NFL has taken over London in a big way.

[FullMetalFalcon23]

I'm not sure what most of your opinions are on the international games and Goodly''s talk of adding a franchise to London (still can't get my head around that one) but I'd just like to share with you the current state of London.

Football is definitely in town this weekend. I have seen as usual at this time of year. More NFL jersey than english premiere league or rugby tops. There are natives from both san fran and denver all over the place. The 49ers had a rally at Trafalgar square one of London's central land marks. And for the 3rd time u have seen NFL lateral casually wandering around since the international series started. For those wondering the game is again sold out and fans from every NFL fan base are putting in for their cities. Saw at least one jersey for every NFL team including a ja32 in the current throwback. People are having a good time. It is said that the cheering squad from the Birmingham Lions who are going for their 4th consecutive championship and recently signed a contract to host Usain Bolt and the Jamaica squad when they come for the Olympics; have been doing some cheering with the 49ers cheerleader in spots around London.

I admit it would be nice to have our own franchise here in London but only through the tiers of the sport we have here taking the time to develop like how the NFL grew and there being a league here . We are currently sending some of our finest young national players to 1aa colleges as well as junior colleges and some of the younger ones to high school. So who knows maybe in 20 year this will be a reality.
Any how just want to apologise if there any typing errors as my ft and I just finished a six course moroccan and Lebanese feast with a lot of alcohol and some outrageously busty and jiggly belly dancers. So I am a bit worse for wear. Hope all is well in Falcon land catch you guys soon. Can't wait to put the bucs 6 feet under next weekend.

[RnB]

Its awesome to hear that fans abroad are representing. Internationally, fans who follow Soccer/Football closely are the most dedicated you will find. Its great to hear some of that fandom is bleeding over to the NFL. I know there are a lot of people overseas who watch the NFL but getting affirmation from a knowledgable source really puts a stamp on it.

How casually do most people in the UK follow the NFL when there isnt a game being put on over there? Roughly how many games are broadcasted per season in the UK (Sky Sports or ESPN Intl are extra fees I believe)?

[TankWorkman]

UK Fans are welcome.
Screwing Americans out of home games and making them pay for the home game that they missed is wrong.

[FullMetalFalcon23]

Well my team used to watch the games in our bar we had multiple screens. And the game mvp would pick the game that went on our wall sized screen. I managed to get 3 falcons games on that bad boy in the last season I played for them. A hello of a lot of people watch the superbowl we charged 5 quid a ticket and from that alone funded new kit and from the extras we got enough for y posts. Uni screwed us though and absorbed the money back into the sports fund as part of the unis not for profit policy.

The bowl is also televised by the BBC our number one broadcaster for free. But for regular season its on sky or virgin or by media as part of the sports package. If you have the desire for college sport you can watch on ESPN for extra. Until I moved to an area sky didn't cover I watched all the games I could at home when once I left the team bar.

The population of England million that is a big base I can't fathom how many people are avid watchers from that. But the fact that the UK is the only country in Europe with football available from pop warner age to a 21 and up level. A dedicated university team structure and the presence of the NFL through nfluk suggests its pretty big. My club gets a lot perks from the NFL. We have auctioned off helmets from the saints charges Falcons. We are the Falcons by name actually. We even sent a letter to Mr. Blank asking for a donation of kit we could use when we were struggling and we got that and some signed tops from players that were auctioned. I remember there was an ovie jersey and a crumpler there too.

It's heading in the direction where it will be another sport in the UK. It will never take over from soccer but it has a very wide niche neither soccer or rugby can fulfil in my opinion. And this is coming from someone who played in youth teams of an epl club and played cricket for Kent county and rugby for one of the most historical London schools. Hell it was even popular then. We used to play with an NFL ball on our concrete when it was to wet to go on our game fields in break time. You can imagine there were a few ugly accidents. But I grew up in a generation who love the game. And 24 I do not know what I would have done without football and the NFL in my life. It played a big role in a difficult time for me.

[The Falcon Jedi]

(10-30-2010 05:46 PM)TankWorkman Wrote:  UK Fans are welcome.
Screwing Americans out of home games and making them pay for the home game that they missed is wrong.

^^^^ that

I dont have a problem with playing games in London - BUT LET THEM PLAY WITH THEIR OWN TEAM! Sending 2 American teams to London is ripping off the fans.

[USAF HART]

I was actually blessed with the chance to go to the first ever regular season game played at Wimbley Stadium 3 years ago(Giants vs Dolphins). I got to go to the pre-game ceremonies and everything. The gigantic Jason Taylor robot that they had that year was awesome. The game on the other hand was not so good. It being a football pitch(european term, that I am sure UK will enjoy reading) was not prepared enough to handle the wear and tear of 350 lb linemen digging in deep to do their job. So by the second quarter large chunks of the grass were coming up, making things difficult. On top of that, they kept the retractable roof open and it rained a bit during the game so that didn't help matters.

I know a letter was sent out, and it told anyone attending the game to wear your favorite teams gear there. So like UK said, there was every representation of teams there. I really enjoyed it as it was actually my first ever NFL football game. It was kind of hard to cheer though, and it seemed like that for alot of people in the stadium. I think it was a mix between people not understanding the game and/or people not cheering because they didn't care.

I met a couple of Falcons fans that were English so that was pretty fun talking to them about our Falcons. Overall a really good time, and I can only imagine the more the NFL puts games over there, the more it will catch on. I don't mean to disrespect London or UK at all, but it would be a slap in the face to the fans in America to put a team over there. Just keep doing what they are doing now. Put a game over there for a game during the season. Just 1 game though, and NOT a playoff game OR superbowl(which was rumored to be in discussion). The rotation they have going now is just fine.

[The Falcon Jedi]

And we have a true "Clash of the Titans" game for London Fans this week LOL!

Broncos vs. 49ers! Midget wrestling at it's finest...

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Somewhere, Roger Goodell is fuming over this schedule'd matchup for London. Every game played in London so far has featured 2 of the worst NFL teams. Not a good way to Market the NFL overseas...

[USAF HART]

(10-30-2010 05:57 PM)The Falcon Jedi Wrote:  ^^^^ that

I dont have a problem with playing games in London - BUT LET THEM PLAY WITH THEIR OWN TEAM! Sending 2 American teams to London is ripping off the fans.

The only problem I see with them getting their own team, is if that was going to be such a good idea, then why did NFL Europe flop? I mean, clearly the 1 game a year generates enough revenue for them and excites everyone, but you have to think about it. They(Europeans) don't share the same passion in numbers for the NFL. Putting a team over there would just start the inevitable. They would lose money because it will become an every day thing to them and not a once a year thing. Think of it as the state fair. If it were there for 5 months every weekend, you would get tired of going. Where as, if it comes once a year, you count down to the days, and you are excited to go.

[FullMetalFalcon23]

(10-30-2010 05:46 PM)TankWorkman Wrote:  UK Fans are welcome.
Screwing Americans out of home games and making them pay for the home game that they missed is wrong.

I agree with you. Season ticket holders seem to get a shitty deal. Yes they can cone to London and watch the game but there us an expense not every fan can afford. I would have thought the fee for that game would be waived. But through talking to fans that have travelled to the games here it seems like there is double charging where domestic fans are getting a raw deal. There is no seat in Wembley that could be considered a nose bleed seat it is ridiculous hoe good that stadium is. For the worst seats in the house the charge is around 60 quid which is around about 85 USD or so. The NFL brings it in from that game there is no need to charge a fan that can not get to that game. Food as well I still reckon they get a cut from for the home team. Now Wembley its about 8 quid for a basic burger so we're looking at a pretty steep in take in food and merchandise. My friend spent 35 quid on one of those authentic caps and jersey prices were astronomical. But this is another in which the league is damaging its rapport with its core and native fan base. And as much ad I want football the best experience for me as a fan is to come home to the dome and watch the birds in flight in the place where its all real and not pagentry.

[The Falcon Jedi]

(10-30-2010 06:20 PM)USAF HART Wrote:  The only problem I see with them getting their own team, is if that was going to be such a good idea, then why did NFL Europe flop? I mean, clearly the 1 game a year generates enough revenue for them and excites everyone, but you have to think about it. They(Europeans) don't share the same passion in numbers for the NFL. Putting a team over there would just start the inevitable. They would lose money because it will become an every day thing to them and not a once a year thing. Think of it as the state fair. If it were there for 5 months every weekend, you would get tired of going. Where as, if it comes once a year, you count down to the days, and you are excited to go.

NFL Europe flopped because the *star* level wasnt there. THe NFL has widely recognized teams and stars so with *Real* NFL teams and Players playing there it would work.