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Leagues and Governing Bodies

NFL's London Game Facing Competition With EPL, Rugby World Cup Taking Place

Sunday’s Jets-Dolphins game at Wembley Stadium "faces a challenge no other previous incarnation" of the NFL Int'l Series has -- "landing in the middle of a bonanza weekend in British sports," according to Martin Rogers of USA TODAY. If ever there was a time when the NFL "could get lost in a frenetic sporting shuffle, this would appear to be it." NFL Exec VP/Int'l Mark Waller: "It was always going to be the test for us here. Could we establish ourselves as a proper part of the sporting calendar in the United Kingdom? That’s what has happened." With competition from the EPL and Rugby World Cup, the NFL "might come across as an underdog in the weekend’s battle for public attention." London-based sports consultant Paul Ridley: "The NFL has such momentum behind it in London now that it doesn’t need to worry as much about (soccer). There has never been another sport that could match up crowdwise against the national game. But the NFL is doing it and doing it successfully." Rogers notes Wembley "will be at its full NFL capacity of about 84,000." The sellout "comes despite the second half of the game conflicting" with the kickoff of Manchester United-Arsenal at Emirates Stadium eight miles away (USA TODAY, 10/2). NFL Network’s Jeff Darlington said the game is “significant to the NFL” as it is the first divisional game played in London. But he noted England has a huge Rugby World Cup match on Saturday in London against Australia, so that is what locals will be "paying attention to" ("Around The NFL," NFL Network, 10/1).

STILL A HOT TICKET: NFL U.K. Managing Dir Alistair Kirkwood said the first of three NFL London games this season was the second fastest-selling game in the eight-year history of the series. Only the inaugural Giants-Dolphins matchup in ’07 saw higher demand. Kirkwood: "The demand has been unbelievable." Ticket prices on the NFL U.K. website shows a range of US$53-225. Kirkwood noted more than 90% of the fans in attendance will be from the U.K., with the majority of those within a two-and-a-half hour. Less than 10% will travel from mainland Europe (4%) or the U.S., including expats (5%) (HJ Mai, SBD Global).

PREP WORK: In Miami, David Neal reports the Dolphins "put their sports science knowledge to use on the 8 1/2-hour flight which left South Florida Thursday evening." Coach Joe Philbin: "I just had (sports performance director) Wayne (Diesel) talk to the team right now about wearing compression things on the plane, about hydration when we get there. We’re going to have massage people there right away" (MIAMI HERALD, 10/2). In N.Y., Ben Shpigel notes the Jets "have spent the past 11 months planning for about 65 hours overseas." Jets Senior Manager of Team Operations Aaron Degerness said the London trip "involved about 10 times the work" compared to a normal road trip. Jets officials "made two reconnaissance trips to London" (N.Y. TIMES, 10/2).

SBJ Morning Buzzcast: March 25, 2024

NFL meeting preview; MLB's opening week ad effort and remembering Peter Angelos.

Big Get Jay Wright, March Madness is upon us and ESPN locks up CFP

On this week’s pod, our Big Get is CBS Sports college basketball analyst Jay Wright. The NCAA Championship-winning coach shares his insight with SBJ’s Austin Karp on key hoops issues and why being well dressed is an important part of his success. Also on the show, Poynter Institute senior writer Tom Jones shares who he has up and who is down in sports media. Later, SBJ’s Ben Portnoy talks the latest on ESPN’s CFP extension and who CBS, TNT Sports and ESPN need to make deep runs in the men’s and women's NCAA basketball tournaments.

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