Could The Patriots Be the Permanent Visiting Team For The NFL London Game?

[PatsFans.com Article]

Could The Patriots Be the Permanent Visiting Team For The NFL London Game?
By: Russ Goldman

Read why I feel it would be a great idea if the Patriots were the permanent visiting team for the London game....

CLICK HERE TO READ THIS STORY​

 

[PatsDeb]

Never lose out on a home game but get lots of exposure (and new fans) in Europe for a trip that is about the same as a west coast trip. What's not to like for Bob Kraft? But, if I were the other 31 teams, I would be crying foul that the Pats never lose that home game.

 

[Rob0729]

I wonder if Kraft is doing this so he never has to lose a home game to England. By being the permanent away team, there is no way the league can ask the Pats to give up a home game to play in England.

 

[JJDChE]

That would be kinda cool. I wouldn't mind go over for a few Pats game. I love London. Fun city.

 

[upstater1]

Flying to Cali. is so much easier than flying to Europe. I think there's a difference.

 

[patsfan4life]

I'm "on the fence" DEF dont want to EVER LOSE A HOME GAME for this. But that trip is 2 fold. I'm sure its a hassle but if it became yearly, then it would become ritual/routine. But this would also mean same "bye week" every year. Is that good or bad??

 

[jmt57]

It's probably not that big of a deal, but one potential benefit could be knowing that your bye week would always be around the midpoint in the season (the game has always been held between October 25-31), which would avoid having a bye week a time that I would consider to be too early (e.g., week 5).

We are not privy to all the financial details, but from what I have read there is more money to be made playing in London than at a typical road game. If that is the case, then why shouldn't Kraft petition for the Pats to be the permanent road team?

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Imagine that, we'll play there so much that we'll probably be getting support like the home team, even though it will count as an away game. That couldn't play out more perfect for us, I'd definitely complain if I was another team though.

 

[everlong]

It's probably not that big of a deal, but one potential benefit could be knowing that your bye week would always be around the midpoint in the season (the game has always been held between October 25-31)

Plus no Halloween weekend games @Pitt when the team which is 7-0 vs the Steelers this decade when it isn't that weekend turns into an 0-2 pumpkin.

 

[patsfaninpittsburgh]

Never lose out on a home game but get lots of exposure (and new fans) in Europe for a trip that is about the same as a west coast trip. What's not to like for Bob Kraft? But, if I were the other 31 teams, I would be crying foul that the Pats never lose that home game.

This move does sound reasonable for the "post novelty" period. It would seem hard to keep interest with different teams each year.

You always need some predictability and someone for fans to identify with.

Would anyone really care for a Bengals/Rams game across the pond?

Besides, all 32 teams need to understand the need to access new revenue streams.

 

[patman52]

No way should the rest of the league sign off on this. This is giving the pats an away game on a neutral field. Vegas pretty much states that the homefield is worth 3 points. For the pats not to be required to overcome that when all the other teams in the division do is unfair.

Great for us pat fans but not fair.

 

[crew1954]

Flying to Cali. is so much easier than flying to Europe. I think there's a difference.

Commercial yeah. A charter? I don't think so much. They can leave at 6 am ( 11 am GMT) and get in at 4 pm. or whatever kils the eastbound lag( which is the worst).

 

[Ivan]

No way should the rest of the league sign off on this. This is giving the pats an away game on a neutral field. Vegas pretty much states that the homefield is worth 3 points. For the pats not to be required to overcome that when all the other teams in the division do is unfair.

Great for us pat fans but not fair.

It sounds like the Patriots are already the fan favorites in the UK, and if they became the yearly game it would add to that significantly, so it would really be like an extra home game just in a different setting. Play there every year and have full fan support, good deal for the Patriots, you're right no other owner should agree.

 

[BritPat]

It sounds like the Patriots are already the fan favorites in the UK, and if they became the yearly game it would add to that significantly, so it would really be like an extra home game just in a different setting. Play there every year and have full fan support, good deal for the Patriots, you're right no other owner should agree.

Not quite, but certainly a big following.

The league really took off over here in the 80's thanks to Channel 4's coverage, and the teams that were successful in that era all have big followings - Fins, 49ers, Bears, Redskins, Raiders, Giants. The Cowboys and Steelers are very well supported too, just as much as the others I've mentioned.

 

[Ivan]

Not quite, but certainly a big following.

The league really took off over here in the 80's thanks to Channel 4's coverage, and the teams that were successful in that era all have big followings - Fins, 49ers, Bears, Redskins, Raiders, Giants. The Cowboys and Steelers are very well supported too, just as much as the others I've mentioned.

I'm sure you are right. What do you think would happen if the Patriots become the yearly opponent on British soil? I'm guessing it would translate into a serious home field advantage for them and a much bigger fanbase there.

To be honest i was opposed to it when the idea was first floated but if they didn't lose any home games I would be all for it, however I can't imagine the other owners signing off on such a bad deal for themselves. Ultimately I don't see the league office supporting the idea either, as they want all their teams to b e on display over there, not just the Patriots.

 

[BritPat]

I'm sure you are right. What do you think would happen if the Patriots become the yearly opponent on British soil? I'm guessing it would translate into a serious home field advantage for them and a much bigger fanbase there.

To be honest i was opposed to it when the idea was first floated but if they didn't lose any home games I would be all for it, however I can't imagine the other owners signing off on such a bad deal for themselves. Ultimately I don't see the league office supporting the idea either, as they want all their teams to b e on display over there, not just the Patriots.

In terms of the first point, I think the sport is so well established over here that we probably wouldn't gain a huge amount of followers simply because the support is pretty tribal, and people that watched the sport in the 80's and picked their team then, now have children that they have managed to coerce into following the same team. For example, and I'm quite proud of this, I was in a sports shop last weekend with the family and we were checking out the NFL gear they had, and my missus picked up a Jets hat to look at ("I like the green") - my daughter started booing. She then took it off her and handed her a Patriots one. And she's only 9!

Even though we're not in one of the large cities in the UK, I know plenty of NFL fans and the older guys have managed to get their kids to follow the same team, which is a story that's pretty common if you check out the various UK based NFL forums.

As for the second part, I'm in full agreement. The UK market could be an untapped cash cow, and if having a team here starts attracting interest from Europe, that's an even bigger bonus, because the game is incredibly popular in countries like Germany. All 32 owners will want some part of that.

 

[1960Pats]

This move does sound reasonable for the "post novelty" period. It would seem hard to keep interest with different teams each year.

You always need some predictability and someone for fans to identify with.

Would anyone really care for a Bengals/Rams game across the pond?

Besides, all 32 teams need to understand the need to access new revenue streams.

My first question is why would they care any more if it's the Pats? From what I understand the tickets are pretty easy to come by, although I can't say if that's because of a lack of interest or the cost.

My other question is what's wrong with the old revenue stream? TV networks will hand over a check to the NFL for about 10 billion before any fan buys a ticket, a beer or any bit of merchandize.

Hearing Bob Kraft use the term "tapped out" to describe the NFL's situation is both sad and laughable when you consider the current plight of many of those 180 million American fans that buy tickets.

With each passing day the greed in sports becomes more evident.

 

[reflexblue]

My first question is why would they care any more if it's the Pats? From what I understand the tickets are pretty easy to come by, although I can't say if that's because of a lack of interest or the cost.

My other question is what's wrong with the old revenue stream? TV networks will hand over a check to the NFL for about 10 billion before any fan buys a ticket, a beer or any bit of merchandize.

Hearing Bob Kraft use the term "tapped out" to describe the NFL's situation is both sad and laughable when you consider the current plight of many of those 180 million American fans that buy tickets.

With each passing day the greed in sports becomes more evident.

The
New ENGLAND Patriots

 

[neuronet]

No way this goes through, too obvious advantage for us.

 

[patsfaninpittsburgh]

My first question is why would they care any more if it's the Pats? From what I understand the tickets are pretty easy to come by, although I can't say if that's because of a lack of interest or the cost.

My other question is what's wrong with the old revenue stream? TV networks will hand over a check to the NFL for about 10 billion before any fan buys a ticket, a beer or any bit of merchandize.

Hearing Bob Kraft use the term "tapped out" to describe the NFL's situation is both sad and laughable when you consider the current plight of many of those 180 million American fans that buy tickets.

With each passing day the greed in sports becomes more evident.

Why the Patriots?

Why not the Patriots?
Robert Kraft offered the Patriots.

Based on your post, can one assume you never, ever asked for or want a raise?

A business that stops trying to expand the revenue base isn't going to last.

Sports need teams for fans and some predictibility. Do you think it's random that big college games happen around the same time every year.

If the Patriots were to become the permanent "road" team, it would be an interesting exercise in seeing where business and play rank in importance.