First of all, I just don't buy the fact that anyone outside of the U.S. is very interested in the NFL, or American football as a sport in general for that matter. I know that they have this whole new promotional campaign to try to get latinos interested in American football. It is as if they are saying, "really, it's ok. I know you love soccer, but come watch the NFL. It won't kill you." But the facts are pretty clear. Unlike other sports, American football is uniquely American and has never been able to successfully move beyond our borders. Although I am not entirely certain that there is a majority of NFL viewers in the U.S. that would want that to happen anyways. The NFL is, and always has been, kinda "our" thing. We have tried hosting games in other countries to try to get people interested and promote it, but those events haven't turned out that well. The (smaller) stadiums aren't full, the atmosphere is completely different, and the fans don't really know what is going on or what to cheer for. It is as if we said, "ok, well this is my favorite toy, but I am willing to share it with you" and then have it rejected. In the past, NFL games played outside the United States have not gone well.
But the difference is, those games were pre-season exhibition games. Not regular season games that actually count and matter!! If you play a pre-season game in Mexico City and no one shows up or the fans don't get it and sit there eating their churros completely befuddled, at the end of the day, it doesn't matter! The NFL execs get a couple extra bucks, the Mexican fans walk out the stadium not sure why there were so many points on the board and barely any kicking involved in a sport called football... and the two NFL teams go back to their respective cities with fun stories and get ready for the season. But, if it is a regular season game, being played across the pond in London, not only do you have the fans that have no clue what is going on in the game and cheer at the wrong times, if at all, fans that have absolutely no investment in the game or either team and could care less who really wins (it is like that stupid board game Hoopla where no one wins, the point of the game is for us all to be happy little fairies that encourage and build each other up).
Did Goodell learn nothing from the disaster of NFL Europe?? Those stadiums are smaller than almost all the NFL football stadiums in the U.S., but none of them sold out, no one really cared, no one watched. Europe sent a message to the front office, loud and clear, "We don't care about American football. We don't get it, we don't want to watch it, the only interest we have is the curious amazement at how you Americans get so into it." But apparently Goodell turned a deaf ear to that and has spent a ton of money, I am sure, on developing this NFL beachhead in London. I hope for the NFL's sake that there is a negative backlash both by the British and by the loyal Giants and Dolphins fans here in the states.
Speaking of which, another reason this game is a horrible idea is the fans. And no, not just the clueless and indifferent European "fans" but also the die hard, season ticket holding, American NFL fans. Home games are highly prized by NFL fans, especially ones who have season tickets, yet this game is taking a home game away from the already miserably awful Miami Dolphins. Now, the Dolphins and their fans are already having a horrible season. Both the starting QB and RB are out for the rest of the season, their usually good defense has been horrible, and their star linebacker, Zach Thomas, might miss the overseas game because of a neck injury.
So, in essence, the season is falling apart in Miami, but you are still taking away a home game that these loyal fans have paid for and expected to enjoy. Both teams are traveling all the way to London (much further than a couple states over for an away game), dealing with the time change, culture change, jet lag, and neutral, if not hostile conditions in the stadium. Then after playing in these strange circumstances, they have to come all the way back to play the following week back in the states. It is in the middle of the schedule and you expect it to not affect these teams rhythm and focus? I think it is a bad idea and I hope that it fails miserably and everyone hates it. It sucks that the Giants and the Dolphins are the ones that have to get sucked into this and that their seasons and potential playoff hopes (the Giants more so than the Dolphins) will be affected by this stupid promotional stunt.
I hope you're happy with yourself Commissioner.
The ice age is coming, the sun's zooming in
Engines stop running, the wheat is growing thin
A nuclear era, but I have no fear
'Cause London is drowning, and I live by the river
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