Two games in UK this year

jdivision · 13-12-2009 9:41pm #1

Alistair Kirkwood, NFL UK, just confirmed two NFL games in UK next year, one of which will be interdivisional. You'd have to think one might be the Browns with Randy Lerner and Aston Villa. He said one will be in Wembley, would prefer other one not to be but thinks in the end both will be. Games likely to be confirmed in January

davyjose · 13-12-2009 9:45pm

:rolleyes:

Better not be the Colts.

Pherekydes · 13-12-2009 9:52pm

Two things:

1. The schedule is set for this year and there won't be any more games in the UK.

2. The Browns are bad (very bad) but they won't be paired with Aston Villa.

jdivision · 13-12-2009 9:54pm

The two are confirmed, the schedule is confirmed, the venures are not. This season we got Tampa Bay cos of the Glazers and United, don't think it's a stretch to think that it'll be the Browns cos Lerner owns Villa. As for Villa vs Browns, at least the Browns might win that one (you'd have some doubts though!!)

cruiserweight · 13-12-2009 10:01pm

Would be great if one of the games was in Edinburgh. Doubt if one of the teams would be happy to give up a home game to go to Scotland though.

frostie500 · 13-12-2009 10:02pm

jdivision wrote: »

The two are confirmed, the schedule is confirmed, the venures are not. This season we got Tampa Bay cos of the Glazers and United, don't think it's a stretch to think that it'll be the Browns cos Lerner owns Villa

The Bucs were also a playoff contender last season not the worst team in the NFL that they are now. As a result they had a certain amount of appeal to fans in Europe. If the Browns come they will be one of the three or four worst teams in the league from the previous year which wouldnt do much to sell tickets

Gisty · 13-12-2009 10:10pm

I hope both are in London. Simply because it's easier to get to London, and I have free accomodation there

jdivision · 13-12-2009 10:29pm

Realistically, only game outside of London will be Old Trafford or Millennium Park because they're 75k plus

Gisty · 13-12-2009 11:05pm

I just have to laugh at the guys in the Sky studio even entertaining the thought of a franchise in Europe. Absolute stupidity

RichTea · 13-12-2009 11:08pm

Gisty wrote: »

I just have to laugh at the guys in the Sky studio even entertaining the thought of a franchise in Europe. Absolute stupidity

Would be terrible as well!

TheHeadhunter · 13-12-2009 11:20pm

What about a game in Croker (Dan Rooney connection?)

eagle eye · 13-12-2009 11:46pm

The only team that I could imagine would agree to having a divisional home game abroad is Jacksonville. This is going to cause a lot of controversy.

jdivision · 14-12-2009 12:19am

Croke Park'll be a while, they'll want to see how Navy game goes in 2012 I suspect.

bobby wade · 14-12-2009 12:21am

Is 2 games really a good thing? Might split the crowd & may not sell as well. Not everyone could afford 2 games with the way things are

Chanandler Bong · 14-12-2009 12:29am

bobby wade wrote: »

Is 2 games really a good thing? Might split the crowd & may not sell as well. Not everyone could afford 2 games with the way things are

I still think the aggregate demand would be enough to carry 2 games, especially if 1 is a 49er game with the large fanbase they have over here. Tickets for the games still sell out very quickly so I dont see why they wouldn't try to bring in more revenue

Dodge · 14-12-2009 12:40am

Gisty wrote: »

I just have to laugh at the guys in the Sky studio even entertaining the thought of a franchise in Europe. Absolute stupidity

If it was that stupid the NFL commish would dismiss it every time he's asked abnout it. Something which he hasn't been willing to fo. I don't thinkit'd work, but its obvious the NFL are at least exploring it as an option

As for the teams, look for teams with aging stadiums, or teams looking to force a move and/or stadium rebuild

You can obviously rule out the 6 teams who played here and Buffalo. Maybe even the teams that Buffalo played in Toronto

My guess is the Vikings is one team

Chucky the tree · 14-12-2009 1:39am

Dodge wrote: »

If it was that stupid the NFL commish would dismiss it every time he's asked abnout it. Something which he hasn't been willing to fo. I don't thinkit'd work, but its obvious the NFL are at least exploring it as an option

As for the teams, look for teams with aging stadiums, or teams looking to force a move and/or stadium rebuild

You can obviously rule out the 6 teams who played here and Buffalo. Maybe even the teams that Buffalo played in Toronto

My guess is the Vikings is one team

the problem is all the teams that want to move aren't very good so won't pull a big crowd. Rams, Raiders, bill and Jags are the main teams I've seen linked with a move to LA. The Jags are the only have watchable team. If Eagle eye is right on jacksonville though a Jags and colts match would easily sell out over here.

cooker3 · 14-12-2009 4:12am

eagle eye wrote: »

The only team that I could imagine would agree to having a divisional home game abroad is Jacksonville. This is going to cause a lot of controversy.

Yeah I am very surprised any team would be willing to give up a home divsional game.

Sky guys seem to think the 49ers and Ravens are going be the teams.

Sea Devils · 14-12-2009 10:19am

I wonder if the fact that we played in Mexico against the Cardinals a few years back counts us out. It might have been a road game but still.

Chanandler Bong · 14-12-2009 11:48am

Sea Devils wrote: »

I wonder if the fact that we played in Mexico against the Cardinals a few years back counts us out. It might have been a road game but still.

I wish i could remember the reason Sky gave, but they seemed to think it was going to be SanFran over next year anyway

14-12-2009 2:20pm

Sky guys seem to think the 49ers and Ravens are going be the teams.

Hopefully that would be incredible!!! Can't see myself getting over to Baltimore any time soon...

Dodge · 14-12-2009 8:28pm

cooker3 wrote: »

Yeah I am very surprised any team would be willing to give up a home divsional game.

Its not a divisional game. Its an intra conference game (say afc west team v afc east team)

RichTea · 14-12-2009 11:20pm

Bring the Packers in as an away team. Do it. :cool:

TheHeadhunter · 14-12-2009 11:49pm

According to the BBC & Allister Kirkwood they already have two teams who have coceptually agreed to be the "home" teams. They are just sorting opponents.

BBC - UK Will host two NFL games in 2010

I'd say the "home" team will be any team that has had difficulty selling out its home stadium. the Jaguars, Lions, Raiders, and Cardinals. 49ers also because of large fan base.

davyjose · 15-12-2009 12:00am

TheHeadhunter wrote: »

According to the BBC & Allister Kirkwood they already have two teams who have coceptually agreed to be the "home" teams. They are just sorting opponents.

BBC - UK Will host two NFL games in 2010

I'd say the "home" team will be any team that has had difficulty selling out its home stadium. the Jaguars, Lions, Raiders, and Cardinals. 49ers also because of large fan base.

If the away teams have to agree to it (and aren't just made travel 1'000's of miles for 1 game on a bad surface), then it won't be the Colts.
No way will Polian let the season be disrupted like that.

Dodge · 15-12-2009 12:38am

davyjose wrote: »

If the away teams have to agree to it (and aren't just made travel 1'000's of miles for 1 game on a bad surface), then it won't be the Colts.
No way will Polian let the season be disrupted like that.

Its going to be the colts sooner or later. All clubs agreed to play overseas

tallaghtoutlaws · 15-12-2009 12:45am

Dodge wrote: »

Its going to be the colts sooner or later. All clubs agreed to play overseas

All the GMs and Owners know its a good way to broaden fan base. I agree with Dodge the Colts will eventually make the trip at some point. Sure before last season some Pats fans were adamant the Pats would never do it also.

davyjose · 15-12-2009 1:12am

Fair enough, although the point could be made that New England chose the perfect time to do it. After failing to make the Play-offs, not yet sure about brady's health, and going through a period of transition Defensively. I wouldn't be surprised if BB knew that the Pats wouldn't be strong this year, and decided to get it out of the way before they become (maybe) a powerhouse again.

My point is that i don't see the Colts as one of the two strongest teams in the league taking it on next year. I suspect Polian will anticipate a lull in the Colts fortunes in a few years and go for it then. That's what i think NE did.

Lets be honest, the Pats aren't as good as they were in those couple of games before coming back from England (shades of '07). Coincidence? Maybe. But maybe not.

TheHeadhunter · 15-12-2009 1:53am

Would love to see 49ers v Raiders but doubt they would take that game away from the bay area. Would love to see the Raiders period, but somehow doubt Al Davis has any interest.

helimachoptor · 07-01-2010 2:28pm

jdivision wrote: »

Croke Park'll be a while, they'll want to see how Navy game goes in 2012 I suspect.

Is there going to be a college ball game in 2012?

tallaghtoutlaws · 07-01-2010 2:40pm

helimachoptor wrote: »

Is there going to be a college ball game in 2012?

Yup Notre Dame Vs. Navy in Dublin. Venue to be decided. Both the New Lansdowne and Croker are the options. The NCAA and reps from both colleges looked at both stadiums.

helimachoptor · 07-01-2010 3:08pm

tallaghtoutlaws wrote: »

Yup Notre Dame Vs. Navy in Dublin. Venue to be decided. Both the New Lansdowne and Croker are the options. The NCAA and reps from both colleges looked at both stadiums.

Excellent, appreciate the post tallaght!

Dodge · 07-01-2010 3:35pm

tallaghtoutlaws wrote: »

Yup Notre Dame Vs. Navy in Dublin. Venue to be decided. Both the New Lansdowne and Croker are the options. The NCAA and reps from both colleges looked at both stadiums.

When the game was announced it was to be croke park, but the New lansdowne people have lobbied for it apparently

tallaghtoutlaws · 07-01-2010 3:38pm

Dodge wrote: »

When the game was announced it was to be croke park, but the New lansdowne people have lobbied for it apparently

Yup the NCAA and the teams both toured around the construction site not long ago with reps from the FAI and IRFU.

Keeping their options open it seems. Not a bad idea to go with the smaller stadium just in case they dont sell over 70k seats in croker

ReacherCreature · 07-01-2010 10:47pm

I've heard a few people saying that the 49ers will host the Eagles in a game for Wembley.

Don't take my word for it, I've yet to come across credible sources.

Sea Devils · 07-01-2010 11:17pm

Yeah I keep hearing that as well. Found a BBC article that says it's looking increasingly likely it will happen if reports are to be belieived. Another rumour is the other game would be the Jags/ Redskins.

Makes perfect sense for the Niners considering the large fanbase they would have in the UK as well as the extra 20k seats they would bring in revenue.

ReacherCreature · 07-01-2010 11:25pm

Sea Devils wrote: »

Yeah I keep hearing that as well. Found a BBC article that says it's looking increasingly likely it will happen if reports are to be belieived. Another rumour is the other game would be the Jags/ Redskins.

Makes perfect sense for the Niners considering the large fanbase they would have in the UK as well as the extra 20k seats they would bring in revenue.

San Francisco 49ers will be the home team for one of this year's two NFL games to be held in Britain, according to reports in the United States. The 49ers have strong support in the UK because of their success in the 1980s.
The agreement is being finalised in New York, with the Philadelphia Eagles rumoured to be their opponents.
"If we're going to play in a parking lot or if we're play in London, we're going to play a football game," said 49ers head coach Mike Singletary.

The Santa Rosa Press Democrat newspaper has reported the 49ers are keen to play a 'home' game in London before they move to a new stadium in San Francisco in time for the start of the 2014 season.

The 49ers gained a large following in the UK during the 1980s when they won four Super Bowls at a time when the sport was enjoying great popularity amongst British fans

I don't know if I'll be deadset on going to either game. Niners won would interest me most though.

Two games in UK this year

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