe without disrupting their practice schedule either side of the, time zones, practice facilities and broadcast schedule. The 2006 NFL TV schedule also needs to be examined to see how the game would fit with the FOX, CBS and ESPN broadcasts for the season. Arizona’s game in Mexico City will be an ESPN Sunday night game that will be nationally televised in the US. With the time difference between the UK and America more of a factor, this would be an important consideration for the NFL’s broadcast partners. It is anticipated that the NFLUK office will have resolved the outstanding matters and will be told of the NFL’s final decision by September or October 2005.

Kirkwood also revealed that when the green light for the event is given, the aim would be to attract one of the teams that have a big fanbase in the country, and negotiations with the targeted franchises would need to begin soon.

With strides being taken to help the sport at a grassroots level in Great Britain, it would be no surprise to see a player from the UK competing should the country get to host a game.

“The success that Tony Allen and Jeff Reinebold have had in tagging young, talented players in the country and helping them to improve and go to NFL Europe means that we could see a player like Neil Baxter, Shaun Smith, or Marvin Allen playing once a game arrives on these shores,” he added. “With the chance of more crossover athletes looking to start a career in football in the next few months, hopefully we are not far from having our first British NFL player in years.”

[jjakq27]

Which NFL teams are the most popular ones in the UK?

[Scottishbengal]

The most popular ones are the usual suspects: Redskins, 49ers, Raiders, Cowboys, Packers - well, at least thats the majority of shirts/coats/caps you see.

The Bengals have always been "poor relations" - even in Superbowl years.

[Turi]

Jeff Reinebold is a legend in my eyes. He's come over here and really helped our guys, not only in NFLE but in grass roots football.

Though with the obvious popularity of the sport in Germany I wouldn't be surprised to see fixture there.

I honestly would be well happy to see the 9ers against the Cards in my home country.

[bengalboomer7]

I want to move to Europe so bad. I think if I could get over there I'd never come back!!