One that doesn't involve poncing about in short pants:
International Series 2010 - San Francisco 49ers v Denver Broncos
Gameday for the 2010 Pepsi Max NFL International Series game has dawned and 85,000 fans are expected to descend on Wembley Stadium today to see the San Francisco 49ers host the Denver Broncos.
Kick-off of the 2010 Pepsi Max NFL International Series contest is set for 5:00pm, and coverage begins on Sky Sports 2 at 4:30pm including pre-game build up from the stadium featuring Kevin Cadle and Nick Halling alongside former Chicago Bears star Shaun Gayle and ex-Philadelphia Eagles Cecil Martin. Joining them throughout the day's action will be a host of top names from the world of the NFL and UK sport and entertainment.
For those fans not coming to the game but wanting to catch a slice of the action there will also be [A capacity crowd will pack Wembley Stadium for the 2010 NFL International Series game later today.] highlights of the big game from Wembley on BBC1 from 11:35pm, featuring 49ers Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice.
Before the teams take the field, fans can warm up for the game at the NFL Tailgate Party. Located just outside the stadium, the Tailgate Party will feature live entertainment, NFL Experience games, American themed tailgating food and drink, merchandise and a special 49ers Hall of Fame exhibit featuring memorabilia from the five-time Super Bowl winning team. The NFL Tailgate Party is open to all fans with tickets to the game, so if you are coming down to Wembley make sure you call in to be a part of this great event.
Once you are in the stadium you can look forward to an exciting pre-game performance from My Chemical Romance, who are one of three artists headlining the entertainment at the 2010 Pepsi Max NFL International Series game.
Guitarist Jeff Beck, whose career has spanned five decades, will play 'God Save the Queen', and Destiny's Child member Michelle Williams will sing 'The Star-Spangled Banner'.
Then the teams will take to the field for the coin toss led by their honorary captains. Legendary San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jerry Rice will make an appearance for his former team, while doing the honours for the Broncos will be Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway. Also on the field will be Three-time Olympic gold medallist yachtsman Ben Ainslie in the colours of San Francisco 49ers, while Mo Farah, 10,000m and 5,000m gold medallist at this summer's European Athletics Championships, will line up on behalf of the Denver Broncos.
Once the entertainers have cleared the field all eyes will be on the 49ers and Broncos. With both teams struggling in the early part of the season, fans will be hoping to see a fiercely contested game, with the winner looking to push on to better things in the second half of their 2010 NFL campaign.
85,000 fans are expected to descend on Wembley Stadium today
There were over half a million ticket requests....45,000 were sold in the first 30 minutes....
You know, I'd bet that if you took the two best cricket teams on earth, and had them play a match at any average sized American High School Football stadium, you'd have to give tickets away to fill the stands....
85,000 fans are expected to descend on Wembley Stadium today
There were over half a million ticket requests....45,000 were sold in the first 30 minutes....
You know, I'd bet that if you took the two best cricket teams on earth, and had them play a match at any average sized American High School Football stadium, you'd have to give tickets away to fill the stands....
Hey Jim, people will pay to go to the circus to watch fat men running into each other and falling over too....
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
Of course the stands would start to empty once the beer ran out....
Hey Jim, people will pay to go to the circus to watch fat men running into each other and falling over too....
Well Strop, you can make mock all you want, but it's pretty obvious to me from the little bit of research that I've done, that American Football is catching on to a far greater extent in the UK (and in the rest of Europe, for that matter) than Rugby or Cricket are catching on here....
Wow! I didn't realise that there were that many American ex-pats living in the UK...
TBH I think that this says more about the UK's willingness to embrace a sport from another culture as opposed to America's (or lack thereof...).
Anyway, why are we comparing American football with cricket? Wouldn't it make more sense to compare football with football and baseball with cricket?
I wonder how many tickets are sold/requested when a club like Man Utd, Barcelona or Real Madrid play in the States?
Actually, a quick search tells me that MLS All-Stars Vs Man Utd last July attracted a crowd of over 70,000 (a sell-out). Not bad for a country that hates the game...
Why is it that when Miley Cyrus gets naked and licks a hammer it's 'art' and 'edgy' but when I do it I'm 'drunk' and 'banned from the hardware store'?
As an aside, at the moment there is a series happening between Australia and Ireland using compromised rules (AFL and Gaelic football). I would love to see a similar match-up between NFL and Rugby League players... without the body armour of course...
Note that the video contain tackles. Not fouls, tackles. Now THAT is a real man's game LJ!
Why is it that when Miley Cyrus gets naked and licks a hammer it's 'art' and 'edgy' but when I do it I'm 'drunk' and 'banned from the hardware store'?
I think that one NFL game a year in London by American teams is why they sell out Jarl. True that football doesn't sell out Gillette Stadium like the local sport (now there's a shock! ) but there was 67,584 there for a friendly between Brazil and Mexico in 2007... (Wikipedia tells me that the capacity is 68,756) not bad for a foreign sport I'm sure you'll agree...
It's worth noting that Bayern Munich have sold out every home game (league matches) for more than three years now, Manchester United for much longer than that. These teams play 17 and 19 home games respectively every season compared to the Patriots' 8. It's apples and oranges. The local sport is always going to outdo others.
Why is it that when Miley Cyrus gets naked and licks a hammer it's 'art' and 'edgy' but when I do it I'm 'drunk' and 'banned from the hardware store'?
Brazil versus Mexico isn't foreign in Massachusetts...I'd bet 95% of the crowd was from one of those two countries. (And I'd bet over 50% were illegal aliens, but anyway...)
Lord Jim wrote:
You know, I'd bet that if you took the two best cricket teams on earth, and had them play a match at any average sized American High School Football stadium, you'd have to give tickets away to fill the stands....
I have to agree with you Jim. You’d never find enough people in the USA of sufficient intelligence, taste, discernment, patience, class, and good sportsmanship to make up a cricket crowd in order to fill a American High School Football stadium .
He started it!
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
Lord Jim wrote:
You know, I'd bet that if you took the two best cricket teams on earth, and had them play a match at any average sized American High School Football stadium, you'd have to give tickets away to fill the stands....
I have to agree with you Jim. You’d never find enough people in the USA of sufficient intelligence, taste, discernment, patience, class, and good sportsmanship to make up a cricket crowd in order to fill a American High School Football stadium .
He started it!
I wonder what could be filled in the UK if the Giants and Rangers came to play a game (even one of the World Series games); probably about the same as a cricket match here. Some sports can be appreciated much more readily than others; for most cricket and baseball fans, my guess is it takes years, and must be started in childhood.
