NFL has confirmed talks with London about Super Bowl

[Sect309Fan]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/american_football/8016358.stm

The NFL has had 'substantive talks' with officials in London about holding the Super Bowl in the city, a senior league official has told BBC Sport.

While commissioner Roger Goodell has previously admitted an interest in bringing the game to London, this is the first confirmation of discussions.

"We've spoken on what it would take to host and for us to bring it over," said events vice-president Frank Supovitz.

"The city has all the facilities needed, and in great quantity."

....

Mark Waller, NFL Head of Sales and Marketing, said: "The NFL is a global property, has a global audience, and London is an incredible city from a sports fan's perspective. I don't think it's an unrealistic prospect at all."


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I really hate this idea. It is one thing to put regular season games in foreign countries (which is bad enough), but don't take our Super Bowl away! :mad:

[Zephyr]

I don't think Americans will like this, just a hunch.

[Jones31]

We should flood the complaint line.

[Titanico]

I don't like the idea, either.

[wari0]

i just dont see this happening. That doesnt mean it wont but, I cant even imagine it.

[t1tan5]

Nice. It's way less of a hassle for me to fly to London (and probably cheaper) than it is to fly to most places in the States. I'm all for it.

[GoPats]

Does London have a domed or roofed stadium?

And if not, then why does London get a Super Bowl before cold weather U.S. cities with open-air stadiums? Far as I know, February in the UK is not exactly a lovely time of year.

[Nintova]

Why don't we talk to them about a straight up trade for Wimbledon for one season ... see how well THAT goes over. . .

The interest level of fans should be about the same on both sides of the pond.

[Yvette]

My first thought is all about money. Corporate sponsorship is drying up in the USA but what about Great Britain? Will the NFL make more dollars there?

[Titanico]

My first thought is all about money. Corporate sponsorship is drying up in the USA but what about Great Britain? Will the NFL make more dollars there?

Since the Euro is more valuated than the Dollar, I think that's what it's attracting the NFL "McRich ducks", to celebrate games there and now this.

[ZachLV27]

It's not like the average fan goes to the Super Bowl anyways. It really wouldn't change much of anything for 99% of football fans. We'll all still be watching at home on television.

[Nintova]

True enough Zach . Point taken.

[Count Telecky]

I don't like this idea at all. Yes we would still be able to watch it on TV as usual and have our annual superbowl parties same as ever, But I just don't like the idea of taking a Superbowl away from an American city with all the economic boosts that come with hosting one of the premier sporting events in the world, and transferring that economic boost to an overseas country.

[Yvette]

...But I just don't like the idea of taking a Superbowl away from an American city with all the economic boosts that come with hosting one of the premier sporting events in the world, and transferring that economic boost to an overseas country.
I'm with you and yet it still leads back to corporate sponsorship. If there aren't enough sponsors, there won't be an infusion of cash into a local economy.

[t1tan5]

The real and most important question of all is: how will this effect the Pro Bowl?

[Titan723]

I wonder how it would effect kickoff time?

[PBV]

Europe is a great landing spot for the Pro Bowl. It fits the "vacation" theme for the players, the game means squat to the actual season, Europeans have a showcase game of the best players in the game, European fans have a greater shot at seeing players from their favorite teams, and the game could be hyped as more of an olympic style world bowl.

The Superbowl should stay in the USA, without American fans there is no NFL.
We deserve it. Europeans still think football is soccer. If they can commit to calling their game soccer from here on out, than we should consider giving them one Superbowl as a show of solidarity between all football fans worldwide. :ninja

[Titanico]

I wonder how it would effect kickoff time?

:huh

We could have the first Super Bowl played at 11 am then! :lol

[Sect309Fan]

I wonder how it would effect kickoff time?

It would have to move it up. There is a five hour difference between London and Eastern Time and an 8 hour difference between London and Pacific time. I could see a noon kickoff on the West Coast, which would be 8 PM in London. At most, kick it off at 9 PM.

[CodeBlue11]

"The city has all the facilities needed, and in great quantity."

EXCEPT AN NFL TEAM!!!! Do not do this.

[ezgo_n]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,517750,00.html

Nothing personal against England but I can't believe this!! This an American sport & the championship game should be played in the USA! I am sick and tired of all this globalism crap! I am the only one????

edit: i wasn't sure which forum this should be in????

[titansikou]

Although I am a dual citizen, this news does not warm the Anglicized cockles of my heart. I think Count Telecky has it right, the economics of this are bad, especially at this time. My first reaction to this news was similar to Zach's, but there is much more fanfare that goes along with the super bowl that benefits the city.

Anyway, London is **** in February... actually, most of the year weather-wise.

[TitansFan370]

I don't like this idea at all. Yes we would still be able to watch it on TV as usual and have our annual superbowl parties same as ever, But I just don't like the idea of taking a Superbowl away from an American city with all the economic boosts that come with hosting one of the premier sporting events in the world, and transferring that economic boost to an overseas country.

My sentiments EXACTLY!

[don28]

After those two games in England (especially the Dolphins-Giants game), I would think the United Kingdom might show us more than stiff upper lip. :D

[t1tan5]

Europeans still think football is soccer. If they can commit to calling their game soccer from here on out, than we should consider giving them one Superbowl as a show of solidarity between all football fans worldwide. :ninja

To be quite honest, them calling their game "football" makes a hell of a lot more sense than our "football." In our "football," when do we ever touch the ball with our feet? Only place-kickers and punters do.

[t1tan5]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,517750,00.html

Nothing personal against England but I can't believe this!! This an American sport & the championship game should be played in the USA! I am sick and tired of all this globalism crap! I am the only one????

edit: i wasn't sure which forum this should be in????

http://www.titanstailgate.com/forums/showthread.php?p=8331#post8331

[PBV]

To be quite honest, them calling their game "football" makes a hell of a lot more sense than our "football." In our "football," when do we ever touch the ball with our feet? Only place-kickers and punters do.

:ninja I was being silly. :thumbsup

[zonian]

To be quite honest, them calling their game "football" makes a hell of a lot more sense than our "football." In our "football," when do we ever touch the ball with our feet? Only place-kickers and punters do.

Not true!

QUARTERBACKS use their feet to touch the ball as well!

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2277308

[t1tan5]

Not true!

All sorts of players touch the ball with their feet...EVEN QUARTERBACKS!

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2277308

Haha. Ok fine. But if a QB kicking the ball is enough to warrant an article, it says a lot about their "foot" use.

[Count Telecky]

One thing the NFL is not doing is considering a Super Bowl in London. Goodell dismissed a report that "substantive talks" with officials in London were held.

"We have never looked at London or Mexico City as a site," he said.


http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/9494810/Goodell-outlines-possible-17--or-18-game-season?GT1=39002

Goodell is claiming the reports are false. Who is telling the truth?

[kytitansfan1]

It could make for one helluva tailgate party waiting for the Titans to get back to LP field to celebrate their Super Bowl win.

[felloffthewagon]

Someone needs to fire Goodell before he destroys the league.

[ezgo_n]

Sorry...I didn't see this thread when I started another... I was in such disbelief when I read this!!

It just seems that everything that is American is chipped away more and more everyday! Play the Super Bowl overseas, hell...what's next? the world series in Japan? I'm sick of my ATM asking me if I want English or Spanish!

Everything is about $$$$!! There is no national pride!! It's bottom line!!!

[315]

I thought their economy was on the skids just like ours ?????

[TitansFan23]

Great!

Goodell wants to outsource the Super Bowl.

Roger, assume the position. :buttkick

[Titansfan777]

Well he is saying they haven't even talked about it in an ap article I read a few minutes ago

[315]

BULL HOCKY

:bsflag

[nikki32]

Ugghhh....nikki no likey this. I just fake slapped Goodell for everyone. Bam...b*tch went down. In my imagination only. Sadly.

[Volunteers10]

And how is this supposed to help our economy? The NFL is America's game for a reason. They have their own football, we have ours.

[pookha]

It's not like the average fan goes to the Super Bowl anyways. It really wouldn't change much of anything for 99% of football fans. We'll all still be watching at home on television.

but a lot of the fans go to be part of the experience leading up to the game.
there are usually some open parties and other things set up for them.
when the titans made the superbowl a lot of people from here did just that despite the nasty weather in atlanta that week.


i just see this as a nasty smack at fans here.

[Orca]

Orca is opposed. This would be an insult to American football fans.:mad:

[TTP77]

Goodell is denying these talks ever took place.

http://www.profootballtalk.com/2009/04/25/goodell-says-there-are-no-talks-to-play-a-super-bowl-in-london/

[chronbrownie012]

But I just don't like the idea of taking a Superbowl away from an American city with all the economic boosts that come with hosting one of the premier sporting events in the world, and transferring that economic boost to an overseas country.

I would be more sympathetic to this train of thought if they didn't restrict where the super bowl could be by temperature, etc.

Nashville is never going to see this boost so it doesn't pain me that Miami, San Diego, etc. are going to miss out on it for a year. They are already benefiting from something that Nashville will never benefit from.

That being said I don't like it because the super bowl is America's premier sporting event

[Livid13]

This is SUCH a bad idea on so many levels. It IS an insult to the American, NFL fan.

[Sect309Fan]

This is SUCH a bad idea on so many levels. It IS an insult to the American, NFL fan.

So is putting regular season games overseas, but they have been doing that for a few years now. :sad

Goodell is denying these talks took place, but I am pretty skeptical. Hopefully all this outrage will kill the idea anyway.

[Count Telecky]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4130864

Apparently London is really trying to push hard for this and it's easy to see why.

According to the Sunday Telegraph, the Super Bowl could be worth $521.1 million to the London economy, although the newspaper also quotes an unnamed NFL spokesman as saying: "The suggestions about London are only theoretical. There is no bid document."

It almost seems to me that London is pushing these reports hoping for the the NFL to be swayed by public support overseas.

[Jones31]

So when is Goodell renaming the league?