Breaking News: Packers to Play in Europe This Season
NFL Announces that Packers will play a game in the UK this season.
By JerseyAl
It's finally happening. The Packers will be travelling overseas this season to play a game in the UK. The game will be played in the Tottenham Hotspur's stadium, but the opponent has not yet been revealed.
Addendum: The Packers were scheduled for nine home games this season, so season ticket holders and the local economy will still get their usual eight home games.
Here's the official statement from Mark Murphy:
"The Green Bay Packers are excited to make our international debut during the 2022 season," Packers President/CEO Mark Murphy said. "Our fans in the UK and elsewhere in Europe have been eagerly awaiting an opportunity to see the Packers play in their backyard, and we know that many of our fans in the United States will travel to London. It will be an honor to represent the NFL, as well as Green Bay and the state of Wisconsin, internationally. This will be a great opportunity to introduce the Packers, as well Green Bay and our area, to an international audience and encourage fans in the UK to visit us in person at Lambeau Field."
Your 🇬🇧 teams for the 2022 NFL London Games 🤩@packers@Saints@Jaguars | @JaguarsUK
Full match-ups to be announced soon!
— NFL UK (@NFLUK) February 28, 2022
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"Jersey Al" Bracco is the Editor-In-Chief, part owner and wearer of many hats for CheeseheadTV.com and PackersTalk.com. He is also a recovering Mason Crosby truther. Follow Al on twitter at @JerseyalGBP.
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Comments (35)
PackfanNY
February 28, 2022 at 09:05 am
So now in the year when the Packers have 9 “home” games they have the 9th home game as really a neutral site game. .Yeah, does nothing for me but the Packers and the NFL will tell us how “great” this is. A complete money grab.
PhantomII
February 28, 2022 at 10:33 am
Yea, I really don't see why they can't schedule both teams as away games...makes no sense at all to me, especially with the extended season.
JerseyAl
March 01, 2022 at 08:23 am
Because then you be left with two other teams needing to play each other as Home teams. What do you do about that?
PhantomII
March 01, 2022 at 10:28 pm
That can be handled by NFL as we played the Saints and Chicage played Giants so not every team in a NFC North played the exact same teams. Bye weeks, etc.
Since'61
February 28, 2022 at 09:09 am
I hate this overseas games in the first place. If this costs the Packers a home game it’s even worse.
Totally unnecessary, but part of the league’s ongoing money grab. Thanks, Since ‘61
Starrbrite
February 28, 2022 at 04:39 pm
Agree—very much dislike these international games—-and for what? As you say, it can only be about $$$.
Since'61
February 28, 2022 at 05:20 pm
The travel is hard on the players and just dilutes the level of play and increases the risk of injuries. Like TNF it's totally unnecessary and that's what makes it annoying for me. Stay safe. Thanks, Since '61
MainePackFan
February 28, 2022 at 06:22 pm
I completely agree 61.
wallsthotshot
February 28, 2022 at 09:15 am
Anyone know what the policy is for season ticket holders... presume we lose the game? Ugh... Hate this. Make them come to GB and spend on the local economy!
JerseyAl
February 28, 2022 at 09:25 am
As I added above: The Packers were scheduled for nine home games this season, so season ticket holders and the local economy will still get their usual eight home games.
calabasa
February 28, 2022 at 11:09 am
9-8= 1 less home game than scheduled. How is this not a net loss of 1 home game?
JerseyAl
March 01, 2022 at 08:25 am
They have never had 9 home games. You can't lose something you never had.
Irish_Cheesehead
February 28, 2022 at 10:17 am
Maybe they'll fly you over and put you up for free?
HarryHodag
February 28, 2022 at 09:34 am
Perspective: Every team in the league is required to play overseas. The Packers delayed it until the NFL went to 17 games, thus giving Green Bay a traditional 8 home game season.
Yes, it takes away a 9th game. But for local business, 8 games are what they're used to. They've also gotten home playoff games in the past(extra game) which few talk about.
The Packers have a large fan base in Europe, especially Great Britain. It's time those fans got to see the real thing, too.
Most fans watch it on TV anyway be it in Green Bay or London. BTW- London is a great city. It would be worth it to go to the game and sightsee. I lived there for three months.
stockholder
February 28, 2022 at 09:36 am
I remember the World Football League. Do we really have to go there?
Turophile
February 28, 2022 at 09:39 am
Since I live in England, this is the first time I get to see the Packers (assuming I can get a ticket).
The way it works here (I've been to other NFL games in previous years), is that no matter how fast you get in for a ticket you never seem able to get something near the halfway line, especially not near the front, so unless things change radically, I'll be in an end zone up in the god-level tier.....................BUT that is a whole lot better than not being able to watch them live, so, hooray.
I do feel sorry for the Lambeau faithful for missing a home game. The Packers resisted giving away a home game longer than any other team, but now it is mandated for all teams to play away sometimes, I have my chance to see them................and if Rodgers is back at the Packers this year, I shall likely get to see him and Adams as well, not to mention the many other great players on this team.
jurp
February 28, 2022 at 11:29 am
Good seats for football are between the 20s, from row 20 to row 40 (varies by stadium a bit). You don't want to be down too far because then the far sideline is difficult to see.
In general, I've found during my 10 years of attending Wisconsin Badgers games that the closer I am to the end zone, the higher row numbers give you better seats because you can see the action at the far end of the field better. With the large screens we have now, this is less important.
With any luck here, a Lambeau ticket holder can weigh in on their thoughts for that stadium.
Coldworld
February 28, 2022 at 09:40 am
Unexcited but we knew it was coming. At least it’s one hour less time difference than other options.
13TimeChamps
February 28, 2022 at 10:26 am
EVERY fan I know of HATES Thursday night games.
EVERY fan I know of HATES London games.
EVERY fan I know of HATES the 17 game schedule.
I can't wait to see what the next plan will be to piss off long time NFL fans.
calabasa
February 28, 2022 at 11:10 am
The NFL $$ machine is much bigger than us fans. Nothing will stop it at this point.
jurp
February 28, 2022 at 11:37 am
"I can't wait to see what the next plan will be to piss off long time NFL fans."
How about two European Conferences (East and West, presumably) that would require teams to play three away games in a row on a different continent? I'm assuming that it would make more sense for the Packers, for example, to fly to Europe and play games against London, Berlin, and Paris on consecutive weeks, and for the London Bulldogs (once they exist) to fly to the US to play Green Bay, LA, and Miami, than the alternative (fly 6-8 hours, spend a couple of days in the UK, play, fly 6-8 hours back, then repeat the next week for a Berlin game).
Now THAT could really piss us off!
And think about the playoffs, where a team WOULD have to fly back and forth in less than a week. But oh, would the money flow into the owners' pockets...
mnbadger
February 28, 2022 at 12:09 pm
that's what I call "Buck Rodgers" thinking. It sounds possible, but won't happen. Good for a laugh though. GPG
jurp
February 28, 2022 at 04:44 pm
Only wrote it for a laugh (13Times DID say he wanted to see what the NFL could do to piss us off even more!).
HarryHodag
February 28, 2022 at 04:40 pm
Perspective: speaking for all fans is a bit much, no?
If all fans hated Thursday night football, TV ratings would plummet, revenue would plummet and they would go away. That hasn't happened. In fact, more media are lining up to pay big bucks for TV/internet rights. They wouldn't do that if the public 'hates' it.
London games: what's the big deal? It's on TV...look at it this way you saved hundreds of dollarsonly to watch from the end zone.
16 or 17 games....that's something to get upset about? More real NFL
football vs. one stupid exhibition game.
13TimeChamps
March 01, 2022 at 08:48 am
I never said ALL fans. I was speaking for every fan that I personally know. Friends, family, co-workers, etc.
Thursday night games are totally unfair to the traveling teams. They basically get one day of practice to prepare for the game to go along with all the other disadvantages to a typical road game. I've yet to hear a fan being happy about their team being the road team for a Thursday night game.
17 games is just a temporary precursor to an 18 game schedule. The NFL keeps preaching safety. Weren't there enough injuries during a 16 game schedule? The NFL is a brutal game. It's just a money grab while ignoring the potential impact on the player's bodies.
As far as London games, again, I've yet to hear one fan get excited about their team being involved. It takes away a home game for fans that would attend that game. Of course, it's on tv. That's not the point.
You're obviously one of those fans that loves as much football that the NFL will cram down your throat, and that's your prerogative. A lot of other fans believe the product is becoming watered down for the almighty dollar.
Starrbrite
February 28, 2022 at 04:43 pm
I love Thursday Night Football—-the only one I guess…
Since'61
February 28, 2022 at 05:28 pm
13Times the next plan will be to expand to Europe, London, Berlin, France and maybe Madrid. 36 teams, 18 game regular season. However, I don't believe this will happen until we have planes that can reach Europe within 3 - 4 hours at the most. As of now that is not projected to happen until later in this decade at the earliest. That is the only way the amount of travel required can work. Stay safe. Thanks, Since '61
Starrbrite
February 28, 2022 at 07:14 pm
Several years ago I won a contest to attend a Packer “Fantasy Camp”. Several of the glory year players attended, including Jerry Kramer. I had the privilege of having breakfast with Kramer and one of the things he said to me (which took me by surprise), was that it was inevitable the NFL would eventually expand internationally.
It seems Jerry may be right.
MainePackFan
February 28, 2022 at 06:38 pm
Games in China. That will take me out.
Packers0808
February 28, 2022 at 10:43 am
One word: IDIOTIC!
Roadrunner23
February 28, 2022 at 10:43 am
🥳
marpag1
February 28, 2022 at 11:48 am
Anyone who regularly travels overseas understands what a pain in the ass this can be, and the impracticality of it all. I have always hated the NFL's stupid money grab of trying to "go global."
When you get right down to it, I pretty much hate every damn thing that the NFL does. Players and coaches make a great game, but that's not corporate NFL. Corporate NFL can fall off the face of the earth and make it a better place.
Crankbait
March 01, 2022 at 08:51 am
I love the game...... despise the NFL.
BELIEVER
February 28, 2022 at 12:16 pm
No one wants this, Goodall can go away. Over paid, ruining the NFL .
NoNonsense
March 01, 2022 at 11:06 am
I'm very happy for all the European fans who finally get to see the Packers in London. GB had so many fans overseas from London to Scotland to Ireland and too many others to list. It will absolutely be just like a home game for GB even though it is a neutral site and overseas. I feel sorry for the Giants (best guess) or whoever they end up playing over there.
To all our Packer backer brethren in Europe and all over the world, I salute you, enjoy the game if you can make it. Go Pack!