London

[PatsFaninAZ]

I also love the depth of knowledge you need to understand the game - footy is great, but you can be a complete moron and be at the top of the sport *cough* BECKHAM *cough* - not in the NFL. I dont think there's a comparable position to Quaterback anywhere else in sports. You are everything; the team lives and dies on what you do.

By the way -- how did you come to be a Patriots supporter? As an arsenal fan, Brits love to call me a glory hunter. I'd be interested to hear the other side of the coin -- how does a Brit settle on the Patriots when selecting an NFL team? I basically was introduced to the EPL in the late 1990s through international soccer -- which was all you could see in the states and became a Thierry Henry fan; hence the Gunners. What mad you a Patriots fan?

Incidentally, assuming you're a Burnley fan, sorry about the Derby yesterday. You'll get 'em at home.

 

[jan08]

Like probably most Brits I got into the NFL in the days of it being on Channel Four and must admit to initially being a Bears fan through the 80s and early 90s before losing some interest in the game. Became a glory fan and got interested again in 2001 and I'm hooked for life now as an NFL fan and a Pats fan. Being an Huddersfield Town fan doesn't offer much scope for glory!

I'm self employed and couldn't really justify going down to Wembley but as the time gets closer I'm now watching about 20 single tickets on eBay and am 80% sure I'll be there

 

[bostonia3333]

My question is, how does the NFL choose if Tampa or New England gets London as their "home" game. I am so glad this doesn't count as a Pats home game, but still---is it just a coin flip?

 

[Pats_9_and_4]

I am travelling down to London too, from Macclesfield.

Been a Fan since '85 and words can't describe how excited I am!!!! Staying in the Marriot Hotel at Regents Park from Friday thru Sunday so I Also get to sightsee our Capital too..not been since the late 90s..tut.

I don't post much myself but I follow all the posts on here most days and enjoy the reading! (more times than not anyhow!).

Like 'Ciara's Dad' I'm also behind the Pats bench on row 12, and we are looking forward to a different view from the two previous games where we were positioned off to the side behind the end zone and hopefully we will see Randy doing some dancing up close!.

'Patspsycho' - I think its forgotten history, well actually, I'm probably right in thinking that 50% of the population were not in class on this particular History lesson anyway. Just be glad it happened, I can't imagine how 'the English' would of been able to govern a land mass of US size, we have a problem running this little old isle. lol.

Anyway, All have fun if you are going and Take Care getting to and going home from Wembley! And don't forget to check the Underground/tube system as a lot of work is going on next Sunday, some Lines are disrupted badly. Go to the NFLUK forums here for info.

Cheers
Darryl.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

I wish people would stop calling it the PITCH.

 

[Lampshade]

Wonder if that actually causes any resentment, or is that just old history that is irrevelant today?

You'd be surprised how many people wouldn't even have a clue what you were talking about. Sad but true.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

My question is, how does the NFL choose if Tampa or New England gets London as their "home" game. I am so glad this doesn't count as a Pats home game, but still---is it just a coin flip?

bob kraft is pretty tight with goodell. the glazer family - i'm not sure they have as much pull.

 

[olschool]

It's all about TV. Patriots games traditionally draw a huge national audience. Gillette is one of the NFL's biggest advertisers.
Think there might be a connection ?

 

[Patspsycho]

I wish people would stop calling it the PITCH.

Why? Is that irritating to you?

 

[Patspsycho]

Like probably most Brits I got into the NFL in the days of it being on Channel Four and must admit to initially being a Bears fan through the 80s and early 90s before losing some interest in the game. Became a glory fan and got interested again in 2001 and I'm hooked for life now as an NFL fan and a Pats fan. Being an Huddersfield Town fan doesn't offer much scope for glory!

I'm self employed and couldn't really justify going down to Wembley but as the time gets closer I'm now watching about 20 single tickets on eBay and am 80% sure I'll be there

Read the whole thread, I thought I saw someone say they have 2 free tickets.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

You'd be surprised how many people wouldn't even have a clue what you were talking about. Sad but true.

I'm confused. I thought the Brits were on our side in WWII?

(This is a GREAT thread. Keep the comments coming)

 

[Higgins86]

Hopefully there will be some Mancester united fans in the staduim booing the Bucs!!! Glazer family took the richest sports club in the world and saddled them with 800 million debt! Plus they have raised the ticket rices at Mancester pricing out true fans. I believe they are doing a similar thing at the Bucs!

 

[bostonia3333]

It's all about TV. Patriots games traditionally draw a huge national audience. Gillette is one of the NFL's biggest advertisers.
Think there might be a connection ?

Yeah it's obvious the Pats are one of the biggest draws in sports. It's just a bit unfair for Tampa to lose a home game in the USA because their opponent gets better ratings. The Bucs have a very good home field advantage, and if their team was good this year, people would be complaining about this setup. If we played the Steelers or Cowboys, LONDON would be our home game. But hey, I'm not complaining...at least for this year!

 

[Ciara's Dad]

Concerning the pitch, I think that Wembley will tear up badly. I think it would've been a better idea to play the game at a rugby ground. Either Twickenham or the Millenium Stadium in Cardiff. Or better still, Murrayfield in Edinburgh.

Is it strange to US Pats fans that when reading posts from UK fans, that we've always got to mention our soccer club allegiance? We've already had posts from Arsenal, Celtic, Rangers, Manu, Liverpool and Maccelsfield Town fans. We just can't seem to let it go! Maybe it's a first generation NFL thing.

 

[ricogatenby99]

I am 18 now, but I got into the sport when I was young and gettin some teeth out in hospital, and my dad has been to America and everything and the superbowl was on about 1am, and ther was nothing to watch, and it really intregued me straight away, and tbh at first I supported the pats because I was young and found it good that ENGLAND was in the team name haha so thats how I am here

But im at university in Newcastle now and hell yeah I am going to the game, cant wait! I hope some of you americans are near me in the stands for some high fives =D GO PATS!

 

[PatsFaninAZ]

Is it strange to US Pats fans that when reading posts from UK fans, that we've always got to mention our soccer club allegiance? We've already had posts from Arsenal, Celtic, Rangers, Manu, Liverpool and Maccelsfield Town fans. We just can't seem to let it go! Maybe it's a first generation NFL thing.

Well, for what it's worth, I'm the Gooner in the thread, and I'm in the states.

I'm certainly not surprised that anyone living in Glasgow would mention their footy affiliation up front. Don't they put your old firm affiliation right on your driver's license in Glasgow, even before gender and marital status?

 

[shmessy]

Too bad the Pats can't bring their Minutemen with the muskets.

I was thinking the same thing, until it dawned on me that they would probably get picked off by Redcoats.

 

[BritPat]

I would think the Patriots are popular over there, simply because they have the word "England" in their title.

And, luckily, we took the Minuteman off the helmet years ago, so they won't get too pissed/mad, just pissed/drunk.

There's a lot of truth to that. It's fair to say that the War of Independence isn't really well know on these shores, not now anyway, so people are unaware of the origins of the name New England and the like. Many people saw the new "England" and thought "yes!" - plus it helps that in recent years we've been the class of the NFL.

People say that we're the Franchise with the biggest following in the UK, but I don't believe that, thanks to the Steelers, the 49ers and Dan Marino being so good when the sport was first shown over here, they have a lot of fans, as do the Cowboys. The Pats number is growing though.

 

[BritPat]

Wonder if that actually causes any resentment, or is that just old history that is irrevelant today?

Completely irrelevant.

It's a subject very few know anything about, let alone care about.

 

[jan08]

Incidentally, I have two free tickets (block 552) if anyone is stuck without and fancies the trip. Could get them sent out tonight.

This is the kindest, best, most wonderful offer I've ever heard of. You, sir, deserve an award