Football in decline

[AndyRM]

I really really hope NFL doesn't catch on here.

It's only a matter of time. The mighty marketing machine behind padded rugby is immense.

 

[MarkF]

Personally I think the idea of a 'national' stadium is fairly outdated.

Spain don't even have one do they? They have played at some right provincial outposts and it didn't do them any harm. Also, when La Rioja play, the whole country gets behind them, they all feel a part of it.

 

[MarkF]

It's only a matter of time. The mighty marketing machine behind padded rugby is immense.

No way, only London will take any interest. I recall great NFL interest in the 1980's, for a few months.............maybe England will have more chance of becoming world NFL Champs than WC champs? After all, the USA will soon leave us behind at football...........

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Maybe take the friendlies out of Wembley, but proper qualifiers should be played there IMO.
Test Cricket gets played at loads of venues, they all have to bid to to win a chance of hosting the test. Although Lords, and the maybe Oval, are guaranteed 2 tests a year.
Rugby Union doesnt move about quite as much. England almost never play anywhere opther than Twickenham. South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and France do move around a bit, but not the home nations.

Very few (no) English rugby grounds can hold sufficient capacity for England other than HQ. Which means we go begging to the Wendyballers, and they take the lion's share of the profit, or play outside England. At club level there is nowt worse than watching a match in a (soccer) stadium where 80% of the seats are empty.

But maybe England might now save Wasps by playing the odd match at the Ricoh? Ground sharing is the future but why a London club would want to play in Coventry is beyond me and I'd imagine Northampton, Leicester and Worcester will be fuming.

 

[Ganymede]

It's only a matter of time. The mighty marketing machine behind padded rugby is immense.

 

[AndyRM]

Spain don't even have one do they? They have played at some right provincial outposts and it didn't do them any harm. Also, when La Rioja play, the whole country gets behind them, they all feel a part of it.

Nope, and neither do the USA, though both are far bigger countries than England I suppose. Still, like the blue fella and yourself say, there's nothing wrong with sharing the national side out around the country.

I reckon you'd get a better atmosphere too, I've been at the new Wemburlee a few times and the only time I could hear anything other than that dreadful band was when Scotland attempted to reclaim the goalposts.

 

[Chromatic]

Very few (no) English rugby grounds can hold sufficient capacity for England other than HQ. Which means we go begging to the Wendyballers, and they take the lion's share of the profit, or play outside England. At club level there is nowt worse than watching a match in a (soccer) stadium where 80% of the seats are empty.

But maybe England might now save Wasps by playing the odd match at the Ricoh? Ground sharing is the future but why a London club would want to play in Coventry is beyond me and I'd imagine Northampton, Leicester and Worcester will be fuming.

There is an excellent post on a Wasps forum about this.
Link if you are interested: http://www.rugbynetwork.net/boards/read/s96.htm?98,14932234

 

[ianrauk]

I really really hope NFL doesn't catch on here.

You're a bit late I'm afraid.
It's huge already.

 

[Archie_tect]

It's a national football stadium, hence no track.

But it isnt in the FA's eyes now Greg- so we've been duped.

 

[MarkF]

You're a bit late I'm afraid.
It's huge already.

I doubt many in provincial UK could correctly name an NFL team without getting muddled up with an NBA or MLB team, never mind a star player. Can see it being big in London though.

 

[ianrauk]

I doubt many in provincial UK could correctly name an NFL team without getting muddled up with an NBA or MLB team, never mind a star player. Can see it being big in London though.

Not going to disagree with that.
It's absolutely huge in London. The games at Wembley are all sold out.

 

[AndyRM]

I doubt many in provincial UK could correctly name an NFL team without getting muddled up with an NBA or MLB team, never mind a star player. Can see it being big in London though.

I love the Houston Red Dynamos.

Kobe Pippin is my favourite short back!

 

[Beebo]

But maybe England might now save Wasps by playing the odd match at the Ricoh? Ground sharing is the future but why a London club would want to play in Coventry is beyond me and I'd imagine Northampton, Leicester and Worcester will be fuming.

I cant imagine Coventry RFC are that happy either. They pay in NL1.
Unless they will act as a Wasps feeded team?

 

[Beebo]

I love the Houston Red Dynamos.

Kobe Pippin is my favourite short back!

No the best team is the Miami Dolphin Packers
The the best player is Magic Refigerator

 

[PK99]

The England football team have just been dealt a blow below the waist by the FA who want to chuck them out of Wembley after 2017 in favour of an American football team. I know that I am a rugby follower but this is a sad day for English Football.

A different angle, is that the Round England Tour while Wembley was being rebuilt was very successful - very popular with fans and bigger crowds for some games. The contractual tie to Wemberlee has meant that this is not currently possible, the tie ends in a year or so giving the opportunity for England games in't'North AND substantial income from an NFL franchise. Win-Win?