Chiefs to Host 2015 Game in London

[Dante84]

As part of the NFL's International Series the Chiefs are headed to London to host the Lions on November 1, 2015

The National Football League announced on Thursday that the Kansas City Chiefs have been selected to host a regular-season game overseas for the first time in franchise history. The club will take on the Detroit Lions in London on Nov. 1, 2015. The Week 8 contest will be part of the NFL’s International Series played at Wembley Stadium, one of three NFL games taking place in the United Kingdom in 2015. The game will be televised live locally and nationally on FOX.

“It is an honor for Kansas City to represent the NFL on an international stage,” Chiefs President Mark Donovan said. "We are excited for the opportunity this creates for our fans, our city and the global growth of the Chiefs brand.”

Chiefs Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt has played a key role in expanding the NFL’s footprint overseas. He has served as the International Committee’s Chairman since 2011. The International Series has grown from one regular season game in 2007 to three games in 2014. In total, 17 clubs have played games in London since 2007. Six NFL franchises will play at Wembley stadium in 2015. The Chiefs will host the Detroit Lions, the Miami Dolphins will host the New York Jets in a division matchup and the Jacksonville Jaguars will host the Buffalo Bills.

NFL International was formed in October of 1996. The league has held at least one regular-season game in London each year since 2007.

http://www.kcchiefs.com/news/article...e-1ba9510c50e6

Clark Hunt in 2011 on a London game

''It's something we may be interested in. It's something we would be open to. I definitely can't sit here and say that we've made the decision that it would be good for us. There are a lot of things that go into that decision. It's something we would want to discuss with the community. We understand that taking a home game away from the market affects people. We would want to make sure there would be support for it.''

Clark Hunt in 2011 on losing a home game

''That's something that weighs very much in my mind. 'We have a tremendous home-field advantage at Arrowhead. That would be one of the main considerations.''

[Mr. Flopnuts]

Mark Donovan just said that this game has nothing to do with trying to get a Super Bowl for KC.

[Bowser]

Originally Posted by Danguardace

Well I think every International Series game in London has sold 80-90k tickets. The sport is growing very quickly in this country with a rapidly growing University League even attracting American players.

Germany and Austria have semi Pro Leagues with good American talent being imported... guys College football fans will recognise.

So answer is yes.

Interesting. I would not have guessed the popularity of the NFL would be so widespread in Europe.

[Wallcrawler]

Ugh.

Just start a league over there and be done with this shit.

Losing a game at Arrowhead sucks. That's complete bullshit. Not to mention the ridiculous time difference that throws everything off for regular football fans.

**** this stupid ass London football bullshit.

[Donger]

Originally Posted by Danguardace

Just been told that this will be the same weekend as the Rugby World Cup Final... For the uninitiated that is going to be like host the final Four. Hotel and flight prices will be jacked up.

Great Job Chiefs

I Hate Big Hotel and Airline.

[Lzen]

This sucks.

Why can't they do this in preseason?

[TLO]

Originally Posted by Lzen

This sucks.

Why can't they do this in preseason?

Because we are the Chiefs.

[Old Dog]

Originally Posted by Lzen

This sucks.

Why can't they do this in preseason?

$$$$
They wouldn't sell tickets to a preseason game over there any more than they would here. The difference is that here they have season ticket holders to pay full price to those games.

[Dayze]

it really is comical the more I think about it.

I grow to hate this league more and more each year.

[Hootie]

I hate this so much

but, fortunately, we're a pretty good road team under Reid

[Danguardace]

Originally Posted by Donger

Are you an ex-pat or a Brit?

Brit

I have followed the sport since 1990. I have Played in Amateur teams here and have coached for the last 6 years. The sport had a boom in the 80's and decline in the early 00's and has been on the rise again since 2007.

[MMXcalibur]

Awesome, we lose one of the better home field advantages against a team where disrupting their offense with noise would be most advantageous.

But no, let's throw that away so some English ****s can enjoy themselves.

**** the NFL.

[Hootie]

I was mad for 35 seconds and then I just officially got over it

[wazu]

Just heard point on the radio that Lions will have experience in a London game from this season whereas Chiefs will be figuring it out for the first time. In case anybody wanted another reason to not like this.

[Hootie]

Originally Posted by wazu

Just heard point on the radio that Lions will have experience in a London game from this season whereas Chiefs will be figuring it out for the first time. In case anybody wanted another reason to not like this.

oh by golly gee we're doomed

[Danguardace]

Originally Posted by Bowser

Interesting. I would not have guessed the popularity of the NFL would be so widespread in Europe.

The NFL likes to think it is purely down to them selves but College football has been televised here for the last 10 years or so we now get 6-7 Live CFB games a week. Ireland hosts an annual college football too.

The NFL is trying to fathom out whether a Franchise is possible over here. Due to EU policy and the channel tunnel the whole of Europe can get over here which is an underrated aspect of this. People from Ireland, Scandinavia, Germany, France etc come to watch these games not just Brits.