Patriots to play in London in '09

Better than preseason in China!

Kraft translation: "I'm proud to announce that the Patriots are one of the favored franchises of the NFL, meaning that we will not be giving up even a single home game to satisfy my friend Roger Goodell's wet dreams regarding international expansion. That 'honor' will be bestowed upon the Bucs, who will have the privilege of traveling over 1500 miles to be crushed by Tom Brady and my cast of merry men."

There is no upside here for the Pats

Do they typically wrap this around the teams bye week somehow? I mean do the teams typically have the bye week the week before (or the week after) this game?

Just another stupid distraction for the team. I bet Belichick loves the fact he has to take his team across the ocean to play a game on a crappy field!

The teams that come over here get their bye week after the game.

I know it will probably annoy a lot of the Patriots fans in the USA, but as a Patriots fan over in the UK, I am soooo excited to finally get the chance to see my team.

I was planning on trying to get over for a game next year to celebrate turning 21/graduating, but I can now put that off and save more money for it and go to Wembley. This is an unbelievable feeling of happiness.

I

Seeing how this years schedule included 1) the earliest possible bye week 2) two sets of back-to-back west coast games (didn't even get a bye week after one of them), 3) three straight games during the final playoff push portion of the season in which the oppostion will have 10 days between games and 4) A season ending snow game waiting to happen in Buffalo, sucking up to NFL by going overseas and being assured of a bye week during a useful part of the season doesn't seem like a terrible idea. But ONLY because they are the 'away' team. As an elite NFL franchise, they will almost undoubtably have a clear fan advantage over the recently sucessful, but under-hype TB club.

From a travel prespective this is much better than the two west coast trips of back-to-back games we've had to endure this season. No complaints from me, especially since we don't lost a home game.

I hate this! Football is America's sport, and I am not interested in any international relations with potential fans in the UK. Keep it here and quit punishing the players by making them travel overseas. It's ludicrous.

Good news for the european fans, like I.

Yes, in the past two years both teams have had a bye following the London game.It should be good since it's the London game should be around the 7th or 8th week. So right in the middle of season where the players usually prefer the bye.

It takes less time to Fly to London than it does to Fly to Seattle so the trip is not a big issue. The time change can be overcome...the game is in the middle of the day.

It is an honor to be selected and I am sure that eventually some of the bitter Patriot fans will be proud of it. But most of them are still mad the Tom Brady is out for the year and that we are 7-5 and average like the rest of the league.

What do you suppose those fans will do when the Red Sox miss the playoffs...?

I am stoked for this game. Going to London for the pats is just like going on a west coast trip. It's the same distance (although the time change is unfavorable). I lived in London and missed all three Pats superbowl victories so it's rather Ironic that now, after I've moved home, they go and play in Wembley. I managed to get a bunch of my English friends on the pats bandwaggon andI know they are pumped for this game as well. 3200 miles isn't all that far to travel. Should be a fun game watching Brady demolish and dissect the Bucs!

Didn't the Patriots already play in England a few years ago in an episode of Family Guy?

FIRE Roger Goodell or anyone to export American Sports out of America.
Fooball is America's sport. Period.
If somebody outside America likes football ,just go to US and WATCH

A lot less bitter fans here than i expected! Who says "football" is for Americans only? We get 5 live games a Sunday on our biggest broadcaster, i even pay for NFL GamePass so i get to watch every game live.

I've been to Foxboro many times including the playoffs last season, will be nice to see you guys returning home.

The game is huge across Europe and the east and i referee every weekend here in the UK in both our University (college) and senior leagues. And if you ask around you'll find our British written referee mechanics guide is widely used across the USA, we do know a thing or two about "your" sport.

why doesn't Manchester United + Chelsea play a game here? That would be a nice tradoff...

Amen, GoBam!, way better than the lunatic idea of traveling to China just for a preseason game. Glad somebody's happy about it, Neil, but I'll wager Belichick's response will be the standard when annoyed "we just worry about the things we can control". Contrast that with last night's obviously seething, but in control BB post game response to the "what did you think about" the intent to injure hit on Welker.

BTW, Neil - know if our old mate John Smith is still involved with announcing NFL games in the UK?

wait a minute, wasn't a game played in Japan? Then, this wouldn't be the first international NFL game played, right?

I'm hoping that some dope from the media asks Bill, within the next few days, about how he feels about a game being played in London NEXT year! It could be a priceless response.

Kind of pumped for this. My buddies and I like to travel to road games and this could be a heck of a trip.

And has been said, the travel factor for the players will be no worse than flying to Seattle, unlike a team like San Diego who had to literaly fly half way around the world for the game this year

I attended the very first NFL pre-season game held at Wembley back in the 80s. At that time, there were just several hundreds of fans in attendance and many of those were US citizens/military who were stationed there at the time. We did have other US citizens from throughout Europe who traveled to England for the games, but even at that, we were outnumbered by English fans. For years, prior to that game, the local television had covered the sport, and even had whole play-off and of course super-bowl games broadcast. Since then, there has been an ever increasing interest in American Football, and of course increasing coverage by local TV, radio, and print media. Yes- its Americas game - so is Basketball., in which we are rgularly seeing players from "over there". So what. Money in our pockets.

When do the tickets go on sale and price?

Anyone know any bars in London that will be showing the Sox in the Series that night?

This means no visit to the Spaceship and M Venus on Dale Mabry! Doh!

Hopefully, there won't be any incendiary devices or ripped out seats thrown onto the field or at the players resulting in a full fledged riot complete with fatalities, police on horseback charging skinheads, and drunk Brits looting half of London. Oh yeah, that would be European Football. Never mind.....

Will Peter Griffin be there?

I hate this! Football is America's sport, and I am not interested in any international relations with potential fans in the UK. Keep it here and quit punishing the players by making them travel overseas. It's ludicrous.

HI, I'll travel from Barcelona,Spain to London,UK just to see the Patsss!!!!
GO PATSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wow! that's is going to be like Big Red playing Queens Park Rangers.

The Brits have a year to paint that self indulgent mural of Bob Kraft in Patriots place. What a bunch of frauds the Krafts are. If it wasn't for hitting the DNA lottery, Jonathan Kraft would be doing my taxes.

They might as well play in London...they can't play here.

I just e-mailed this to my friends in England. They're huge Patriots fans, and I've sent them the Super Bowl championship tshirts and sweatshirts, so now they'll be able to attend a game in person. And since there's only a 5 hour time difference between London and Boston, we'll be able to watch the game at a decent time here in Boston, too.

As a die-hard Patriots fan who lives in Tampa.....THIS SUCKS!

It's amazing how many people are so parochial. It's great for the game and the team to showcase the NFL overseas. At least the Patriots aren't losing a home game.

Odyssey - Mons Venus will always be here in Tampa, so you can come visit anytime. Maybe durring the Rays/Red Sox ALCS re-match? ;-)

Based on the previous years schedules that should make Pats at Colts 11/8 or 11/9.

The only thing I can think of is, why go to the UK? If Europe was serious about American Football, then why the failures of the World League and NFL Europe?

A bit of an exaggeration there JPC....lol

As for the poster saying about the Pats being supported over the Bucs, I wouldn't be so sure.

As a lot of Brits holiday in Florida, Tampa have quite a healthy following, in fact their UK Fan Club is probably the biggest we have over here. Certainly this match up is one that will ensure a sell out, of that I have no doubt.

Tickets generally go on sale in May from memory, but as you are in the US it will be slightly different for you than us over in the UK.

As I said before, I could not be more happy about this announcement, it will just make me even more determined to come to Foxboro for a game after seeing the proper stuff in the flesh- the only previous NFL we had here was the Scottish Clyamores in NFL Europe.

As for broadcasting, John Smith is no longer involved, the shows are anchored on Sky Sports by an American called Kevin Cadle, a Bills fan, and a Brit NFL journalist, Nick Halling, a Steelers fan.

On Channel Five, the main analyst is a former Wesleyan graduate and team mate of Bill B at college, Mike Carlson, a Patriots fan.

Football is an American sport BUT those of you who thinks that it should just be played on US soil.....YOU should open your small arrogant mind! NFL players come from all parts of the world and so do their fans!! Maybe you should venture off US soil once and awhile and see what the rest of the world has to offer!

HI, I'll travel from Barcelona,Spain to London,UK just to see the Patsss!!!!
GO PATSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

someone wake up John Smith!

I hope there's a bye week the week before they go there...

Dude, since the city of Tampa passed a "no touching" ordinance, the Mons has never been the same....

Good point Ed!

Look at some of these ridiculous comments! First of all, we're not losing a home game, so what's all the ridiculous reaction for? I grew up in Ireland, and played "American Football" in Dublin. We got one hours coverage every Sunday, and had to pick up games on the Armed Forces Radio Network out of Germany (on a weak AM signal). This is a small bone to throw to international fans, and a welcome one. Two east coast teams traveling about as far as a west coast game. This is good for the game and it's good for the league.

Davo

You can catch American sports at the Sports Cafe and the Cheers Bar around Piccadilly Circus

This international game stuff is for the birds. Let them have their soccor, (aka, football). Why does the NFL feel the need to transport our teams overseas. Until they can use a Star Trek type of transporter, it's totally absurd. It really does create a major burden & disadvantage for those teams that make these trips for their next game unless. they are given a bye week post trip. Beyond that I still think it's stupid to be pushing our National Football league, Internationally. The former IFL/WFL Failed miserably, why should we continue this. Leave them here. Let Europe & Asia develop & support their own leagues & then we'll look into international competition

Hey Pats Fan, I went to Nova Scotia once, does that count?

Really JPC? That stinks!

To Neil:

The legions of TRUE Patriots fans will not be upset with you at all, but rather be appreciative that the fan base extends so far. You'll actually have a better chance of getting tickets over there in Wembley, than travelling here to try to see a game. They're pretty hard to get this past few years.

Do the majority of UK fans who attend these games understand the game enough to enjoy it?

While you're over there, be sure to see some REAL football; i.e., the English Premier League. I happened to be there for a couple of games this year when the NFL teams played. I didn't even know it was going to happen until I was asked about it in a pub.

As a New England Fan, living in Albuquerque New Mexico, I would be more than willing to travel to London to see our Pat's play the Buccaneers. Flying to New England or England what the big deal, staying over for a few days in london and having a few pints, or visiting family. I'm for London and a few pints of some good english bitters.

"Until they can use a Star Trek type of transporter, it's totally absurd. It really does create a major burden & disadvantage for those teams that make these trips for their next game unless."

Dave Z: As a number of posters have pointed out, this logic is false: a trans-atlantic flight causes approximately the same hardship as a flight across the US, because the distance is approximately the same. Stop whining. In the end professional sports are simply one branch of the entertainment business. I think it'll be fun for Patriots fans globally.

Let's go TAMPA!

For every Bostonian who has tried to pad his fragile ego with New England teams' successes: your time is up, baby! Too bad their about to face the Bucs!!!

Let's see the arrogant New England fans cut down a bit!

Let's go TAMPA!

That's awesome. Unfortunately, I missed the Dolphins @ Patriots game this year while being in Boston... Now I'll fly over next year to root for my favourite team. YAY! We should have a Boston.com community meeting there, heh.

I saw the Cowboys + Bears play in Wembly for one of the first "American Bowl" games back in the mid 80's when I was stationed in Germany. What I remember most is the severe hangover we all had the next day since Wembley was serving American Beer and we thought it would be fun to drink that after years of German beer. What a Mistake. I have no idea who won.

Too bad Jeff Garcia willnot be with Tampa next year to play in London.

Every year for the past 15 seasons, a group of us go on at least one Patriots road trip each season. We try not to repeat cities if we can help it...we were getting a little tired of the Buffalo, Miami, Jets roadtrips every few years. Now London...THAT is something to look forward to!!!

They also play at New Orleans next year...ALWAYS a fun trip!

Jeff Garcia/Brian Griese-

Let's not get a chubby about the Bucs just yet. The game is not for another 11 months. By then, the Pats will have a cupcake schedule, better secondary, and Brady will be back.

"They are" instead of "their'

Hopefully the Commissioner will allow the Pats to cheat again so that they can return to their "glory" days. That way Londoners will get to see the red, white & blue triumphant again. By the way, it would have been worth another $500k fine to know that Harrison was going to strip the ball from Cassel. Oh, I guess Belichek could have watched a tv replay of the prior series to know that it was going to happen.

Here in old Blighty we can't wait to host you all. Over 7000 came from New Orleans this year .. but I know my New England comrades can do better than that!
There's a group of us UK-based Pats fans that come to Gillette every year (you may have seen photos/articles in this paper before). Now it's a fantastic opportunity to return the favour to the large number of tailgating buddies we've made on recent trips. I've been taking vacations in New England for nearly 20 years now, but with the fantastic exchange rate available for you on £££S now, it's time to grab your passport, get a ticket, and travel East for one of the noisiest, most electric football experiences ever.

As a fervent nationalist, isolationist, protectionist and any other ist you might think of, this disgust me. Call 1-212-450-2000 and let them know that this is not right. This policy punishes the loyal fans of the teams traveling by cheating them out of the chance to watch their teams play in person. But, yes, keep American sports in America.

Too bad they can't play the Silly Nannies.

Oh, and here's another reason why this game is going to create an amazing atmosphere. It's fair to say that we have a lot of young band-wagon Patriot fans here in the UK, who have joined the train since 2001. From never seeing another patriot jersey anywhere in the UK, we are now probably the most supported football team over here now. It's not gone un-noticed by the press, one announcer in particular making a big thing about it, and it's divided the UK football following nation. So Wembley next October will be the Patriots v The rest of the World as far as people here in the UK are concerned ... making it an even greater occasion, and sure to generate a lot of NOISE ! .

Ok, to the Tampa fan, I recall flying to New England from Albuquerque New Mexico to see New England win 28 to 3 on a very cold but sunny afternoon game two years ago and I must say that the flight was worth it. So having to fly to London for a repeat would be just great for me. For those of us New England Fans that are serious about going over to London, and see the Pat's have a good with the Buccaneers, now might be a good time to buy some pounds since the exchange rate is at about $1.48 to the English pound. That's the best it has been in three or more years.

The Pat's need to be thinking straight right now since they only have 4 games left to play in the season, and I really don't want to see our season end that soon.

From Spain one Pats fans will be there to see the best team ever no doubt. GO PATS

Football in Europe during the regular season is a dumb move for the NFL. I know they are trying to break into the market, but the travel schedule is hard enough without skipping 6 timezones and playing a game the week before and the week after. None of the NFL teams should be doing this!!

Great News ! I live on the outskirts of London and have been a Pats fan since 1985 , I never thought i'd see the day where the Patriots would play a regular season game here.
I can see the point of view of Americans who don't want the game to expand here, but they would be amazed at the passion and knowledge there is for the game here, The Pats are also now the most popular team in the UK and at the recent game at Wembley there were Pats Jerseys everywhere, a far cry from the early 90's when at London Monarchs games I was the only one wearing one!

Screwed again by Goodell. Is there nothing this man won't whore himself out for?

Kraft should have known better, but he's looking like more of a patsy in the NFL's pocket each and every day.

I think this is great for the Pats, and for Pats fans in the UK, who are a huge, loyal, and passionate group. I have met several of them over the years, and they impress me with their knowledge of the Pats, the NFL, and the American game of football. I am happy for them.

And, what more logical team to play in the UK than the New ENGLAND Patriots.

The NFL thinks it has a world class product. It's right. It is looking for ways to make more money so why not try and expand the fan base outside the US? Having more interested countries builds up the talent pool of players.
That is why Association football is so good, and has 100's of teams of very, very high quality. Also baseball has benefited greatly from its popularity in Japan. And in the future an NFL franchise in London perhaps?

Major overreactions by a lot of the fans on here.

A lot of UK fans have travelled over to see the Pats play in Foxboro and the NFL is getting bigger and bigger over here.

There is going to be a lot of neutrals who hate the Patriots, but we will turn this into a Pats home game no worries.

The Brady Bunch and BB will get us the win no doubt.

Listen to PFW in Progress and go to pfwinprogress.com for Patriots Radio news

Pats fan in the UK since 85, through the bad years and the good. So pumped to be seeing the Pats, also pleased it's not a home game! If you don't believe there's passionate Pats fans here, think again...

As a Brit who has been a Pats fan for over 20 years, this is one of the happiest days I can remember (enough even to dim the memory of yesterday's game). I come over to the US at least once a year for a game (I was at the Broncos game this year), but the dream that we might see my Pats in London? It's almost too much to believe. A home game for the Bucs? Well maybe when you realise that most NFL fans in the UK feel the same way about the Pats as most US fans, the neutrals will root for Tampa Bay. You will see jerseys of all the teams in the NFL in Wembley. But the Pats have a huge following. And I can promise you we will be there in strength and make a lot of noise (and we won't leave half way through the 4th quarter either).

You're more than welcome Mike. You blokes in AZ have put down markers, now it's time for the Brits to step up and have a Pats party.

Tommy T-
The majority of the fans who go to the games do indeed know their stuff, some I dare say more than a lot of American casual fans, there are some right anoraks and thriving NFL communities in the UK.

I do not mean in any way to disrespect the US Fans, as of course it is your game, but you know what people can be like when it comes to sport.

The fans here, and the media in general, are very appreciative of the effort the NFL
and the teams are going to to give European fans the chance of "real" football. Whilst some opinions are eerily similar to some US Views for example, "It's their game, why bring it over here..." etc as well as the controversial plans of the Engish Premier League wanting to take on an extra game in another country, there are stark similarities to the way that certain people view the whole International game scenario.

Is someone going to fill in the Brits on the meaning of the Pats team name, etc.? Is Kraft going to fly over the Revolutionaries? Instead of just firing a volley after scores, they can actually go after some real Royalists.

I used to live over there and I STRONGLY suggest that anyone who makes this a guys weekend away take the one hour flight to Amsterdam. It is EPIC

Doesn't matter. Pats will have Brady back, and everyone else healthy. 38-13 Pats on this day.

yea jpc there's no hooliganism (or idiotic behavior by your "stars") in american sports whatsoever, riiiiiiiiiiiiiiight...

WTF! I have waited 8 years for this game, so i could go to Tampa and Raymond James Stadium...and now it's not even going to be held there! What a joke!

If pro football is sooo popular in old Blighty how come the World Football League went bust over there??.....bet if you polled the two teams both teams would say....NO way!!

WOW!!! YEAH!!

Wihoo! Anyone know where/when these tickets go on sale?! I'm from Boston but live in Dublin and would def. hop over to London for a taste of home.

I don't understand why everyone is so worked up over the Pat's playing overseas. I know its an American sport, but so is alot of the fashion, music, and tv broadcasted in Europe. That's like telling all 20something Dubliners that they can't wear Abercrombie and Fitch because it's American. Talk about an uprising. Who cares! Globalization people. It's the new black.

how many Pats fans would be in raymond james for this game?
Wembley will be at least half-full with Patriots fans.
The Pats will probably recieve more of a welcome as the away team here than in Tampa.
I'm also upset that american fans seem to assume that NFL fans in the UK, despite watching the same sport, don't appreciate football? Yeah, american football and soccer are different. Soccer is the most popular sport in the world. But I can assure you, and i think i speak on behalf of all UK NFL fans....we’ve never got the two confused. A TD isn’t a ‘goal’. A FG isn’t a Penalty. To debunk a few ‘myths’: we’re not hooligans. We understand the name ‘Patriots’ and the WFL/NFL Europa folded because, frankly, it was crap. Football is more popular in the UK now then it was during WFL-era, more football games are shown live on TV than premiership (soccer) games each week, and football is one of the most rapidly expanding sports at collegiate/university level. And no disrespect to Americans, as someone said, it is your sport; but we ‘get’ Football. Half a million ticket requests last year highlights this. The atmosphere at the Saints/Chargers game was an improvement on the Dolphins/Giants one, and I’m expecting the same here. Although I’m a Giants fan, was at the Bengals/Giants game this year, I will be rooting for the Pats (sacrilege I know) because….they’re the pats. I’d be lying if I said they weren’t a great team to watch. There need to be some improvements on the NFL/Wembley’s part (I.e. sort the field out!!!) but I’m expecting a quality game.

Consider how loud and crazy Raymond Jones Stadium can get AND their defense feeds off of it, I would say this is a gain for the Pats.

This really saddens me. Wembley is a stadium built for Football, not Gridiron. Why must you Americans come and desecrate the football pitch of the English national team? Ugh. There's no stopping you all.

And you dare to name your sport the same name as ours. Americans, your sport is NOT football. It's just Rugby with pads. Your imposition of your culture upon ours is very painful.