Jordan’s Serial: Our Big Show
We all know the National Football League likes to put on a show. This past weekend they did just that and more. Even the sun was out for the majority of the time, beaming down on faithful followers of the gridiron, and those that are new to the game too. This was a real festival type weekend of football, which culminated in the best game the International Series has served up so far.
For several months now the hype has built up to this almighty crescendo of colour and sound, rarely does the NFL fail to deliver so the wait was fully justified. With tickets sales guaranteeing a sell-out within a few days of the staggered sales – offering “season tickets” for those that wanted to attend both this game and the one in four weeks time – and details of game day arrangements drip fed during the summer, fans were just chomping at the bit for their first taste of September action.
Before the game there is the now customary get together on the streets of London. This time the NFL treated us to a Block Party. The usual event held at Trafalgar Square was moved to the busiest shopping area in Central London, Regents Street. From Nike Town all the way down top Piccadilly Circus, with the road closed, fans in attendance were treated to food, games, and of course the players. The meet and greet of some the most well known is something we should be very thankful for, how often do these owners and players actually go out and do this in their hometowns just 24 hours before a game?
An estimated 500,000 people strolled through this five hour event, it would be very hard to suggest that they weren’t a few new converts to the game amongst them, even if it just out of curiosity to start. Knowing how captivating the sport can be these people should be hooked every Sunday.
The Pittsburgh Steelers and Minnesota Vikings played their part on Sunday in a compelling game which saw the Vikings lead early and never relinquish that it, although the frantic comeback at the end will convince those even further that this is a sport that can be viewed for the first time and be enjoyed, as well as whet the appetite more for the hardcore veteran fans.
Without going into huge debate here, this of course sets another marker down for a future London franchise. The talk was played down a little in the week before, certain areas in the media suggesting that as ready as London is, the fan base here would probably have to triple in size from its current number. Given that it’s doubled since the first International Series game here in 2007, it has some way to go. The market isn’t saturated; it’s very much a slow process, one that realistically will see a team here no earlier than in the next decade, if indeed it happens.
For now though let’s revel in what was another great weekend both on and off the field. For fans old and new this was a weekend to remember, and we’ve only got four weeks until the next one.