The NFL in London is a MASSIVE MISTAKE!

[Fricke-on-Fox]

The NFL should not be in London this week.

The Saints and Chargers should be in New Orleans playing a critical game for both clubs as they seek to stay in the playoff hunt.

This move by the NFL isn't just an overreach or a money grab - it is a massive mistake.

Yes we are in a brave new world of global sports expansion and the mega-bucks that go along with reaching out to new markets. The NBA has flourished in that. The NHL just played regular season games in Europe, MLB has played regular season games in Japan, NASCAR has run points events overseas, college football has played regular season games in Japan, etc.

And I stand in disagreement with all of that.

While some sports are truly global. Golf, Tennis, some auto racing. American team sports can be global WITHOUT interfering with the course of the competition for the title.

These leagues - and while I include all of them I will stay on the NFL for now - desire to play games overseas and to expand their marketing to new fans bases. I understand and applaud that. I have no issue with marketing to new countries.

I have an issue with regular season games being played outside the USA.

The NFL has done this before, but sending the Cowboys to Mexico is one thing. San Diego to London?

The Saints are getting shortchanged by losing a home game. A critical home game.

The Chargers are getting shortchanged because they went to Buffalo and now go to England and then fly halfway 'round the globe to get back home.

If this were a pre-season exhibition game I would have no problem with it. And that's the key point.

Let's put this into perspective. Let's say that the Premier League in England (their big NFL like soccer league) wanted to showcase their big teams over stateside (which they have many times).

Sending Manchester United and Liverpool to Los Angeles to play is OK by me. But let's get to the root of this.

If that game between Man U and Liverpool were NOT a regular season game - if it was only a 'friendly' (the Euro-PC term for exhibition) would it make any difference?

Would the fans in LA say "nope! not gonna go see it now! it won't impact the race to the FA cup!"

Yes there is some concern that when NFL teams go overseas the stars sit out because it's not a game that counts. The league wants to showcase the best players and it can only force that by forcing a key game to be played at a key time.

There's your issue. Forcing a key game at a key time to be played in London because the league is more interested in forcing American football into a new marketing spot than it is in the competition for the Super Bowl.

The NFL has placed marketing to fans in Europe ahead of the expectations of American fans (and most notably fans of the teams involved) of an even and level battle for a spot in the Super Bowl.

There is no other way to say it.

Because that is what is taking place right now. Showing off for Euro's is the more important factor in choosing where this game was to be played. It was the key issue.

Not the playoff chase for two teams that were obviously going to be involved in that chase in the middle of the season.

This is a major disservice to the fans of those teams.

The NFL was wrong to do this. I hope they alter this for the future. You want to send two clubs for exhibition play, fine.

You want star players? Here's your answer. SEND THE PRO BOWL TO EUROPE! You'll get stars aplenty!

The box score from this week's game needs to include a 3rd column that says "NFL fumbles 1, fumbles lost 1"

[GoChargers]

I will speak for my team...

This is disgusting!

not bad enough we have to go to Miami.. and go to Buffalo and travel 6,000 miles (and then play like turds)

but to have to do another 10,000 plus?

while New York and Washington go 150?

[freakfan]

I was po'd when the 'boys went to cuidad de mexico

the Saints ought to be the ones who are mad... but.. they agreed to it. I wouldn't if I owned a team...

no way I give up a home game. and if I am the mayor of New Orleans I am more than a little po'd too... how much revenue does that city lose!!! just when it needs it

[HoosierTJ]

i can't stand this stuff either. the nba wants to put a division in europe A DIVISION!!!

have to say I am really surprised baseball does not have a franchise in mexico.

i like the pro bowl idea... let's move that thing around every year. why not. take it to london and then paris, etc. good call!

[BugskerJeff]

I think it's a crappy deal for all reasons mentioned above.

The thing that really sucks is if you're a season ticket holder or fan who wants to see your team play in person. This is one less opportunity for it to happen, unless you've got lots of money.

Greed. One of the seven deadly sins.

[freakfan]

Originally Posted by BugskerJeff

I think it's a crappy deal for all reasons mentioned above.

The thing that really sucks is if you're a season ticket holder or fan who wants to see your team play in person. This is one less opportunity for it to happen, unless you've got lots of money.

Greed. One of the seven deadly sins.

bingo! good post.

heck let's move the Super Bowl outside of the US. did they mention that at some point???

[Fricke-on-Fox]

Originally Posted by BugskerJeff

I think it's a crappy deal for all reasons mentioned above.

The thing that really sucks is if you're a season ticket holder or fan who wants to see your team play in person. This is one less opportunity for it to happen, unless you've got lots of money.

Greed. One of the seven deadly sins.

yep jeff. all this is isn't it. and you're right I would be very miffed if this were my team and we lost a home game... for a lot of reasons.

1 - i am cheated out of a game as a fan and i want all 8 reg season games at a minimum

2 - my team is put at a disadvantage over every other team in the league

3 - the point about new orleans losing revenue is a good one too

a lot to dislike about this

[PewterPower]

So much for the NFL's feel-good, post-Katrina vibes with the Saints.
"Hey, Saints fans! You're team's back's against the wall! They need your support more than ever! Well, then buy a ticket to London in the middle of an economic meltdown and have at it! Oh, and here's a one-fingered salute for you!".

In times like these, these leagues should be worried about shoring things up at home, when many fans are less worried about personal seat licenses and more worried about car payments, mortgages and, oh, I don’t know, food
The NBA should be more concerned with things like the fact that it let one of its own carpetbag a franchise out of town, dripping ooze and sleaze all the way to Oklahoma.
The NFL should be concerned that it's becoming the sport of Joe 1787 Chateau Lafite instead of Joe Six-Pack.
The MLB is also in that direction and should be concerned that it's failed so badly at promoting its own sport that what should be as a potentially great World Series between Philadelphia and Tampa Bay is viewed as a failure because it doesn't have a team from LA, New York, Chicago or Boston.
And the NHL should be concerned that it is now less relevant than televised poker. It should also be concerned that Gary Bettman is still around to help keep it that way.

[Fricke-on-Fox]

Originally Posted by PewterPower

So much for the NFL's feel-good, post-Katrina vibes with the Saints.
"Hey, Saints fans! You're team's back's against the wall! They need your support more than ever! Well, then buy a ticket to London in the middle of an economic meltdown and have at it! Oh, and here's a one-fingered salute for you!".

In times like these, these leagues should be worried about shoring things up at home, when many fans are less worried about personal seat licenses and more worried about car payments, mortgages and, oh, I don’t know, food
The NBA should be more concerned with things like the fact that it let one of its own carpetbag a franchise out of town, dripping ooze and sleaze all the way to Oklahoma.
The NFL should be concerned that it's becoming the sport of Joe 1787 Chateau Lafite instead of Joe Six-Pack.
The MLB is also in that direction and should be concerned that it's failed so badly at promoting its own sport that what should be as a potentially great World Series between Philadelphia and Tampa Bay is viewed as a failure because it doesn't have a team from LA, New York, Chicago or Boston.
And the NHL should be concerned that it is now less relevant than televised poker. It should also be concerned that Gary Bettman is still around to help keep it that way.

bettman has been a tremendous disappointment (heck sean avery was right when he called him out)

the nfl is the only league of the major ones in the US to not have a franchise outside the US (but that's changing now.. with the Bills playing part of the season in Toronto coming up)

[huskermedic]

If the game was scheduled from the start and everybody knew about it then fine. But to just change it in mid season that is wrong. Do the season ticket holders get there money back?