american sports

[SteveSC]

Very interesting how the Packers are the only NFL team never to play in either London or Mexico.

I think that's because the team is largely owned by the fans. A decision to play a home game in London would be up for a vote which i'm sure they did vote and it was rejected.

A friend of mine is one of those supporters who owns % etc...

 

[Pittsburgh Footy]

It'd be a disaster. Lets face it. NFL in the UK, is a novelty, and I actually think it's wearing a little thin. The novel idea of any NFL, isn't a sell any more. This year, they got super fortunate that Eagles were picked before winning the Superbowl. But most lineups aren't great anymore and i think the sell of tickets is harder. They are trying to push the Jags on people, which is great, but likewise, it's a hard task.

London is what? 200miles from Liverpool. I can't really back the London Jags every week can i? Beside that, I've supported the Jets for 20 years, and i'm sure i'm not the only one, who won't be changing teams in a hurry, infact i categorically won't. The novelty will last what? 2-3 years. People come from all over the country, but can't they realistically do it 8+ times a year to support them? Especially when some games won't be finishing til potentially 9pm with work the next day. It can't work, it shouldn't be a thing, but it will be.

See I think this point confuses many Americans. Over here, you have teams that draw from literally 500 mile / 1,000 miles radiuses (radii)? because we are so large. So I'd bet that the NFL is thinking (if they do something crazy like move the Jags to London), that essentially they'd be drawing not only american football fans from London, which obviously they'd need to be their base, but they'd be thinking they're the team of the UK, and it's nothing for American sports fans to plan weekends and longer trips around seeing their team play on the road. For us, it's part of our culture. For most of us, it's unheard of that you would wake up early in the morning, take a train or coach down to London or the south coast for an afternoon game, and then not stay the night there. Travel over long distances is just part of what we do on the regular.

I bet they think if the UK has 1 million real football fans and another 2-4 million that are kind of into it, then that's plenty to support a team

 

[canuckblue]

I think that's because the team is largely owned by the fans. A decision to play a home game in London would be up for a vote which i'm sure they did vote and it was rejected.

A friend of mine is one of those supporters who owns % etc...

Does it really matter how many owners a team has? I mean, if Jerry Jones didn't want to have the Cowboys play a "home" game in London, could he just say no? Or is he obligated to by the league? And if that's the case, should the same also apply to the Packers?

 

[SteveSC]

Does it really matter how many owners a team has? I mean, if Jerry Jones didn't want to have the Cowboys play a "home" game in London, could he just say no? Or is he obligated to by the league? And if that's the case, should the same also apply to the Packers?

No what i am saying how they run the team. Literally every seat is owned by a fan. So they don't want to give up a home game even if they travel well. The ticket allocation would be awkward to figure out too. As they would have first refusal on the stadium in London.

It's some mad Greenbay thing. In the future though it is being discussed i guess.

They are open to an away game though.

 

[barneygumble]

See I think this point confuses many Americans. Over here, you have teams that draw from literally 500 mile / 1,000 miles radiuses (radii)? because we are so large. So I'd bet that the NFL is thinking (if they do something crazy like move the Jags to London), that essentially they'd be drawing not only american football fans from London, which obviously they'd need to be their base, but they'd be thinking they're the team of the UK, and it's nothing for American sports fans to plan weekends and longer trips around seeing their team play on the road. For us, it's part of our culture. For most of us, it's unheard of that you would wake up early in the morning, take a train or coach down to London or the south coast for an afternoon game, and then not stay the night there. Travel over long distances is just part of what we do on the regular.

I bet they think if the UK has 1 million real football fans and another 2-4 million that are kind of into it, then that's plenty to support a team

I think you have to factor all sorts in.

I think it's extremely obvious that Football is america's most popular sport, by some distance. Compare it to the UK where it's clearly Football, but our kind, and you will see the comparisons. Fans go up and down the country watching the games because it's what they do, same with NFL, but the big difference is volume.

The NFL season is at max 20 games, with a schedule announced 5 and a half months before the season starts, including TV Fixtures. Fans can plan ahead, in football, we can't really as for example, we have a game in 6 weeks vs Norwich which may still change. Then factor in that we 38 games, plus cup to factor in.

In America it's ridiculously cheap for fuel, the roads are grand and it's easy to get about. But it's different. It's just different, you'll know yourself how the sports are different. Everton planned a move 5 miles away to Kirkby, and there were protests, as the club wouldn't leave the City. Look at American sports, Jets and Giants play in NJ, The Niners relocated 45 miles away to a different city. Imagine Everton moving to Manchester?

British fans outside of London will not be flocking to Spurs every other week (in reality, it will be blocks so probably consecutively), there won't be an association. Like you assumable are a Steelers fan, would you change allegiance from Everton to a new PL team if they moved to NY? No chance. It's a nightmare really because when it fails, we lose all games from the UK, which is a pain.

 

[canuckblue]

No what i am saying how they run the team. Literally every seat is owned by a fan. So they don't want to give up a home game even if they travel well. The ticket allocation would be awkward to figure out too. As they would have first refusal on the stadium in London.

It's some mad Greenbay thing. In the future though it is being discussed i guess.

They are open to an away game though.

I get what you're saying, but not wanting to give up a home game is pretty much true for fans most if not all of the other 31 teams. Having said that, Green Bay is only one of 12 teams who haven't given up a home game to play overseas, but I don't see why they should be exempt.

 

[the golden visionary]

America has rugby players? Only ones I know are frat boys at some private college and drink beer during their "matches"

The US 7's team is pretty good

 

[Death]

@Yank

 

[barneygumble]

I think with Green Bay is they have such a large fan base, that even when they are the road team, they're still supported in great numbers and for the home team they are basicall guaranteed a sell out, that's why it's been so hard to get Green Bay over also.

 

[SteveSC]

I get what you're saying, but not wanting to give up a home game is pretty much true for fans most if not all of the other 31 teams. Having said that, Green Bay is only one of 12 teams who haven't given up a home game to play overseas, but I don't see why they should be exempt.

Not sure they are exempt. Think they are pushing it out as much as they can and the NFL is allowing them to because their are plenty of takers like the Jags.

 

[canuckblue]

Not sure they are exempt. Think they are pushing it out as much as they can and the NFL is allowing them to because their are plenty of takers like the Jags.

True dat. Hell, the Jags are playing home games on consecutive weekends there next season. Wonder how @mezzrow feels about that? The only equitable solution would be that 17th game the league is considering. It would be a neutral-site game for every team and no one would lose one of their regular 8 home dates. It would be fairly easy to incorporate into the NFL's schedule rotation as well.

 

[Diogenes the Cynic]

@Yank

God i love that song.



@Yank

I want you to know
I'm gonna miss your love
The minute you walk out that door

 

[Death]

God i love that song.

classic

 

[mezzrow]

True dat. Hell, the Jags are playing home games on consecutive weekends there next season. Wonder how @mezzrow feels about that? The only equitable solution would be that 17th game the league is considering. It would be a neutral-site game for every team and no one would lose one of their regular 8 home dates. It would be fairly easy to incorporate into the NFL's schedule rotation as well.

It's pretty clear that Shad Khan is about revenue and real estate more than wins and losses. There's a lot of behind-the-scenes political activity going on locally and Khan-friendly guys (like the current crew in power) are on the defensive and will find it hard to package and sell the goodies he wants regarding stadium area development and roads. The two home games in London announcement from Shad was a genuine turd in the punch bowl moment, because the clear choice from the owner is revenue over local support. I remember when this was a well-run club, but then I'm old. Not going down well over here. At all.

 

[Kurt.]

I honestly do think that is exactly what would happen. You wouldn't all go support the RS or Tranmere right? Even if it took a few years for a new team to be established, I'd think the Everton community would come back to allegiance with the new club.

You follow RBL pretty closely. They've had no problems getting a fan base behind them despite ripping up the club they bought and turning them in to something new.

You just don’t get it mate.