Putting London on the Map: Super Bowl Coming to Wembley?
Oct 17th, 2007, 06:35 AM
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Putting London on the Map: Super Bowl Coming to Wembley?
In news that will rock the English sporting circles, the world's most popular annual sporting event may well come to London's Wembley Stadium, according to NFL (National Real Football League) commissioner Roger Goodell.
"There's a great deal of interest in holding a Super Bowl in London," Goodell told reporters Monday, "so we'll be looking at that"
The NFL commissioner went on to say that he thought London's new Wembley Stadium would make 'a great candidate for pro football's most important matchup. Goodell said "that Europe would be a great candidate given the enthusiasm overseas for the game."
This enthusiasm in England was shown when tikcet sales for the first NFL regular season game (Oct 28 at Wembley between the Miami Dolphins and New York Giants) went thru the roof as it took just 90 minutes to sell the first 40,000 ducats for the tilt. Goodell said event managers have sold an incredible 95,000 tickets in all - meaning that the match will attract more spectators than any British soccer match in 2007.
(I didn't think the new Wembley even held 95,000 - must include SRO tickets i guess)
Anyway due to the growing English passion for American football means that London may well in the next decade or so host the vaunted Super Bowl, finally putting London on the sports world map.
Local reaction ranged from estactic to disbelieving that such an event would come to Wembley. David West, a typical overpaid and underworked government bueraucrat summed it up for many: "Holy xxxx, it's all our dream that real football comes to London not only next week but the Super Bowl - it will give London a much needed boost. Thank God that Ken Livingstone is being so proactive in boosting his city - thank you Ken."
Others will a bit more demure but still wildly enthusiastic. Fred Waring said "he just scored tickets for next week's Wembley match on e-bay for 500 quid and it would be worth every pence and can't wait for the Super Bowl." Michael Flanner of the former Cotswold wool town of Naunton could not keep his amazement hidden - "I'm not a proper sports fan and mainly look at the bottom line - the way they sold those tickets for next week's Wembley match was amazing - I can see a proper NFL franchise in Wembley and eventually a minor league throughout the U.K., probably supplanting soccer teams and taking over the stadia and fan base."
Pat of London however sounded a more sober note "We'll see, we'll see but there is light at the end of the tunnel."
So if the Super Bowl comes to London will Americans flock there for it, bringing in much needed tourists dollars (Red Ken: brilliant) and what do other locals think of it all.)
"There's a great deal of interest in holding a Super Bowl in London," Goodell told reporters Monday, "so we'll be looking at that"
The NFL commissioner went on to say that he thought London's new Wembley Stadium would make 'a great candidate for pro football's most important matchup. Goodell said "that Europe would be a great candidate given the enthusiasm overseas for the game."
This enthusiasm in England was shown when tikcet sales for the first NFL regular season game (Oct 28 at Wembley between the Miami Dolphins and New York Giants) went thru the roof as it took just 90 minutes to sell the first 40,000 ducats for the tilt. Goodell said event managers have sold an incredible 95,000 tickets in all - meaning that the match will attract more spectators than any British soccer match in 2007.
(I didn't think the new Wembley even held 95,000 - must include SRO tickets i guess)
Anyway due to the growing English passion for American football means that London may well in the next decade or so host the vaunted Super Bowl, finally putting London on the sports world map.
Local reaction ranged from estactic to disbelieving that such an event would come to Wembley. David West, a typical overpaid and underworked government bueraucrat summed it up for many: "Holy xxxx, it's all our dream that real football comes to London not only next week but the Super Bowl - it will give London a much needed boost. Thank God that Ken Livingstone is being so proactive in boosting his city - thank you Ken."
Others will a bit more demure but still wildly enthusiastic. Fred Waring said "he just scored tickets for next week's Wembley match on e-bay for 500 quid and it would be worth every pence and can't wait for the Super Bowl." Michael Flanner of the former Cotswold wool town of Naunton could not keep his amazement hidden - "I'm not a proper sports fan and mainly look at the bottom line - the way they sold those tickets for next week's Wembley match was amazing - I can see a proper NFL franchise in Wembley and eventually a minor league throughout the U.K., probably supplanting soccer teams and taking over the stadia and fan base."
Pat of London however sounded a more sober note "We'll see, we'll see but there is light at the end of the tunnel."
So if the Super Bowl comes to London will Americans flock there for it, bringing in much needed tourists dollars (Red Ken: brilliant) and what do other locals think of it all.)
Oct 17th, 2007, 08:35 AM
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the new stadium in Dallas holds 100,000 for special events, and is conveniently located in a place that gives a *#$@ about the game. I would think that would be a better solution.
I don't think too many Brits are going to be queueing up to watch the Super Bowl at eight AM.
I don't think too many Brits are going to be queueing up to watch the Super Bowl at eight AM.
Oct 17th, 2007, 08:43 AM
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<<the new stadium in Dallas holds 100,000 for special events, and is conveniently located in a place that gives a *#$@ about the game. I would think that would be a better solution.>>
actually, fnarf999, the new stadium in Dallas (re: Arlington, TX) won't open until 2001. The curren stadium, Texas Stadium, only holds 65,595 persons for football games. I believe Dallas did win the Superbowl for 2011 or 2012.
actually, fnarf999, the new stadium in Dallas (re: Arlington, TX) won't open until 2001. The curren stadium, Texas Stadium, only holds 65,595 persons for football games. I believe Dallas did win the Superbowl for 2011 or 2012.
Oct 17th, 2007, 09:45 AM
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Can London just take a US holiday? What about Budweiser?
Well, it won't happen anytime soon.
XLII, Glendale, Ariz. -- Feb. 3, 2008
XLIII, Tampa, Fla. -- Feb. 1, 2009
XLIV, South Florida 2010
XLV Dallas 2011
Well, it won't happen anytime soon.
XLII, Glendale, Ariz. -- Feb. 3, 2008
XLIII, Tampa, Fla. -- Feb. 1, 2009
XLIV, South Florida 2010
XLV Dallas 2011
Oct 17th, 2007, 10:09 AM
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To get it on Prime Time in the US they'd have to start playing at midnight.
I can't see the council or the locals allowing that plus of course they'll be no public transport that early on a Monday morning
I can't see the council or the locals allowing that plus of course they'll be no public transport that early on a Monday morning
Oct 18th, 2007, 06:57 AM
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Brits here retort that the behemoth lineman could not run up and down the field more than a few yards without getting fatigued - no doubt partly true
but let's turn it around - take your typically wimpy soccer player and put him on the front line to block out an opposing 350 pound all muscle guy trying to knock him on his ass
where soccer guy would be flatten and become part of the field markings
but let's turn it around - take your typically wimpy soccer player and put him on the front line to block out an opposing 350 pound all muscle guy trying to knock him on his ass
where soccer guy would be flatten and become part of the field markings
Oct 18th, 2007, 07:02 AM
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Oh dear this old chestnut (conker). If i am out and about and a SUV hurttles towrds me - I'm toast. However if I happen to be sitting in a tank at the time then nothing will happen. So put the footballer in body armour and then let the transvestite run at him - and shazam! Nothing happens (and the footballer would be able to jump out of the way or indeed out run the trannie).
There's no way the Superbowl would come to London - it's played at about 2am.
There's no way the Superbowl would come to London - it's played at about 2am.
