Intl Series 2012

wawaman

According to reports the Intl series game for this year is due to be announced at some point today.

conor222

Apparently its the Rams versus either the Pats or the Jets with most suggestions being that its the Patriots

From STL Post Dispatch

League sources told the Post-Dispatch on Thursday night that the team will play an AFC foe believed to be the New England Patriots during the 2012 regular season in London.
London, of course, is the home of Rams owner Stan Kroenke?s Arsenal soccer team of the English Premier League.
The NFL games in London usually are played around mid-season. And with the exception of this season, when Chicago played Tampa Bay, all of the previous matchups have featured an NFC team vs. an AFC club.
The 2012 game will be a Rams "home" contest, meaning they will play only seven games next season in the Edward Jones Dome.
It is also believed that this could be a multi-year arrangement with the Rams, not unlike the Buffalo Bills playing in Toronto.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in October that he had been talking to several teams about becoming regulars in London to help build an overseas following.
Such a development, Goodell said then, would be "very powerful and lead us to what we ultimately would like to do ? have a franchise here in London."
Tampa Bay, owned by the Glazer family, has played in London two times in the past three seasons. The Glazers also own Manchester United of the Premier League.
The NFL began playing regular-season games in London in 2007, so this will be the sixth such contest played at Wembley Stadium, which seats 82,000.
The NFL has committed to play at least one regular-season contest there through 2016.

jack presley

Doesn't sound too appetising although the Rams should be better next season

poldebruin

The Rams doesn't inspire, but usually the home team (at the intl series) is one that would not mind giving up a home game (due to problems selling out in the US) and I think the games are always inter conference. The Patriots played a couple of years ago, so my vote goes to Rams v Jets.

Can't see myself going over for that particular matchup.

Concannon7

Three years of the Rams. Seems like they have agreed to give up home games in 2013 and 2014 as well.

Dodge

http://www.nfluk.com/opinions/articles/rams-3-year-commitment-uk-0

Patriots @ Rams in October 2012

me-skywalker

Rams... uggghh!!

Would prefer if they gave the game to the Bucs each year.

death1234567

Interesting to see that the Rams have lined up 3 games in London. Their owner owns Arsenal aswell so is he lining up the London Rams playing in the emirates as a possiblity???

mikemac1

Patriots again?

Why not the Jets? Something new.

Utopia Parkway

At least the Rams should be better next season under Fisher although I feel tickets might go slower for this one.

bruschi

Utopia Parkway wrote: »

At least the Rams should be better next season under Fisher although I feel tickets might go slower for this one.

definitley. a 13-3 team against a 2-14 one. I dont think it will get many neutrals interested, and I'm not even particular interested right now and I'm a Pats fan who has been at the last 3 Wembley games.

leggit

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/american_football/16635797.stm

confirmed

mikemac1

Quite a few Rams jerseys last time I was in Wembley

Just like the Bears and Niners, the Rams have a "name" and the older fans remember better times

Dodge

death1234567 wrote: »

Interesting to see that the Rams have lined up 3 games in London. Their owner owns Arsenal aswell so is he lining up the London Rams playing in the emirates as a possiblity???

Their lease in St Louis ends in 2014 aswell apparently...

Concannon7

Last years game wasn't a sell out and with the Rams records this year to go by they might struggle to sell tickets. But they are a team I see improving over the next year or two (couldn't get much worse) so maybe people will take that into account.

jack presley

mikemac1 wrote: »

Quite a few Rams jerseys last time I was in Wembley

Just like the Bears and Niners, the Rams have a "name" and the older fans remember better times

Let's hope they get Eric Dickerson out of retirement then

Eire-Dearg

I like this match up and would be delighted for this to be my first NFL game in the flesh. Always had a soft spot for the Rams and there's no way they can go through the injury problems they had this year. Plus, with a #2 pick in the draft we may get to see Justin Blackmon.

As for those complaining about the Patriots playing again, the NFL will have picked up a bigger fanbase in the UK since they were last in Wembley, even in such a short space of time, so there's a lot of people who wouldn't have been at the original game willing to see them. Beggars can't be choosers tbh.

Galway_mad_bhoy wrote: »

Last years game wasn't a sell out and with the Rams records this year to go by they might struggle to sell tickets. But they are a team I see improving over the next year or two (couldn't get much worse) so maybe people will take that into account.

If it wasn't for the lockout it would've sold out.

jack presley

Like fans of all teams I was hoping to see my Redskins come over at some point. However I Just checked the Rams home schedules and the earliest they could play away against St. Louis is 2016 and that's only if they match their position in the division so at least I know now they won't be getting a game at Wembley in the next 3 years

SantryRed

I think it's a terrible game. Why the Patriots again? Jets @ Rams would have been closer. Can't see anything but a New England blow out already.

me-skywalker

Dodge wrote: »

Their lease in St Louis ends in 2014 aswell apparently...

Hmm... no... they couldnt... could they... 7/8games in London? Logistically I'ld say not a chance! So never.

McG

I'll be skipping this year and I was looking forward to heading over again.

As a Colts fan I have no interest in travelling to London to see the Patriots hammer the Rams (assuming no big surge from the Rams next season).

Dodge

This time last year the Rams were after having a much improved season and went into this season as favourites for the NFC West. People would've be drooling for the up and coming sam Bradford led rams taking on brady and the patriots.

I'm not saying it will be a good game, but the NFl changes quickly lads and I've no doubt the Rams will be better under Fisher. They weren't too far away from being a good team in 2010 and were decimated by injuries in 2011

helimachoptor

McG wrote: »

I'll be skipping this year and I was looking forward to heading over again.

As a Colts fan I have no interest in travelling to London to see the Patriots hammer the Rams (assuming no big surge from the Rams next season).

Only for the fact i'll get a free ticket and a mate works in a hotel there i wouldnt be going to this.

Patriots 42- 7 Rams

jack presley

If anyone wants to plan ahead, the non divisional home opponents for the rams in 2013 are

Saints
Bucks
Jags
Titans
Matching NFC North team

And 2014:

Cowboys
Giants
Raiders
Broncos
Matching NFC North team (again!)

skeleton_boy

Any news on if there'll be a second game next season?

jack presley

skeleton_boy wrote: »

Any news on if there'll be a second game next season?

Definitely not in the UK anyway. The statement said so. I doubt there'll be one anywhere else to be honest (except Buffalo's in Toronto)

helimachoptor

jack presley wrote: »

If anyone wants to plan ahead, the non divisional home opponents for the rams in 2013 are

Saints
Bucks
Jags
Titans
Matching NFC North team

And 2014:

Cowboys
Giants
Raiders
Broncos
Matching NFC North team (again!)

Would love to see the Titans

No_Deal

Lads what's the deal with tickets on this one?

Know Wembley Club members get priority initially but I mean regards general admission.

Is it just a case of first come first served via a release on Ticketmaster or do I have to register my interest somewhere and rely upon a ballot.

Only recently became interested in American Football and would like to head over if not this year, certainly sometime in the next few years.

jack presley

No ballot or registry this year just an open sale. No date announced yet

No_Deal

jack presley wrote: »

No ballot or registry this year just an open sale. No date announced yet

Cheers Jack.

Going on previous years how soon will an announcement be made regards general admission tickets and their actual date of release?

poldebruin

Patriots v Rams - if it was on my doorstep it would be a definite yes as it is still a real, live, counts, football game. But in reality, heading over to London for the weekend to see an uncompetitive blowout - I'll pass.

If it is a 3 year deal with the Rams, it's a real slap in the face for Ram's season ticket holders - you only get to see 8 games per year, and to have 1 taken off you is bad enough.

Also, the Rams will be losing out on a dome/artificial turf game, to play on what is usually a fairly poorly prepared grass surface. That will be a big disadvantage to them.

I much prefer the idea of involving different teams every year, even as a Bronco fan there are loads of matchups that would have interested me.

I don't think the Rams are much of a name tbh. Certainly not in the same (popularity) league as the 49ers, Dolphins, Bears, Cowboys, Giants, Redskins (when are they going to change that?) etc.

wawaman

Apparantely each franchise put forward a case to have the 3 "home" games in wembley. And the Rams were chosen by the NFL themselves. Surely the NFL would know that the Rams wouldn't be as big a draw as say the majority of the other 31 teams. If i lived in St. Louis id be pretty p'd off to be honest

Dodge

wawaman wrote: »

Apparantely each franchise put forward a case to have the 3 "home" games in wembley. And the Rams were chosen by the NFL themselves. Surely the NFL would know that the Rams wouldn't be as big a draw as say the majority of the other 31 teams. If i lived in St. Louis id be pretty p'd off to be honest

Thats clearly not true. Steelers have said they can't play a single 'home game' outside of Heinz field because of thier lease. Bound to be many others. No way Green bay is giving up a home game

Maybe Rams weren't the only ones, but with Kroenke owning Arsenal too, it makes a bit of sense

mikemac1

wawaman wrote: »

Apparantely each franchise put forward a case to have the 3 "home" games in wembley.

No, not the case

What is true though is that all teams will have to take part in the International Series at some stage if asked.

NFL select the teams and it's no coincidence that teams that struggle to sell their stadiums like Bucs, Fins, Niners and now Rams take the home slot.
Green Bay would never ever be asked to give up a home game as said above

And some teams want to be selected. Ravens sell out their games and were lobbying to be picked to be the road team.
It's not going to happen now, they don't play the Rams in the near future

jack presley

Id say what happened is that each team that was interested put forward their case, not every team in the league

Chardee MacDennis

So no second UK game and every UK game will be played in Wembley until 2016. Do you reckon Germany could get a game this season too? From what Art Rooney said it looks like the Steelers are almost definitely a cert for 2013 in Dublin.

spiralism

Pats @ Rams...this not being 2002, very disappointing fare. Wouldn't get out of bed to watch the Pats annihilating them tbh, never mind going to London

Trampas

So Pats get a 9th home game if anything like Pats vs Bucs to go by.

Even if Rams improve I still can't see this not been a blow out

Aiel

BastardPrince wrote: »

So no second UK game and every UK game will be played in Wembley until 2016. Do you reckon Germany could get a game this season too? From what Art Rooney said it looks like the Steelers are almost definitely a cert for 2013 in Dublin.

What did Art Rooney say about Steelers for Croke Park?Could you send me a link for the quotes please?.Did he say it as part of his video interview on Steelers.com which wont play for me on my piece of crap laptop?
Cheers.

Chardee MacDennis

Aiel wrote: »

What did Art Rooney say about Steelers for Croke Park?Could you send me a link for the quotes please?.Did he say it as part of his video interview on Steelers.com which wont play for me on my piece of crap laptop?
Cheers.

From Art

“That’s a possibility, although from what I understand, probably not 2012 as far as Ireland is concerned [..] We may not want to piggy-back on top of that game, [..] If it’s going to be Ireland, it will more likely be 2013.”

bobby wade

Will be the first game I miss. The matchup compared to cost does not appeal to me

me-skywalker

With the Brady and the Pats now a 50/50 chance as SB Winners rolling into town would this not peak your interest? As has been said before Rams record this is a red herring to their ability and with a full compliment and full pre-season could make it a bit competitive.

death1234567

No_Deal wrote: »

Lads what's the deal with tickets on this one?

If previous years are anything to go by it won't be difficult to get tickets. Just sign up on nfluk.com and they'll email you when the tickets are going to be available.

bobby wade

me-skywalker wrote: »

With the Brady and the Pats now a 50/50 chance as SB Winners rolling into town would this not peak your interest? As has been said before Rams record this is a red herring to their ability and with a full compliment and full pre-season could make it a bit competitive.

Honestly no. I don't objest to the Rams coming over & expect them to be better than last season but it's just not a game that I'm willing to spend that much on when i could put it away for a trip to Chicago for my 40th.

Also after seeing the price of tickets for Notre dame game just shows how expensive it is to go see NFL in London

davetherave

Today's planned sale of general admission tickets for the International Series game between the St Louis Rams and New England Patriots at Wembley on October 28 has been temporarily delayed. Please check NFLUK.com at 5pm for further information.

For more information on the Pepsi Max International Series go to http://www.nfluk.com/

From the ticketmaster page.
Bah Humbug!

DBIreland

I'm having problems accessing the NFLUK website, probably crashed due to traffic.

There was talk last week that the Rams lease said they had to play all home games in the Dome, maybe there is a challenge to this game going ahead.

Rick_

Grrr, I was sitting ready with card in hand and all hyped up to buy tickets for the London game... now I have to wait! It will probably get rescheduled until tomorrow at 10am, but if it is a challenge to where the Rams have to play their matches, it could mean they don't go on sale for another while yet!

Please make this mean the Rams can't play at Wembeley and they choose another team to replace them... like the Packers! Will save me a heap of cash being able to see them in London than travelling to America!

Chardee MacDennis

This announced last night: http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/rams/story/2012-02-01/rams-edwards-jones-dome-lease/52923084/1?csp=34sports&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+UsatodaycomNfl-TopStories+%28Sports+-+NFL+-+Top+Stories%29

and now the delay, could they be linked?

ladder62

Very strange development so late in the selling cycle, they've already sold most of the expensive seats at Wembley and you can still buy premium seats online. Its be hard to believe the NFL would allow his happen so close to general sale.

de5p0i1er

If anyone has an extra ticket to this game could you PM me. I'll pay a good price for it.

SantryRed

de5p0i1er wrote: »

If anyone has an extra ticket to this game could you PM me. I'll pay a good price for it.

Tickets aren't even on sale yet