NFL IN TALKS WITH WEMBLEY TO BRING BACK GAMES TO LONDON
14 May 2004
The National Football League (NFL) has opened discussions with Wembley National Stadium Limited over staging games in the new stadium.
The new Wembley Stadium is due to open its doors early in 2006 and the NFL, which has just signed a new three-year television contract with ITV, could be among the first sports to be played there. NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue met with Wembley Stadium Chief Executive Michael Cunnah and Football Association Chief Executive Mark Palios on a recent visit to London to discuss the possibility of bringing NFL games back to London for the first time in a decade.
Michael Cunnah, Chief Executive of Wembley, said:
“Wembley is the most famous stadium in the world, with a tradition of attracting the biggest names in sport and entertainment. The new Wembley will marry this reputation with state of the art facilities and an incredible atmosphere, to create the perfect stage for major events. The NFL runs some of the biggest events in world sport and they would make an ideal partner for Wembley Stadium.”
The NFL staged eight American Bowl games at the old Wembley Stadium from 1986 to 1993, featuring teams like the Dallas Cowboys, Miami Dolphins and San Francisco 49ers and star names like Joe Montana, Dan Marino, John Elway and William ‘The Refrigerator’ Perry.
Alistair Kirkwood, Vice-President of Strategic Planning for NFL Europe, said: “We believe that the time is right to bring NFL football back to Britain. Our new three-year agreement with ITV to screen Super Bowl and the NFL play-offs gives us a platform to introduce many new fans to the sport and staging a game at the new Wembley Stadium would be another important part of our strategy to re-introduce the NFL over here.
“The new stadium is going to be a magnificent venue and we are very hopeful that we can be one of the first sports to be showcased there.”
When it reopens in 2006, Wembley will play host to some of the biggest events in the sporting calendar, including The FA Cup Final, all Senior England Internationals, The League Cup Final and The Rugby League Challenge Cup Final.
The three-year deal between the NFL and ITV starts next year with Super Bowl XXXIX, which takes place at the Alltel Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida, on 6 February 2005. In addition to the live climax to the NFL season on ITV1, the network will also broadcast three highlights programmes following the NFL play-off weekends throughout January 2005 on ITV1, with highlights of the Super Bowl on ITV2.
Sky Sports will maintain its broadcasts of live regular season games and play-offs, including Super Bowl, while terrestrial coverage of the regular season, which kicks off on September 9, will be announced in the near future.