NFL game in Europe

[lacardsfan]

Thank god it is not one of our home games this time, my guess is Bufalo

Germany, UK named finalists to host 2007 NFL regular-season game


NFL.com wire reports



NEW YORK (Jan. 8, 2007) -- San Francisco, Seattle and Miami were among six NFL teams selected as potential home teams for a regular-season game next year in Britain or Germany.

The other teams that could "host" the game are Buffalo, Kansas City and New Orleans. The league also narrowed the sites for the game, eliminating Canada and Mexico for this year.

The opponent for one of the teams will be announced during Super Bowl week, but will not necessarily be one of the five not picked as the home team.

Last October, league owners approved a plan to play annual games in Europe, Canada and Mexico. The league emphasized it would choose the competitors as part of the scheduling process, not by a team decision.

The first regular-season game outside the United States was played in Mexico City in 2005 between the Cardinals and 49ers, drawing a crowd of 103,467 -- the largest for a regular-season game in NFL history.

The site of next season's game is expected to be announced on Jan. 16.

[NJCardFan]

Does the NFL care that this screws a team's season ticket base? Do they really need to expand their fan base? I think the whole idea is plain stupid.

[Northern Soul]

Speaking as someone who will be doing his utmost to get a ticket for the game (It is in London at Wembley or Twickenham - That has already been announced), I think it is a great idea. American Football is miniscule outside the States. Something like this has already raised the profile massively here. Guys I work with who normally refer to it as - those poofs in pads, are actually talking sensibly about the NFL, and 2 even asked if I'd get them tickets so they could 'see what I get so excited about'.

We have been told unofficially that the game will be Dolphins against the Giants.

[Halef]

Obviously, I love the idea and would do almost everything to go see this game if it was played in Germany no matter what teams, but I can totally understand that season ticket holders of the home team would not be too excited about having one less game to go to.

Nevertheless, it would be the most exciting thing for me to go see a "real" NFL game! Of course, we have the NFL Europe, but that is just not comparable...
If it should be played in the UK it would really depend on the date whether I'd be able to go.

Has anything been announced on how to get tickets yet?

[lacardsfan]

At least EuroCard and Northern get a chance to see a live game. If either of you are in Arizona ever hit me up and I will sell you my tix for face value

[Tengeta]

I don't get why they can't just get 2 teams to agree to a exihibition game off regular season games. Maybe add an extra bye week for each season and use that for the game. Then the only sacrifice would be that 2 teams don't get an extra bye week.

[Northern Soul]

We used to get that T. In the preseason games.
The starters would be in for one drive, and that was it. All a bit pointless really, and in the end the crowds dropped massively.
This being a real game makes a massive difference.