NFL Regular Season Games Overseas: Good or Bad Idea?
 

[url=http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=Ag480od8khx177pj97CM7jRDubYF?slug=ap-nflmeetings&prov=ap&type=lgns]NFL owners approve games abroad during regular season - NFL - Yahoo! Sports[/url]

I can honestly say I think this is a very bad idea. Not only would teams lose out on a home game in terms of having a fair and balanced schedule, but the fans of the teams will also lose a chance to see their team at home. I wouldn't be suprised if the Skins get sent to Europe for a game because of the whole East Coast thing, and that would piss me off (even if it counts as an away game).
It's bad enough when a team has to fly across the country for a game but now they're thinking of making them fly all the way to Germany?!?! That's crazy. The loser of the game would have a built in reason to bitch.

This whole idea seems to be about making money at the expense of the actual game. So the NFL isn't all that popular overseas, is it not making enough money here in the US? Keep having preseason games all over the world, but don't F with the regular season. That's just my opinion, what do you guys think?

Re: NFL Regular Season Games Overseas: Good or Bad Idea?
 

I don't like the idea either. And if they're going to take a home game away then they should also take away the cost of a preseason home gome for the fans

Re: NFL Regular Season Games Overseas: Good or Bad Idea?
 

I want to know how Danny Boy feels about this move. I can't imagine that he would allow the NFL to make the Skins lose a home game to this. At the same time though, I bet he would fight tooth and nail to make them the away team because he would want a bigger market for Skins merchandise and he would probably try to get a cut of the tickets sales at some 100,000+ seat soccer stadium.

Re: NFL Regular Season Games Overseas: Good or Bad Idea?
 

if its all about money, which it is, then Snyder would be all for it. preseason, its OK to do it. not when it counts. screw the fans overseas, they don't watch NFL Europe. what makes the big boys think they give a rip about the NFL?

Re: NFL Regular Season Games Overseas: Good or Bad Idea?
 

I can see it now. See the Skins and Vienna, Austria for $1500, courtesy of Dan Snyder's Travel Extravaganzas.

Thumbs down to this deal. Preseason games, sure, why not...regular season games, unless it is the annual 49ers/Cardinals game in Mexico, not so good.

Re: NFL Regular Season Games Overseas: Good or Bad Idea?
 

Yeah, if we were expanding to Canada and Mexico I'd be fine with it, but overseas is just too much travel time. We don't want a diluted product due to constant traveling and jet lagged players.

If they really want to spread football in Europe and other places, you have to start on the pee-wee level, have it compete with Soccer, and let it grow from the kids today.

Re: NFL Regular Season Games Overseas: Good or Bad Idea?
 

I hate hate hate this. It kills a home game for whoever.

Seriously, the only fair way i'd say is take the bottom four teams in the league (which who knows at this point, could be us) and pair them off with the next lowest team they play (because of the weird determined scheduling. Or somthing liek that. I think its stupid.

Re: NFL Regular Season Games Overseas: Good or Bad Idea?
 

[QUOTE=Gmanc711;234419]I hate hate hate this. It kills a home game for whoever.

Seriously, the only fair way i'd say is take the bottom four teams in the league (which who knows at this point, could be us) and pair them off with the next lowest team they play (because of the weird determined scheduling. Or somthing liek that. I think its stupid.[/QUOTE]
Imagine if this were in place last season and we had to play, let's say, the Giants X-mas game in London instead of here.
Imagine how much of a buzz kill that would have been: the team knows it needs to rally to make the playoffs and is doing well, but then it has to travel across the goddamn ocean for a "home" game! There goes all the momentum that the team had built up over the past few weeks, and because of that, there go the playoffs.
Hell, a random shake up like this could have cost the steelers their playoff spot and their Super Bowl win last year.
Just a bad idea.

Re: NFL Regular Season Games Overseas: Good or Bad Idea?
 

bad idea. if its the cards and 49ers, i'm cool with it, but don't kill my team with that crap.

Re: NFL Regular Season Games Overseas: Good or Bad Idea?
 

Totally kills homefield advantage, and it kinda sucks for the fans who wanna go out and see their teams game, but can't really afford a ticket to Europe or Asia.

Really lame, I wouldn't mind if more preseason games were overseas. If the NFL wants to do this international thing, start with baby steps, don't take it head on.

Re: NFL Regular Season Games Overseas: Good or Bad Idea?
 

I mean, the article talks about a rotating system of every 16 years or something, so I guess it is fair, kinda. But think about if the team is in a crucial playoff run, and they need to win their last game(assuming it would be at home), while their opponent has the top seed. The jet lag and travel for the opponent would not matter, while the team in contention would be screwed in two ways: no home field, and jet lag in a game they needa win.

Re: NFL Regular Season Games Overseas: Good or Bad Idea?
 

horrible idea...especially for the team thats going to lose a home game

they better make the giants play there for their home game because they got an extra one last year

Re: NFL Regular Season Games Overseas: Good or Bad Idea?
 

Bad idea! You know this country is a target of terrorism, or am I being to dramatic?

Re: NFL Regular Season Games Overseas: Good or Bad Idea?
 

Im going to luagh whn the take it overseas and no one buys tickets becuase its a stupid american sport

Re: NFL Regular Season Games Overseas: Good or Bad Idea?
 

Can't see the players union liking this much. But, if the teams involved come home after the game overseas, have a bye week, then play the next week at home, the union would probably be OK with it. Does suck for the fans back home. Hey, global economy=global football.

Re: NFL Regular Season Games Overseas: Good or Bad Idea?
 

[quote=Redskin;234940]Im going to luagh whn the take it overseas and no one buys tickets becuase its a stupid american sport[/quote]

they can get 40,000 in germany for NFLe, so i'm not sure it'll be a huge problem selling out a single game.

Re: NFL Regular Season Games Overseas: Good or Bad Idea?
 

Until it becomes the World Football League and they start fielding teams in other countries, leave the games ONLY HERE.

Re: NFL Regular Season Games Overseas: Good or Bad Idea?
 

Looks like I'm in the minority, I think it's a good idea. The Germans especially seem to be rapidly embracing American football. The games in Mexico and Japan during pre-season have been successful at drawing fans so far. Not excited about losing a home game but since everyone is (seemingly) equally affected then 'thems the breaks'.

Re: NFL Regular Season Games Overseas: Good or Bad Idea?
 

My issue is that it's an American sport. I have no problems with other countries enjoying our past-time, but I think it's a real disruption to the fans over here. I would feel the same way if a soccer team from somewhere else came here. Not that I wouldn't want to see them, I'd feel bad for their fans who are missing out on a game.

Re: NFL Regular Season Games Overseas: Good or Bad Idea?
 

American sport soon to be a World sport. It'll only affect a fan once/twice(?) every 16 years. Who cares if the 49er's and Browns play in Uzbekistan?

Re: NFL Regular Season Games Overseas: Good or Bad Idea?
 

Rexi would be super pissed.

Re: NFL Regular Season Games Overseas: Good or Bad Idea?
 

{724Skinsfan quickly scans a mirror to detect if he has been a victim of a random but deliberate I CARE forehead stamping act}

Re: NFL Regular Season Games Overseas: Good or Bad Idea?
 

i don't especially like it. i guess i'll handle it though. it'll be nice to have your team win before a global audience. i think it will make the players perform better (or worse?) knowing they are being viewed by so many people.

Re: NFL Regular Season Games Overseas: Good or Bad Idea?
 

Don't like it. Fans lose out on a home game and more importantly its a safety issue in the world today.

I heard on the John Riggins a couple months ago talking about the security at the game in Mexico, i think (preseason). He said it was a joke. He did the radio on that game.

In the world we live in today, security better be tight. I just wouldn't chance it. There is no reason to. The nfl makes more money than god right now.

Re: NFL Regular Season Games Overseas: Good or Bad Idea?
 

HORRIBLE idea.

It's robbing our fans of games and besides, it's the NATIONAL Football League.

Let them watch their soccer.

Re: NFL Regular Season Games Overseas: Good or Bad Idea?
 

i love the idea, only if everyone in the division lost a home game equally.

i think it's really important to spread American Football around the world (less traumatic than trying to spread democracy heh). it's such an advanced sport its a shame its globally unappreciated.

i think people see it and are intrigued, but without a system there, it won't get any traction.

Re: NFL Regular Season Games Overseas: Good or Bad Idea?
 

Is there a way they could mess around with the bye week, and make it so the international game would be an away game for both teams?? If they rotate it on this 16 yr cycle, maybe that would be possible?

Re: NFL Regular Season Games Overseas: Good or Bad Idea?
 

Am I missing something here? Why does everyone (including so-called experts) assume that this plan implies a home game is lost on the schedule? Let's assume that the NFL has one game overseas per season. I would think that the two participating teams would have a schedule of 8 home games, 7 road games, and the overseas game at an obviously neutral site. Is this such a horrible thing? I would gladly trade one of my road games for a neutral site game, particularly against a tough opponent.

Re: NFL Regular Season Games Overseas: Good or Bad Idea?
 

[quote=SouperMeister;235139]Am I missing something here? Why does everyone (including so-called experts) assume that this plan implies a home game is lost on the schedule? Let's assume that the NFL has one game overseas per season. I would think that the two participating teams would have a schedule of 8 home games, 7 road games, and the overseas game at an obviously neutral site. Is this such a horrible thing? I would gladly trade one of my road games for a neutral site game, particularly against a tough opponent.[/quote]

But home teams always match up agaisnt away teams....

Re: NFL Regular Season Games Overseas: Good or Bad Idea?
 

Bad idea. Too difficult, its not a good storyline, and there is no stadium in the NFL anymore which doesnt sell out every week.

Re: NFL Regular Season Games Overseas: Good or Bad Idea?
 

[quote=SouperMeister;235139]Am I missing something here? Why does everyone (including so-called experts) assume that this plan implies a home game is lost on the schedule? Let's assume that the NFL has one game overseas per season. I would think that the two participating teams would have a schedule of 8 home games, 7 road games, and the overseas game at an obviously neutral site. Is this such a horrible thing? I would gladly trade one of my road games for a neutral site game, particularly against a tough opponent.[/quote]

because if 1+1 doesn't equal 2, then the world is truely hosed.

Re: NFL Regular Season Games Overseas: Good or Bad Idea?
 

[quote]Am I missing something here? Why does everyone (including so-called experts) assume that this plan implies a home game is lost on the schedule? Let's assume that the NFL has one game overseas per season. I would think that the two participating teams would have a schedule of 8 home games, 7 road games, and the overseas game at an obviously neutral site. Is this such a horrible thing? I would gladly trade one of my road games for a neutral site game, particularly against a tough opponent.[/quote]
You just made my study prep a bit happier. That was a good laugh!

Re: NFL Regular Season Games Overseas: Good or Bad Idea?
 

I didn't think I'd be reading such closeminded comments as have been posted - I believe that a lot of the posters here don't a have a clue how popular the NFL is outside of the USA!!!!!!

The NFL is, and has been a global sporting phenomenon for decades - the viewing figures are sky-high (something like a billion people viewing in over 225 countries worldwide!).
Sure, it involves losing ONE home game every 16 years - but in NFL business terms it opens the games to a much bigger viewing audience, which in turn will increase revenue when more fans become interested which in turn benefits the league and indvidual teams.
I believe the talk has been about having it coincide with bye weeks etc, and each team I'm sure will know well in advance (maybe even a few seasons in advance) that they will be taking part.

I am very shocked at the "its ours, go away" attitude, but unfortunately I find that a lot - many US based sports fans feel, that as europeans/foriegners that we cannot possibly be as fervent or diehard supporters as them and that they must know more as its "their" sport.

I played college soccer (and won a national champioship) in the states, some of the most knowledgable soccer fans i met were amercians (but, how, surely its not THEIR sport? :-p ).
Heck, don't let USA host the World Cup, what do they know about soccer (again sarcasm for those that may misread it).
The WC opened soccer up more to USA, as will this venture by the NFL, don't be a hater, embrace it.

Again, I as a european, bleed burgundy and gold, I live for football each and every day - I stay up to stupid hours to watch the games live (MNF kicks off at 1.30am here, so can be up till 5 or later on a Tuesday morning!), I haven't missed a Skins game in years due to paying to watch each and every game,I watch all 3 games sunday, MNF and then replays of others when available, ESPN, NFL Network are contants on in my house - I hate basically every european sport (I played soccer, but not a fan per se).
Does someone, just because they live in VA, or MI or whereever make them a better fan due to where they live, HELL NO!

Yes, it may be the "National" football league, but you play for the "World" championship ;-)

Re: NFL Regular Season Games Overseas: Good or Bad Idea?
 

SantanaMan -- While the prospect of losing a home game isn't something I want. I'm worried about traveling and traveling time. I want football to become more of a universal sport, but I don't think one game a year in Europe would do that. I feel you must start by bringing youth football into select European countries. Germany seems to really embrace it.

I know a lot of people, including myself came off as it being a "we don't want to share" type of attitude. But I feel that's a bit off. It's more a we don't want to dillute the quality of the game by having teams travel a ton, giving them less time to prepare, and home games are nice for not only us fans, but for the players.

Re: NFL Regular Season Games Overseas: Good or Bad Idea?
 

Now after getting that off my chest I will give my personal thoughts on this venture.

NFL, if it comes to Ireland/UK - count me there with bells on, I'm saving already as soon as I heard the news of the possability.
If its the Skins even better, but the chance to see an NFL regular season game without having the travel/hotel costs seems very appealing to me, regardless of if its the Cowboys vs Browns I'll still be going and I'm sure almost each and every NFL fan in the UK would feel the same way (meaning there will be FAR more demand for tickets than could be available).
Even casual fans or people without much knowledge of the sport may be interested as it'll be a once in a decade event possibly and so it will also draw people that way, the interest drawn via media and people talking about it long after will also go a long way to boosting the sport.

Re: NFL Regular Season Games Overseas: Good or Bad Idea?
 

Travelling east if I remember correctly is a lot easier than the return journey (as it would be for NFL players), east coast teams would notice a time difference of 5 hours (and hence are likely to be placed to playing in europe), the return journey is harder and more likely to have jet-lag (hence the bye week after it).
I would also think that these games would/could be best suited for MNF (or like has happened this season a MNF doubleheader), giving these teams extra time to rest, etc after the travel (they may even have the euro games played on MNF the week after say an NFL Network Thu game , thus giving even more time).
The NFL has been involved in grass roots programs in the UK for many years (not sure if you are aware of this), obviously the schooling system is set up differently and would take time to evolve towards the same kind of system in america, but it is happening, college teams have been formed, there are leagues - like my earlier analogy to USA soccer, it wil take a while for these "seeds" to grow, but with the right exposure to games/coaching it can only be a good thing wordwide.

Yes, Germany is possibly the biggest country to embrace NFL (followed VERY close 2nd to UK may I add), this is due to the US armed forces based there and many ex-pats in these countries that generated the intial interest 20-odd years ago.

Indeed in my very early days as an NFL fan there was little TV coverage here (originally a 1 hour show), so I used to have to try and get radio reception from Armed Force Radio to try and listen to coverage of games(which involves moving about my room lots with the radio to pick up the signal) - since then coverage has boomed to what we have now which is the ability to watch each and every game each and every week, ability to watch all the shows such as PTI, Around the Horn, Sportcenter, you name it, we can pretty much watch it too. Add to that the internet and NFL is sitting at everyones fingertips.

Who's to say the players won't embrace the new games? Many NFLEurope players and current NFLers have only positive things to say about their time in europe.
The NFL is leagues ahead of every other sporting league in the world in organisation/planning, I am sure they will not only think/plan this through thoroughly, but it will also be better than what we as fans think.

I don't wish to argue with anyone about this, as we are all fans of the same sport (and team) - I can only see positive things coming from this.

I guess I can just see this akin to what I heard from staunch soccer fans in the UK when they heard about the WC being played in the USA ...
all the "they will ruin it, they know nothing about it, blah, blah", I personally didnt feel this way and was pleased when USA put on what I feel has been the best WC in a long time and would willingly let them host again.

Re: NFL Regular Season Games Overseas: Good or Bad Idea?
 

santanaman, if the nfl is so popular overseas, why is it anytime you watch an nfl europe game, the stands are over half empty?

Re: NFL Regular Season Games Overseas: Good or Bad Idea?
 

[quote=dmek25;235247]santanaman, if the nfl is so popular overseas, why is it anytime you watch an nfl europe game, the stands are over half empty?[/quote]
Bahahaha you watch NFLE, thats worse then college

Re: NFL Regular Season Games Overseas: Good or Bad Idea?
 

[QUOTE=SantanaMan;235215]I didn't think I'd be reading such closeminded comments as have been posted - I believe that a lot of the posters here don't a have a clue how popular the NFL is outside of the USA!!!!!!

The NFL is, and has been a global sporting phenomenon for decades - the viewing figures are sky-high (something like a billion people viewing in over 225 countries worldwide!).
Sure, it involves losing ONE home game every 16 years - but in NFL business terms it opens the games to a much bigger viewing audience, which in turn will increase revenue when more fans become interested which in turn benefits the league and indvidual teams.
I believe the talk has been about having it coincide with bye weeks etc, and each team I'm sure will know well in advance (maybe even a few seasons in advance) that they will be taking part.

I am very shocked at the "its ours, go away" attitude, but unfortunately I find that a lot - many US based sports fans feel, that as europeans/foriegners that we cannot possibly be as fervent or diehard supporters as them and that they must know more as its "their" sport.

I played college soccer (and won a national champioship) in the states, some of the most knowledgable soccer fans i met were amercians (but, how, surely its not THEIR sport? :-p ).
Heck, don't let USA host the World Cup, what do they know about soccer (again sarcasm for those that may misread it).
The WC opened soccer up more to USA, as will this venture by the NFL, don't be a hater, embrace it.

Again, I as a european, bleed burgundy and gold, I live for football each and every day - I stay up to stupid hours to watch the games live (MNF kicks off at 1.30am here, so can be up till 5 or later on a Tuesday morning!), I haven't missed a Skins game in years due to paying to watch each and every game,I watch all 3 games sunday, MNF and then replays of others when available, ESPN, NFL Network are contants on in my house - I hate basically every european sport (I played soccer, but not a fan per se).
Does someone, just because they live in VA, or MI or whereever make them a better fan due to where they live, HELL NO!

Yes, it may be the "National" football league, but you play for the "World" championship ;-)[/QUOTE]


I agree with all you say. The only issue I have is that fans only get to see their teams a few number of times each year, unlike the 80+ times a baseball fan can see their team. And all I'm saying is if you're going to take that away from the core fan to grow the sport globally, which is understable, then you have to give something back to that fan. Give them a free preseason game for example.

Re: NFL Regular Season Games Overseas: Good or Bad Idea?
 

Why are the NFLE stadiums half empty ...at the moment it is a cast off league... If the NFLE games were held in the US the attendance would be even lower ... serriously would yu pay to watch a bunch of scrubs not even good enough to play and train with a real NFL team?

It wouldn't be so bad if the NFLE teams where primarily made up of Europeans and there may be some consistancy there and if the coaches and players stayed more than a couple of years and if the NFL didn't stop taking teams away from countries and possibly made sure that the press in the individual countries put out information like the world bowl in Scotland a few years back no one knew about.

The anoying thing is the NFLE could be an exceptional tool if it was as more of a feeder league for the NFL like the collage system is in the US if the NFL hooked up with univerisites and collages in Europe to get them to run exchange scollerships for American students on sports and cultural basis.

There is an underestimation of how popular the sport is worldwide by the American people . I am not asking for a NFL world cup but it is a smart thing to do if it makes Football a world game to play outside the US once in a while.