The NFL will decide prior to the Super Bowl whether it will return to Mexico City for another regular-season game after the Oakland Raiders beat the Houston Texans 27-20 Monday night at Estadio Azteca, according to ESPN's John Sutcliffe. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on Monday did not confirm a return to Mexico, as league officials "have to gather around and see if everything went right." However, the NFL wants to "grow the game," and Hispanic fans make up a "huge market." Also, Estadio Azteca "has been refurbished," with new box seats installed and "millions of dollars invested." Sutcliffe: "The NFL has found a place close to the U.S. that you can come (to) every year and the teams aren't going to complain of the logistics. ... I'm pretty sure the NFL is coming back to Mexico City, and I wouldn't be surprised (if) it's 'Monday Night Football'" ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 11/22). ESPN.com reported Goodell prior to the game spoke to Sutcliffe on the Mexican version of "NFL Live" and indicated that he is "optimistic the league will return to Mexico City in the years ahead." Goodell: "This is a priority for us. We see the passion that's happening here and the fans' interest in this game continues to explode. We want to feed that. ... We want to continue that relationship and be back for more." He added that the NFL's plans "will not be impacted by President-elect Donald Trump's previous comments on Mexicans." Goodell: "I don't see that changing our perspective at all. For us, this is about the future and continuing to grow and to reach more fans. ... This isn't about politics" (ESPN.com, 11/21).
FANS WERE READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL: ESPN.com's Alden Gonzalez reported a "fan fest was held in the sprawling Chapultepec Park" in Mexico City during the days leading up to the game. Fans "ran the 40-yard dash, returned punts, tried on NFL uniforms, snapped pictures of Super Bowl rings and posed with the Vince Lombardi Trophy." Every station "had long lines throughout" (ESPN.com, 11/22).
LASER LIGHT SHOW: In Houston, Aaron Wilson reported Texans QB Brock Osweiler after the game "expressed frustration about a green laser pointer repeatedly being shined into his eyes by an unidentified individual or individuals." Osweiler said, "I never want to say one thing is a difference-maker, but certainly, having a laser zoomed in on your eyeball definitely affects how you play a game. ... I've never experienced a laser being shined in my eyeball during a football game, let alone a professional football game in the National Football League" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 11/22).
MEET AND GREET: EXCELSIOR reported hours before the game, Goodell met with Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto. Also present at the meeting were Mexican Secretary of Tourism Enrique de la Madrid Cordero and Secretary of Finance José Antonio Meade Kuribreña (EXCELSIOR, 11/21). LA AFICIÓN reported Mexico City authorities said that 15 arrests were made "related to ticket resale." No other arrests were made (LA AFICIÓN, 11/22).
