Browns Ownership Pays To Send Entire Organization To London Game

The Browns made today’s game against the Vikings at Twickenham Stadium in London an "entire team affair" by making it so that "anyone from the organization who wanted to could travel to England on the company’s shillings." Owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam "chartered and paid for a second wide-body plane for those who wanted to attend and enjoy a getaway while working for what is a Browns home game." Sponsors also "joined the group and stayed in a London hotel, unlike the players and coaches who were outside the city." Mail room employees right up to the executive office staff "were among those in attendance" (ESPN.com, 10/28). Meanwhile, the Haslams yesterday "rolled up their sleeves and poured ale for fans at the UK Browns Backers event at The Admiralty on Trafalgar Square." Hundreds of Browns fans "attended the event" (CLEVELAND.com, 10/28). 

Vikings Owner Mark Wilf on Friday said, "We’ve had a great experience so far here, and we will be supportive of the league’s efforts on the International Series wherever we can." Wilf added that he "could see the NFL eventually placing a team in London." Wilf: "There’s a lot of logistics to it, a lot of things have to be worked through. ... The knowledge of the game and the fan base here has grown tremendously" (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 10/28).