NFL London Games

[A380]

So, I’m at the new White Heart Lane, or whatever it’s called. Nice stadium with really cool beer pumps that fill from the bottom.

Waiting for the Chicago Bears Oakland Raiders game with young Master A319 who likes this game. Basically rugby league with more helmets and even more adverts. This is only the second live NFL game I’ve seen so I will spend most of it bemused. I have got a flag though.

There is talk of Oakland playing an entire 8 match season here next year.

What does the hive mind think and are any other urbs here?

 

[skyscraper101]

Don’t get American Football at all.

However, the spectacle is pretty rad. NFL leaves the premier league in the dust where that’s concerned.

 

[mx wcfc]

Back in '86(!) I used to do a bit of "stewarding" at Wembley. I once had to sit through over 4 hours of American football. The actual playing time is 60 mins, isn't it? But the game took over 4 hours. Spectacle? Christ, the game wouldn't need spectacle, if they just got on with it.

 

[BassJunkie]

I've been a die hard fan of the Raiders since the 1980s. Clearly I must be doing penance for sins in a previous life. Having seen them play twice at Wembley and get soundly beaten, the game at Tottenham was completely life affirming, albeit stressful as fuck until the end.

 

[petee]

I've been a die hard fan of the Raiders since the 1980s. Clearly I must be doing penance for sins in a previous life. Having seen them play twice at Wembley and get soundly beaten, the game at Tottenham was completely life affirming, albeit stressful as fuck until the end.

they were a powerhouse in the 60s. long time ago, but they were.

 

[BassJunkie]

they were a powerhouse in the 60s. long time ago, but they were.

I think it was their 1984 Superbowl underdog win that made me a fan. It's been downhill since then. I think of the 1970s as their heyday. Upshaw, Shell, The Snake, Blanda, Matuzak, and on and on, I really could go on and on.

Al Davis said "The Greatness of the Raiders is in its future". That future has been a long time coming and is still some way off lol.

The Autumn Win is my ringtone.

Sorry, I was triggered there for a moment.

 

[stavros]

For the first time ever, I sort of understood what I was watching today. I only saw the first quarter and a half, and may have had a mini-Damascene moment where I got it.

I still prefer baseball though.

 

[A380]

So Covid saw off the American invasion in 2020 and I had assumed ( and we know what that did don’t we) that this year had been binned. Then yesterday (Wednesday) I saw an oblique reference on an unrelated website that two games were on last Sunday and this Sunday.

Checked to see and they were. Out of interest clicked the returned tickets thinking yeah right. 7 single seats and then two together at the second cheapest face price. Snapped up for the boy and me. Miami Dolphins v Jacksonville Jaguars apparently. Also apparently the two worst teams in the league just now.

Still, I pleased as fuck.

 

[petee]

I think it was their 1984 Superbowl underdog win that made me a fan. It's been downhill since then.

and further downhill from recent events.

 

[ouirdeaux]

I once had to sit through over 4 hours of American football. The actual playing time is 60 mins, isn't it? But the game took over 4 hours.

Someone once described American football as combining the worst aspects of American society -- violence and committee meetings.

 

[BassJunkie]

and further downhill from recent events.

<sigh>. Yes, yes indeed. It's like a fucking opera following this team. But more emotional.

Turns out Gruden had the opposite values to those that the Raiders have espoused for decades.

Every year I put £20 on Raiders to win the Superbowl at the beginning of the season.

It's usually the first half of October when I realise that money has gone.

Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose.

 

[souljacker]

So Covid saw off the American invasion in 2020 and I had assumed ( and we know what that did don’t we) that this year had been binned. Then yesterday (Wednesday) I saw an oblique reference on an unrelated website that two games were on last Sunday and this Sunday.

Checked to see and they were. Out of interest clicked the returned tickets thinking yeah right. 7 single seats and then two together at the second cheapest face price. Snapped up for the boy and me. Miami Dolphins v Jacksonville Jaguars apparently. Also apparently the two worst teams in the league just now.

Still, I pleased as fuck.

You'll at least get the chance to see Trevor Lawrence in action. Supposedly the next big name quarterback (although he's had a disastrous start to the season).

 

[BassJunkie]

and further downhill from recent events.

<sigh>. Yes, yes indeed. It's like a fucking opera following this team. But more emotional. (Again!).

 

[mx wcfc]

Back in the mid-80s, there were pre season (I think) games at (the old) Wembley. At the time I knew a bloke who organised the stewarding, and did a few games there. You weren't paid, but you got to watch the games for free. These included the 1986 Liverpool Everton FA Cup final and Charity Shield, which were a real experience to have been at, and a League Cup final when I stood at the top of the stairs looking the other way, whilst O*ford United beat QPR.

Anyway, I also did an American Football game, involving the Dallas Cowboys.

By this time I had been promoted to "pitchside". In those days, this involved sitting on the ground, with your back against the wall. Pointless. I spent 5 hours, in all, sitting on the floor, looking at the backs of a bunch of american footballers, whilst listening to spectators behind complain that they couldn't see anything either.

tl:dr I have been at an american football match. It is really 'king boring. And the PA played stuff like "We will rock you". Constantly.

 

[petee]