NFL owners approve two international games

[TexanSam]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200....ap/index.html

NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- Two NFL regular-season games will be played each year outside the United States in Mexico, Canada and Europe, starting in 2007.

The plan, first announced last month, was approved Tuesday at the recommendation of new commissioner Roger Goodell.

No specific sites were given for the games. But when the proposal originally was disclosed, the league suggested that Britain and Germany likely would host the European games.

The plan would be set up so that teams would rotate over a 16-year period, with each team playing outside the country twice over that span, once as a visitor, the other as a home team. That means a team would lose one home game during that span.

Losing the home-game revenue was the main objection raised by some teams.

"We're going to get compensated," said Pat Bowlen, owner of the Denver Broncos. "Obviously the league's going to work out the economics and if we lose a home game, we'll get compensated.

"We're comfortable with it. Obviously we'd like to play in Mexico or Canada and not have to travel to Europe and that's probably the way it would be set up because of our location. But as far as the league's concerned, I think it's a great idea."

In 2005, the NFL staged its first regular-season game outside the United States when the Arizona Cardinals hosted the San Francisco 49ers in Mexico City. A crowd of 103,467 flocked to Azteca Stadium, the largest crowd for a regular-season game in NFL history.

The league also has played numerous exhibition games overseas for the past two decades. The New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks will play a preseason game next August in Beijing.

"This step comes in response to the tremendous and growing interest in the NFL around the world. The owners believe that hosting regular-season games outside the United States on a regular basis is in the best interests of the league and will help to increase the fan base, build awareness of the NFL and grow the sport worldwide," Goodell said.

Mark Waller, senior vice president of NFL International, said last month the league believes fans in a number of countries are now ready for the real thing. NFL games regularly have been televised live in Mexico and Canada and more recently in Europe, notably Britain.

"The preseason games and American Bowl games have worked well to introduce fans to the game," Waller said. "Once fans have gotten to know it and understand it, they are very aware that the regular season, playoffs and Super Bowl are the real thing."

That sucks. I don't want to miss a Texans game because they're playing in Mexico City or Toronto or anywhere else. I can see this being done with baseball or basketball because they're so many home games, but we only have 8 homes games per year in the NFL and I don't really want to lose one just to have it more widely known internationally. Preseason games I'd be fine with, but I don't like the idea of regular season games in another country, even if it's only twice during a 16 year span.

[TexansLucky13]

Originally Posted by TexanSam

That sucks. I don't want to miss a Texans game because they're playing in Mexico City or Toronto or anywhere else. I can see this being done with baseball or basketball because they're so many home games, but we only have 8 homes games per year in the NFL and I don't really want to lose one just to have it more widely known internationally. Preseason games I'd be fine with, but I don't like the idea of regular season games in another country, even if it's only twice during a 16 year span.

Completely agreed. This is ridiculous! I want my Texans "home" games to be at home!

[powerfuldragon]

They'll try it for a little while before they realize how impractical it is to fly a team overseas for one weekend.

[gwallaia]

Alright, but they have to start playing regular season Canadian football games here in America.

[TexansLucky13]

Originally Posted by gwallaia

Alright, but they have to start playing regular season Canadian football games here in America.

We all want to see how Ricky Williams is performing!

[TexanSam]

Originally Posted by gwallaia

Alright, but they have to start playing regular season Canadian football games here in America.

And they have to have English Premier League soccer in the United States. If we're going to have our best football played in Europe for one game, we have to have their best football in the United States for one game. Fair is fair.

[Maddict5]

i think its a great idea....and before you ask, yes i am from europe

[profan]

Well, my next year maybe we can make up that lost home game with a home playoff game. Wish the owners would have eliminated a preseaon game or two.

[TD]

Originally Posted by Elle

It should be an away game for both teams so that home games are intact AND it has to be aired nationwide. Fair is fair.

I don't think that's possible. Somebody would have to lose a home game.

[edo783]

I didn't catch it all, but on the NFL channel they said something was under consideration for like 3 games in the UK or possibel 7 in Germany??? I could see a game or 2 in Europe, but that's about it. I would go to London ( theNew Wembley stadium would be great) for one or Berlin/Munich, because I go on buisness to those places, but I doubt many from the US would go.

[SheTexan]

Originally Posted by TexanSam

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200....ap/index.html



That sucks. I don't want to miss a Texans game because they're playing in Mexico City or Toronto or anywhere else. I can see this being done with baseball or basketball because they're so many home games, but we only have 8 homes games per year in the NFL and I don't really want to lose one just to have it more widely known internationally. Preseason games I'd be fine with, but I don't like the idea of regular season games in another country, even if it's only twice during a 16 year span.

Me either!! I knew this was coming and I hate it!! It's like stabbing hard working, diehard football fans in the back for being loyal and supportive of OUR teams!! SOME of us work our butts off taking on extra hours, working 2-3 jobs, just to pay for our chosen entertainment from Aug to Jan!! I don't want ONE of my games taken away from me!!! That's a fact!! This is all about putting MONEY in the pockets of NFL owers, not because they want to broaden the interest in football in other countries. They are putting the screws to the fans who have made NFL football what it is today! JMO!!

[hot pickle]

i think the NFL will send the two teams that have the worst home attendance, cause if they send a team that sells out everygame, they will lose money, but i dunno, its good for fan base, but sucks for home team fans

[gwallaia]

This is all a pre-cursor for NFL expansion into other countries.

[texansfanquecaneh]

Originally Posted by TexanSam

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200....ap/index.html



That sucks. I don't want to miss a Texans game because they're playing in Mexico City or Toronto or anywhere else. I can see this being done with baseball or basketball because they're so many home games, but we only have 8 homes games per year in the NFL and I don't really want to lose one just to have it more widely known internationally. Preseason games I'd be fine with, but I don't like the idea of regular season games in another country, even if it's only twice during a 16 year span.

As a Canadian, I would love to see the Texans in person. On the other hand, if they were to play a game in Toronto, I would feel like I'm taking somebody's belongings for myself. I wouldn't feel right about it. Someday, I'll take my son to Houston for a game (when he's older). That way I'm not taking from the rightful owner. Also, the ambiance would be much different if it would be a ¨neutral¨site.
Plus, if they will do this; the game has to be at a neutral site. The obvious choice in Canada would be Toronto, but that means Buffalo should not be allowed to play there, because it would be an extra home game for them. They have too many (arrogant) fans there. Good thing their fan base is not Canada wide. But there aren't that many other stadiums to choose from. I only see Vancouver, Edmonton and maybe Montreal (the CFL team doesn't even use Olympic Stadium).
I like NFL football more than any other sport, but I believe there are more deserving places to host NFL games than up here in Canada.

[V Man]

On the bright side, I know I will get to see at least 2 Texans games here in San Antonio.:brickwall

[Double Barrel]

Originally Posted by TexanSam

That sucks. I don't want to miss a Texans game because they're playing in Mexico City or Toronto or anywhere else. I can see this being done with baseball or basketball because they're so many home games, but we only have 8 homes games per year in the NFL and I don't really want to lose one just to have it more widely known internationally. Preseason games I'd be fine with, but I don't like the idea of regular season games in another country, even if it's only twice during a 16 year span.

I agree completely.

And I have to wonder if the 9 game season ticket holders will be paying full price, too. I'd lead a fan revolt if our Texans played a home game on the road and we had to pay full price for an entire season ticket package.

If the NFL expands beyond 32 teams, the talent pool will continue to be diluted, and the product will suffer. I can see a point where the league gets too big and they shoot the golden goose.

[mexican_texan]

Originally Posted by Double Barrel

I agree completely.

And I have to wonder if the 9 game season ticket holders will be paying full price, too. I'd lead a fan revolt if our Texans played a home game on the road and we had to pay full price for an entire season ticket package.

If the NFL expands beyond 32 teams, the talent pool will continue to be diluted, and the product will suffer. I can see a point where the league gets too big and they shoot the golden goose.

What if they give you plane tickets, room and board, and...a foam finger?

[Double Barrel]

Originally Posted by mexican_texan

What if they give you plane tickets, room and board, and...a foam finger?

I'm on it! The foam finger seals the deal.

[hobie]

Relax people, the Texans are no where good enough to be one of those teams going overseas, Mexico maybe. Look for Dallas, NY, or Indy, as they are world known teams, sending Houston would not mean much to the sales of gear.

Now I would be a little pissed as well if they took a home game away from whatever team it was that goes and still charged me, then again, it is nuts they charge full price for a pre season game when the players are 3rd-4th stringers playing. Not fair to charge the same price for a watered down product that most guys wont be in the league after camp anyways..

Oh well, just be happy Houston won't be going...

[Cjeremy635]

I don't know if anyone has considered this or not, but isn't there a lower average income in Mexico? To say the the "fans" there are going to spend the same cost that we spend on ticket prices would be a little far fetched IMHO. Maybe they are banking on the huge amounts of people that would show up to offset that price. I don't know, let's do a comparison for a moment:

Reliant stadium: 70,000 fans +/- @ $50.00 avg. ticket = 3.5 million dollars.

Stadium in Mexico: 100,000 fans +/- @ $25.00 avg. ticket =2.5 million dollars.

I'd stay home in Houston and give it to the "true fans". Maybe they are expecting this to turn into a huge world wide sport and line their pockets more. I think it would be a huge distraction and disadvantage for a team to travel to another country on a 17 hour flight to play a game and turn around and come home, get past the jet lag, and get ready for another road game. Totally unfair IMHO.