A fanfest along with 5k and 10k races were scheduled in downtown Mexico City to promote the gameGETTY IMAGES
After making the call to move Chiefs-Rams from Mexico City to L.A. due to poor field conditions at Estadio Azteca, the NFL was "quick to promise the decision wouldn’t alter its long-term plans in the country," according to a front-page piece by Kevin Baxter of the L.A. TIMES. NFL Exec VP/Int'l Mark Waller said the league's efforts in Mexico are "not a day-to-day, week-to-week proposition." Waller: "In the next 20 years the Mexican economy is going to grow. So it’s important for us that we’re part of that long-term future" (L.A. TIMES, 11/15). The AP's Carlos Rodriguez noted the move has "left many Mexicans disappointed, angered and wondering how it will affect the relationship with the league." Waller is in Mexico City today to "discuss next year and what needs to occur" at Estadio Azteca to "keep the NFL interested in playing there." The Mexico City game is "usually scheduled on the third weekend of November, when Mexicans celebrate the Revolution's anniversary." This year's fan fest was set to take place in the "main square located in downtown Mexico City" and event planners had "scheduled a 5k and 10k race for Sunday." Local authorities have "not said whether both events will continue" (AP, 11/14). ESPN’s Arash Markazi noted Rams players may be “happy that they get to come home,” but the organization “really wanted to play” in Mexico. The Rams “want to build a fan base” in the country and will “continue to go there and do things within the community” (“OTL,” ESPN, 11/14).
SAFETY FIRST: PRO FOOTBALL TALK's Mike Florio writes in the future, any assessments over field concerns "need to be made much sooner than the week before the game." Shifting an international game "back to domestic soil less than a week before kickoff isn’t a good look" (PROFOOTBALLTALK.com, 11/15). Chiefs Chair & CEO Clark Hunt said moving the game was "100 percent (about) player safety." Hunt: "That’s really what the decision was about, was not having the players play on a field that wasn’t safe." Hunt said that he "hadn’t heard any specific concerns" his players prior to the decision. He said the "problem" with Estadio Azteca is that the field is a "combination of synthetic and grass and you can’t just tear down and just put sod down like you can with a grass field." Hunt: "I certainly don’t think it’s a positive for the league. Mexico has been a central piece to our efforts to grow the game internationally. Obviously, the NFL has a lot of fans in Mexico." Hunt said that his club would "help fans get ticket refunds if they wanted them" and would help fans obtain tickets in L.A. if they "decide to make the trip." He also said that there have been "internal discussions about doing something for season-ticket holders who were going to attend the game in Mexico City." In K.C., Brooke Pryor notes United and American Airlines both said that they would "waive change fees for fans who were scheduled to travel to Mexico City for the game." League officials are "scheduled to meet with partners in Mexico next week to talk about the future of the game." Hunt said that he "wasn’t concerned about playing another game there." Hunt: "I wouldn’t be hesitant at all" (K.C. STAR, 11/15).
POINTS & COUNTER-POINT: In S.F., Ann Killon writes under the header, "NFL Makes The Right Move; Could It Become A Habit?" The NFL "did the right thing," and "maybe the lesson is the NFL can do the right thing, at least when it knows everyone will be watching" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 11/15). ESPN’s Ryan Smith said “many things were done right” surrounding the game move. Whether the NFL “should have called off Mexico City sooner is open for debate, but they get credit for pulling the plug, even if it cost them millions of dollars in the process.” Now it is “time to right the wrongs for one group that deserves the most, the fans.” Smith: “If you say this game is about the fans, it should be about the fans. Even the smallest of gestures to return that love for the game can go a long way” (“OTL,” ESPN, 11/14). But in St. Louis, Ben Frederickson writes by announcing the change late Tuesday afternoon, the NFL "smacked fans across the face." Frederickson: "How many people booked trips for this game? How many will not be able to get their money back?" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 11/15).
