Leave the NFL at Wembley as a one-off
Sat in on Tom Brady's press conference in the bowels of Wembley following the NFL game on Sunday, I glanced to my left and recognised a familiar face.
Where do I know that face from? I thought. Have I seen him in the football press boxes of Yorkshire and what's he doing here at an American Football game in London?
Noticing me staring hard at him, the person in question returned the glance.
No hint of recognition on his face but it was bugging me.
I was just about to whisper - Brady was still opining to a packed hall on the Patriots' performance - if he recognised me when it finally twigged who it was and my blushes were saved.
It was Jake Humphrey, of the BBC. I had actually remembered him off the telly from far flung destinations, not the press box at Millmoor as I originally thought.
Not a chance in hell that he would know my face, the same face I had stuffed earlier with free half-time hot dogs.
I tell this story more to paint the picture of the massive appeal of American Football being played on English soil, our hallowed soil for that matter, and a meaningful regular season game to boot.
The media area at Wembley on Sunday was packed, the queue to get into the locker room to interview players was as long as a Josh Johnson hail mary and for the second season running I bypassed the chance to interview a naked nickelback in favour of hearing the coaches thoughts on their sides performance in front of 84,000 'new' fans.
Journalists from Florida, Boston and all across America had descended on our capital for what is now becoming a regular mid-season slot. There were also members of the media from across Europe, eager to catch a glimpse of one of the richest sports in the world out of its comfort zone and on their doorstep.
In Europe, the NFL's International Series is greeted with open arms from lifelong fans of the Packers, Jets and Browns, and members of the media curious to see what it's all about and gauge the merits of its appeal.
Opinion in America is divided as to its impact, with fans of those teams who have to forego a home game particularly against it. The teams themselves have to sacrifice a lot of practice time to criss-cross the Atlantic.
The American media have gone past curiosity and are now merely getting irritated and will be irked further by suggestions that there could be two games played in England next season, or the extension of the regular season from 16 to 18 games to accomodate games abroad, or even a London franchise in future years.
For me, the NFL deserve praise for the bold move to expand their game. It is a gamble that has and continues to pay off.
Expanding that however, could seriously damage its appeal and its relations. Wembley has sold out in each of the three years because there are enough knowledgable American Football fans who want to see a game every year. The stadium is also a big appeal, but even if it were Detroit Lions versus Cleveland Browns, NFL-mad UK and European fans would still flock to the game.
But a second game in the north of England, perhaps Manchester, as has been suggested for next season, would be a step too far. The setting would not be as grand, and indeed would not feel like playing in a Superbowl, as Brady likened Sunday's game to.
Plus the league would be running the risk of exposing the games to fewer fans pouring through the turnstiles. The media attention would also suffer if a rarity becomes the norm.
The NFL has a big market in Germany, Spain and Holland, where the shortlived NFL Europe was a success. Twin games in London and Berlin would work, but overloading one country with games, and testing the strength of a minority sport in one nation, would be a stretch too far.
There are too many pitfalls as well for a London franchise, in the logistics and organisation, particularly with the amount of travelling teams, fans and media would have to do. Would British fans still pay good money to see an English team full of American rejects lose to the Houston Texans each week? No way.
The NFL International Series in London has proved a roaring success and should be kept as it is - a one-off at Wembley, a rare treat for gridiron fans, and an opportunity for the sport to dominate the headlines in Europe for just a few days.
Where do I know that face from? I thought. Have I seen him in the football press boxes of Yorkshire and what's he doing here at an American Football game in London?
Noticing me staring hard at him, the person in question returned the glance.
No hint of recognition on his face but it was bugging me.
I was just about to whisper - Brady was still opining to a packed hall on the Patriots' performance - if he recognised me when it finally twigged who it was and my blushes were saved.
It was Jake Humphrey, of the BBC. I had actually remembered him off the telly from far flung destinations, not the press box at Millmoor as I originally thought.
Not a chance in hell that he would know my face, the same face I had stuffed earlier with free half-time hot dogs.
I tell this story more to paint the picture of the massive appeal of American Football being played on English soil, our hallowed soil for that matter, and a meaningful regular season game to boot.
The media area at Wembley on Sunday was packed, the queue to get into the locker room to interview players was as long as a Josh Johnson hail mary and for the second season running I bypassed the chance to interview a naked nickelback in favour of hearing the coaches thoughts on their sides performance in front of 84,000 'new' fans.
Journalists from Florida, Boston and all across America had descended on our capital for what is now becoming a regular mid-season slot. There were also members of the media from across Europe, eager to catch a glimpse of one of the richest sports in the world out of its comfort zone and on their doorstep.
In Europe, the NFL's International Series is greeted with open arms from lifelong fans of the Packers, Jets and Browns, and members of the media curious to see what it's all about and gauge the merits of its appeal.
Opinion in America is divided as to its impact, with fans of those teams who have to forego a home game particularly against it. The teams themselves have to sacrifice a lot of practice time to criss-cross the Atlantic.
The American media have gone past curiosity and are now merely getting irritated and will be irked further by suggestions that there could be two games played in England next season, or the extension of the regular season from 16 to 18 games to accomodate games abroad, or even a London franchise in future years.
For me, the NFL deserve praise for the bold move to expand their game. It is a gamble that has and continues to pay off.
Expanding that however, could seriously damage its appeal and its relations. Wembley has sold out in each of the three years because there are enough knowledgable American Football fans who want to see a game every year. The stadium is also a big appeal, but even if it were Detroit Lions versus Cleveland Browns, NFL-mad UK and European fans would still flock to the game.
But a second game in the north of England, perhaps Manchester, as has been suggested for next season, would be a step too far. The setting would not be as grand, and indeed would not feel like playing in a Superbowl, as Brady likened Sunday's game to.
Plus the league would be running the risk of exposing the games to fewer fans pouring through the turnstiles. The media attention would also suffer if a rarity becomes the norm.
The NFL has a big market in Germany, Spain and Holland, where the shortlived NFL Europe was a success. Twin games in London and Berlin would work, but overloading one country with games, and testing the strength of a minority sport in one nation, would be a stretch too far.
There are too many pitfalls as well for a London franchise, in the logistics and organisation, particularly with the amount of travelling teams, fans and media would have to do. Would British fans still pay good money to see an English team full of American rejects lose to the Houston Texans each week? No way.
The NFL International Series in London has proved a roaring success and should be kept as it is - a one-off at Wembley, a rare treat for gridiron fans, and an opportunity for the sport to dominate the headlines in Europe for just a few days.
Labels: New England Patriots, NFL, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tom Brady, Wembley Stadium
posted by Nick Westby at 2:32 PM
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