by Sports Tourism Media co-editor Mike Starling | @mikejstarling
The NFL has confirmed that the 2020 London games will not be going ahead. As a fan of the Atlanta Falcons this is really disappointing news.
The coronavirus pandemic has ravaged this year’s sporting schedule and the NFL’s popular UK events have become the latest to fall victim to Covid-19.
NFL UK managing director Alistair Kirkwood said: “The NFL’s London Games have become a major part of the NFL season and the UK sports calendar. But the uncertainty in the current sporting landscape and the tremendous amount of long-term travel and planning required to stage successful London games mean this is the sensible decision to make.”
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Bitter blow for the FA, Spurs and Falcons fans
The lack of NFL action in London this year will be a huge setback for the English Football Association (FA) – owners of Wembley – and also to Tottenham. The Daily Mail says that missing out on the two NFL games will cost the Premier League club in “excess of £4m”.
The news won’t just disappoint the FA and Spurs, but also fans of the Atlanta Falcons who are based in the UK and in Europe.
SB Nation’s The Falcoholic reported the rumour that the Falcons were due to play the Denver Broncos at Tottenham this autumn.
It would have been Atlanta’s first match in London since losing 22-21 to the Detroit Lions at Wembley in October 2014.
From the American Bowl to following the Falcons
I’ve been a fan of the NFL and American football since the 1980s when Channel 4 showed highlights on TV here in the UK. And my first live in-stadium experience was an “American Bowl” at Wembley in July 1988 when the Miami Dolphins beat the San Francisco 49ers 27-21.
Despite being an NFL fan since the 80s I never adopted a team until just a few years ago.
My better half went on a work trip (in around 2013 or 2014) to a number of cities in the States and I asked her to bring me something back which was sports related. What she came back with was a Falcons shirt with Roddy White’s No.84 emblazoned on the front and back.
It was then that the Falcons became my team.
A plea to the NFL
Since the American Bowl in 1988 I have attended a number of NFL fixtures – in London at Wembley and at Tottenham and also one match in the US (the Jets vs. Giants last November in New York).
However, I have never seen the Falcons live. I missed out on the 2014 match against Detroit and haven’t had the chance to get to Atlanta, yet.
Let’s just say having read that the Falcons were reportedly heading to London again, this year was meant to be the year of crossing off a major item from my sports bucket list.
If international travel becomes the norm again I will definitely go to Atlanta, but watching the Falcons here in my home town is something I want to experience.
Of course it’s understandable why the 2020 series won’t be happening in London this year. But it’s still a big disappointment.
So on behalf of Falcons fans in the UK and Europe, here’s my plea to the powers that be at NFL HQ… please, please, please bring the Falcons back to London in 2021.
My fellow Falcons fans and my yet-to-be-worn-at-a-match shirt are ready and waiting.
Main image: atlantafalcons.com