Jags to play as many as 2 games in London each season

[Hookem Horns]

Just saw this reported on local Orlando news. Apparently this is for the next few years starting next season. They said that for sure they are playing 1 however it could be extended to 2 each season. I just hope the Texans don't have to go over there. One, it's bad for the Texans, two I wouldn't get to see them play up there.

I really don't get this whole London thing. They should limit this to preseason games only. Most of those people wouldn't know the difference and it would give the season ticket holders a break from paying full price for preseason tickets.

 

[Showtime100]

Just saw this reported on local Orlando news. Apparently this is for the next few years starting next season. They said that for sure they are playing 1 however it could be extended to 2 each season. I just hope the Texans don't have to go over there. One, it's bad for the Texans, two I wouldn't get to see them play up there.

I really don't get this whole London thing. They should limit this to preseason games only. Most of those people wouldn't know the difference and it would give the season ticket holders a break from paying full price for preseason tickets.

I couldn't agree more. The sentiment is no reflection on the city across the pond, I would LOVE to visit there someday. It's just not a practical idea, IMO. Expansion or relocation to make London an NFL city would be a non-improvement at best, a costly mistake at worst.

 

[BullBlitz]

Just saw this reported on local Orlando news. Apparently this is for the next few years starting next season. They said that for sure they are playing 1 however it could be extended to 2 each season. I just hope the Texans don't have to go over there. One, it's bad for the Texans, two I wouldn't get to see them play up there.

I really don't get this whole London thing. They should limit this to preseason games only. Most of those people wouldn't know the difference and it would give the season ticket holders a break from paying full price for preseason tickets.

It's part the NFL's strategy to expand internationally, and the owners are behind it. They aren't going to dump meaningless practice games on a market that they are trying to capture. Those fans are smart enough to know the difference.

Having a few games in Europe is not going to hurt the U.S. fans.

 

[Hookem Horns]

It's part the NFL's strategy to expand internationally, and the owners are behind it. They aren't going to dump meaningless practice games on a market that they are trying to capture. Those fans are smart enough to know the difference.

They might know the difference but it wouldn't make a difference. Just look at how well the preseason soccer games sell over here. You wouldn't see the EPL having real games in the States or trying to expand over here. That would be just as silly as the NFL trying to expand over there.

Having a few games in Europe is not going to hurt the U.S. fans.

Taking 2 real home games away from a fan base isn't going to hurt them? Try selling that to a Jags season ticket holder who will have to pay full price for 2 preseason games and only get 6 regular season games.

 

[BullBlitz]

I suppose that you are right that the European fans would attend the pre-season games. But if the Jags played two regular season games overseas, don't you think they would lose one home game and one away game? And if they do play two games overseas, one could be against the Texans since they are in the same division.

I wouldn't mind seeing the Texans get some international exposure. Why not?

 

[paycheck71]

They might know the difference but it wouldn't make a difference. Just look at how well the preseason soccer games sell over here. You wouldn't see the EPL having real games in the States or trying to expand over here. That would be just as silly as the NFL trying to expand over there.

EPL actually did entertain the idea of playing one extra game per season for each team, at a neutral location, presumably in a country they want to be more popular in. Don't think it was met with much enthusiasm. Not that I think there should be any more regular season games played in London.

 

[gwallaia]

This is bull$%(. Europe already has their own brand of football. The NFL belongs in America.

I do not like the idea of International NFL at all.

 

[brakos82]

I suppose that you are right that the European fans would attend the pre-season games. But if the Jags played two regular season games overseas, don't you think they would lose one home game and one away game? And if they do play two games overseas, one could be against the Texans since they are in the same division.

I wouldn't mind seeing the Texans get some international exposure. Why not?

IIRC the deal is for 2 home games.

 

[Hookem Horns]

IIRC the deal is for 2 home games.

That's they way I understood it from the report. The Orlando reporter blamed the Jacksonville fans for not buying enough tickets .. however the anchor guy chimed in that it's all about money for the new owner.

As I have brought out before the Jags aren't doing that bad in ticket sales especially compared to the other 2 teams here.

Fortunately the Glaziers announced a couple of weeks ago that they are done with London and will not be returning. That's good news for Bucs fans.

 

[Lucky]

Having a few games in Europe is not going to hurt the U.S. fans.

It's not going to help the NFL, either. You can't grow the game with a couple of pro contests. That has to be done at the grass roots level. As far as I know, American football has not taken off in Europe at the junior level. If and when that happens, the NFL can begin to realize their dream of international markets. Right now, it's a prank.

 

[TheIronDuke]

Hopefully they have some tarps on hand in London to give the Jags more of a home field atmosphere.

 

[b0ng]

Hopefully they have some tarps on hand in London to give the Jags more of a home field atmosphere.

Fans of the NFL in the UK and London are going to go to that game even if it's not a team that they root for. Just like soccer fans here will flock to a Manchester B team friendly vs a US squad. That's not even a game that counts and people still go.

 

[Hervoyel]

It's part the NFL's strategy to expand internationally, and the owners are behind it. They aren't going to dump meaningless practice games on a market that they are trying to capture. Those fans are smart enough to know the difference.

Having a few games in Europe is not going to hurt the U.S. fans.

I disagree. If you're a season ticket holder then it is definitely going to take something you purchased away from you and let the NFL re-sell it to someone else.

 

[Stuttgarter]

Just a couple of points from an English NFL fan. I’m really unsure what benefit it will provide to Jacksonville (or any other NFL side but more so such a young club). Most fans of the NFL in Europe already follow an NFL team. I visited Houston a couple of times for work and took in Houston games both times. Since then I’ve followed the Texans. No matter how many times the Jaguars (or any other side other than the Texans) turn up in England I wouldn’t change my team. Even with the Jaguars designated the ‘home’ team, the concept of the franchise is alien to us and it’s something we don’t want anything to do with. It’s really frowned upon here. Something we don’t understand is allowed to happen in the US. So even if Jacksonville turn up twice a season starting from 2013 I’m not so sure their fan base will increase significantly. And of course, most fans here know that after the four years we may never see them again.

And I can fully understand why a fan of an NFL team looking to play in England would be unhappy about it. I would be too. You really shouldn't be doing that to your loyal fan base...

 

[gtexan02]

If its bad for the Jaguars, its good for us.

 

[Hookem Horns]

If its bad for the Jaguars, its good for us.

Houston Texans at Jacksonville Jaguars 1PM EST (London)

This would not be good for us (or me since I can be in Jacksonville in 2 hours to see the Texans in person)

Just a couple of points from an English NFL fan. I’m really unsure what benefit it will provide to Jacksonville (or any other NFL side but more so such a young club). Most fans of the NFL in Europe already follow an NFL team. I visited Houston a couple of times for work and took in Houston games both times. Since then I’ve followed the Texans. No matter how many times the Jaguars (or any other side other than the Texans) turn up in England I wouldn’t change my team. Even with the Jaguars designated the ‘home’ team, the concept of the franchise is alien to us and it’s something we don’t want anything to do with. It’s really frowned upon here. Something we don’t understand is allowed to happen in the US. So even if Jacksonville turn up twice a season starting from 2013 I’m not so sure their fan base will increase significantly. And of course, most fans here know that after the four years we may never see them again.

And I can fully understand why a fan of an NFL team looking to play in England would be unhappy about it. I would be too. You really shouldn't be doing that to your loyal fan base...

I don't think it's so much about trying to build a fanbase in England for the Jags as it is a "cash grab" for the NFL and the franchise. I just saw that tickets for the Rams vs Patriots game in London are 70 pounds. With the coversion that is around $110. The average Jags ticket is around $70 over here. Also assuming they would sell more tickets over there because it's a 1 (2x) event.

Again I don't get it. They could probably sell a preseason game just as easy as the EPL and La Liga are doing here.