This weekend, America’s favourite sport will be making its annual pilgrimage across the pond in an attempt to rake in a few bob and apologise for the NFL Europe debacle.
The game between St Louis and New England in the old dart is the latest in a long list of games to be taken to London, and with the Jacksonville Jaguars signing on to play a match at Wembley for the next four years, the English will be well serviced when it comes to getting their NFL fix.
But to paraphrase that song, what about us? Where’s our bloody match?
Sure England might have a powerful currency, huge supporter base, world class stadia and is far closer geographically to the US.
But, apart from all that unimportant level stuff, I think us Aussies would be a far better option to hosting some NFL action.
So, here are five reasons why the NFL should be coming to Australia, not England.
5. Better photo opportunities
Sports publicity rule number one when a visiting game is in town is to set up a cheesy photo shoot for star players.
Now London isn’t short of a landmark, I’ll pay that. But how does Buckingham Palace, the London Eye or Nelson’s Column compare to, say, a koala?
Exactly, it doesn’t. Organise for Tom Brady or Rob Gronkowski to get up close and personal with Blinky Bill and I can guarantee the whole junket would pretty much pay for itself.
4. Happy to board a bandwagon
One of the big reasons NFL team owners are happy for their boys to gallivant around the globe during the season is the goal of making their ‘brand’ global, much in the same way EPL clubs have done.
Now while the English market may be far bigger, are you really going to get Angry Andy from Arsenal and Terry Tough from Tottenham supporting the same team? Ha!
If any NFL team even winked slyly at Australia they would have 20 million instant fans and their quarterback would be racking up the OAMs in between getting called round the clock by Russell Crowe.
Just ask Leeds Utd.
3. Happy to put up with stupid team names
They’re pretty traditional about things in the mother country. Sure a couple of ‘Wildcats’ and ‘Lightning’ have crept into the country through Super League and county cricket, but in London where the round ball is king, most teams are named after some dire 18th century profession, with nouvea graphic designer nightmare logo to match.
Downunder though we’re not above a lurid clip-art club crest and absolutely adore ridiculous alliteration, so send Jacksonville over and they’ll be right at home.
None of that confusing promotion/relegation stuff either.
2. Better chance of securing potential talent
I don’t want to get into the whole Australian athletes are better than English, Ashes/Olympics/World Cup argument, because to date both Australian and English players have only had cameo appearances in the NFL.
In all fairness though England did have a side in an NFL associated competition for a number of years, while NFL investment in Australia talent has been extremely limited.
On top of this the fact that the top athletes in England can already potentially earn NFL style salaries in the EPL, something just not feasible in Australian sport, is another reason why NFL scouts would stand a better chance of securing the crème de la crème of our sporting talent.
Hell, we’ll even chuck in New Zealand and Samoa’s talent too.
1. Less moaning
Honestly, do NFL admin continually want to put themselves through the yearly agony of their English hosts moaning about players making divots in the surface just five months before the FA cup final, Teddy Roosevelt making too many changes to the game and the US being tardy in World War II?
It must be painful. Even C-grade American celebrities are treated like rock stars in Australia (see NRL pre-match entertainment) and our media will treat any NFL sides with the respect athletes of their calibre deserve.
So come on NFL, what do you say guys? Should I throw another shrimp on the barbie for 2013?
Ummm, guys?
Anon
Guest
Australia doesn't deserve an NFL match, its a waste of money, and I don't see a point. Australia is only about Australia, with narrow minded opinions, they'll never fully adopt American Football. Yeah they have Gridiron Australia, but that it doesn't recieve any financial support from the Government. There's no point, and I hate to see the NFL waste its money coming here, while NFL fans and ticketholders back home miss out.
Adam c
Guest
I am very interested in the topic of an NFL game being played in Australia... A few challenges I see you have already mentioned distance being the main one although NY to London is 5-6 hours and west coast teams have made the trek before so that would make the flight close to 10 hours surely. The other issue is time of game, the telecast would have to aid US time and fit in with our sporting schedule so you're talking a game on Monday starting probably around 11 am here. On the other things regarding the 1999 match, 13 years ago the average Aussie was no where near as well versed in NFL as they are now so I don't think you can compare public interest from then to now. Having said that we want names and intensity so a pre season game won't cut it for this sporting public any more.
Gridiron fan down under
Guest
Dude even bring a CFL game out and it will get sold out attendance Australians are intrigued by the sport , we play the Superbowl every year on national television and the grey cup pumped for the 25th 100 grey cup and bears Vs Texans big game day.
Football fan (49ers)
Guest
Australians do follow the sport we have leagues, in Sydney there is a 12 team comp, and junior comp with state vs state and a national team that tours american colleges, check out the website http://www.gridironaustralia.org.au/site/index.cfm?fuseaction=display_main&OrgID=885 or google gridiron australia. the reason we call it gridiron is to distinguish it from the 4 other games we all call football the Aleague,(soccer) NRL, AFL, and rugby union. HELL channel 10 shows the Superbowl every year and fox sports plays the games. bring a NFL team here heck even a college team and you would sell out ANZ stadium 100% (80,000 seat's)
Paulie Soprano
Guest
Aussies love their sport but there is one major problem.ALL U.S. sports rely more on hype than substance not to mention the over the top personalities and out of control egos that go with it.American football with all its stoppages,committee meetings with the quarterback etc is one of the poorest codes going around.Some of these unfortunates can play for ten years and not even touch the ball yet alone get to stand on someones head and take a screamer!
Ryan O'Connell
Expert
I've never seen anything like those tailgate parties. They're insane. There are hundreds of people that don't even go to the game!! They watch it on massive plasma screens attached to their trucks, whilst they get "deleted" on Buds!
Chris Chard
Expert
Agree Jesse Williams is a gun and Bama are probably going to go #1 again...just wish they had gone a bit easier on my Vols the other week :( Cheers mate CC
Chris Chard
Expert
Post of the day Steve! I can see the headlines if the game was played in Sydney; 'NFLs WAR ON RUGBY LEAGUE!
Chris Chard
Expert
Be honest Ryan, you didn't make it out of the Tailgate party did you ha ha? Yeh it's a top game to see live...when I took my wife though she was a bit disappointed that there was no 'yellow line' on the gridiron ha ha Cheers CC
Chris Chard
Expert
Ha ha go the rouge! Yeh Canadian football is a bloody great game, the 3 downs means there's no wasted plays. It's just with all the cream going to play in the NFL it's pretty hard for the sport to jump out of American football's shadow Still, go the Eskimos! Cheers CC
Chris Chard
Expert
Hi Guys i sort of touched on this topic in my article the other week http://www.theroar.com.au/2012/10/05/is-australia-a-potential-american-football-powerhouse/ Agree with what you've said, just competition for numbers I guess Cheers Chris
Timmuh
Roar Guru
Most of the country can't get the name of Australian Football (also AF) right, while the other half call Rugby League "rugby", and much to annoyance of many their following most of us call Association Football (AF again) "soccer" to differentiated from whichever football is locally dominant . What chance is there that we would get Amrican Football right?
chris
Guest
Australia and New Zealand don't need NFL talent scouts etc as America has enough talent in there own backyard for the NFL as I bet a load of homegrown players don't make it in the NFL and find there is no other leagues to go (apart from the smaller CLF) or even semi pro leagues. I also think reason it's great for sports to claim that it's the atmosphere and spectacle of the event is because it's sideshows that keep the punters happy and not the actual Sport/game itself.Have a look at the ULTRA culture creeping all over Soccer where games have been abandoned because of the fans singing/drumming and firework display and not forgottenso called fans going to the game for a ruck. http://youtu.be/Z67RA1LC6w0
Minz
Guest
I went to an American football match, sat next to a guy who'd been a season ticket holder since the 70s and he said the same thing. Have you tried Canadian football? I like American football, but Canadian football is better as it's lacking the flaw you mention (plus, I'm a fan of less professionalism in sports...).
Worlds biggest
Guest
I was at the exhibition game in 1999 - Broncos v Chargers. I remember Darren Bennett getting a huge reception as he ran out as did the Broncos punter who was an Aussie they signed for that game. Speaking of moaning, that's all Shannon Sharpe did when he was here, couldn't stand Australia ! I think Australia is capable of supplying positions players to the NFL. Alabama Defensive Lineman Jesse Williams is a Queenslander and couldn't be in a better environment to take the next step. Bama are a powerhouse and look good to repeat as National Champs this year under Nick Saban.
Terry Tavita
Roar Pro
digby would make an awesome running back..
Ryan O'Connell
Expert
It was interesting to read Colin Scott's autobiography, in which he highlighted the myth that American football players wear padding and helmets for protection, when in fact, they wear that equipment to transform themselves into a "human missile" with the objective of causing as much damage as possible to your opponent.
Chris Hardiman
Roar Rookie
It is still called Gridiron in the US as well. I think Australias' national body went with Gridiron in their name because Australian American Football Association or whatever was a little confusing no? Especially with soccer changing their name as well. You are right about the ignorance of padding and helmets though. I explain to people that in the Rugby codes nearly always you know where the defence will be coming from. Not so in the American or Canadien game. You may be running one way while looking for the ball coming from another and the defence can come from anywhere or everywhere.
eagleJack
Guest
Agree Ryan the atmosphere is essential to any sporting event. My experience at Homebush certainly didn't turn me off the game. Catching an NFL game in the US is still very high on my priority list. Years ago when in Canada I went to a Calgary Flames v Edmonton Oilers NHL game. Had zero interest in the sport prior to that. But the atmosphere and spectacle converted me and it was close to the best event I have ever been to. Im quite certain the same game played in Sydney would not have even come close to producing the same level of entertainment.
Ryan O'Connell
Expert
To be fair, it was an exhibition match. Considering one of the the major attributes of American football (or any professional sport for that matter) is the intensity, you shouldn't judge the spectacle of a sport on a pre-season game. I went to a NY Giants vs Arizona Cardinals match in NY a few years ago, and it was one of the greatest sporting events I've attended, despite the game itself not being the highest quality. Having said, part of the reason the NFL is so great is how much the fans get into it. The passion rivals the EPL, or the AFL here. When you take that away, as you do when you take the game to a foreign market, you lose a big part of what the game is all about. Fans are there out of curiosity, not support.