The NFL this morning announced its three-game slate in '15 for Wembley Stadium -- Jets-Dolphins in Week 4, Bills-Jaguars in Week 7 and Lions-Chiefs in Week 8 (NFL). In Detroit, Dave Birkett notes the NFL "wanted to play games on consecutive weekends next year to better test the viability of having a franchise in London." That is the same reason the league is "sending three teams back for a second straight year." The Jaguars are playing the Cowboys this Sunday in London, while the Lions defeated the Falcons and the Dolphins beat the Raiders earlier this season in the U.K. (DETROITNEWS.com, 11/6). Also in Detroit, Josh Katzenstein notes '14 is the first season three games were played in London, and the "success of the International Series helped the league decide to have three again next season." The Lions "appeared to be a popular team during their trip in Week 8 with well-attended events throughout the week, including an NFL fan fest at Trafalgar Square that drew thousands of visitors" (FREEP.com, 11/6). This will mark the Dolphins' third trip to London since the NFL began playing regular-season games in the U.K. in '07 (THE DAILY).
DOLPHINS LOSING RIVALRY GAME: In Miami, Adam Beasley reports the Dolphins become the first team that has "surrendered a home divisional game to play in Europe." There are several reasons why the team gave up "such a lucrative game," including the fact it will "help their case when they lobby to bring a future Super Bowl back to South Florida." The NFL wants teams that host Super Bowls to "give up a home game in exchange for winning the rights to the game." Moving the Jets game next year "could be the Dolphins' way of getting it over with sooner rather than later." The construction schedule for Sun Life Stadium upgrades could also "be a factor" (MIAMIHERALD.com, 11/6). In Ft. Lauderdale, Omar Kelly notes the Jets game annually is "one of the best attended home games" for the Dolphins -- last year's matchup drew 70,296 fans and Jets-Dolphins has averaged 67,291 "in the past five seasons." By moving that game, it is clear Dolphins Owner Stephen Ross "is making a sacrifice with the hopes of it paying off in the back-end." The Dolphins also are "lobbying the NFL for league assistance to help finance" the stadium renovations, and it is "possible that making sacrifices to benefit the NFL's global brand could payoff in the long run for Ross." The team will get $1M for losing the home game (SUN-SENTINEL.com, 11/6). PRO FOOTBALL TALK's Mike Florio writes the move "shows that the league is willing to put competitive concerns aside when it comes to growing the game in London." Florio: "Which could mean the league is willing to risk the competitive disadvantages that would come from moving a team to England, and the potential competitive advantages that would be provided to a London-based team in order to help it remain viable" (PROFOOTBALLTALK.com, 11/6).
QUESTIONS ABOUND: In West Palm Beach, Andrew Abramson writes moving a divisional game to London "wasn't even believed to be a possibility" because it is a "competitive disadvantage." It is "unclear at the moment why it's the Jets game that would move to Wembley Stadium," and Abramson wonders if "none of Miami's other road opponents wanted to travel to London" (PALMBEACHPOST.com, 11/6). In Miami, Armando Salguero wrote, "I'm trying to think which part of this set of facts is good for the football side of the Dolphins organization." A source said the decision to sacrifice a division game for a London trip makes the Dolphins look like a team that would "rather be hosting Super Bowls than playing in Super Bowls." Salguero wrote, "I do not know for a fact the Dolphins agreed to go back to the United Kingdom in order to line up for a Super Bowl bid. But when you understand that the Dolphins are giving up a home divisional game against arguably their most bitter rival, it is hard to argue a counterpoint to that criticism -- or any criticism" (MIAMIHERALD.com, 11/5). The South Florida Sun-Sentinel's Dave Hyde wrote on Twitter, "Don't agree w/Dolphins giving up Jets game for London.Division games should be off limits. Rivals even more. 5 other opponents to play there." WPLG-ABC's Will Manso wrote, "It's a double whammy for Dolphins. Losing a home game and losing it to Jets. Always a fun game for fans to look forward to here" (TWITTER.com, 11/6).
CRUNCHING THE NUMBERS: In K.C., Terez Paylor writes the Chiefs giving up a home game is "unusual in the sense that most of the teams that have played host to overseas games thus far have attendance issues. That is "not an issue for the Chiefs, who ranked seventh in attendance last season." Both the Jaguars and Buccaneers have "been the home team twice," while the Dolphins, Rams, Raiders and Vikings have also hosted games. All of those teams "ranked 21st or below in attendance last season." Chiefs Chair & CEO Clark Hunt has "served as the chairman of the International Committee -- which is in charge of expanding the NFL’s footprint overseas -- since 2011" (KANSASCITY.com, 11/6). The Canton Repository's Mike Popovich wrote, "I'm not anti-London when it comes to the NFL, but why would the #Chiefs give up one of the best home field advantages to play a game there?" (TWITTER.com, 11/6).
