Football - Dolphins And Giants To Play In London

For the first time in the history of the game, a regular NFL match will be played outside the North America. NFL has announced that the game between Miami Dolphins and New York Giants will be played at London on October 28, 2007.

BBC sports editor Mihir Bose announced this earlier this month that the newly reconstructed Wembley Stadium would host the match. NFL had agreed last October that every year up to two matches that would be played on venues outside USA. However, in 2007, only one game will be held abroad and that would be in London. Mexico City was first to be selected for this honor when it hosted the match between San Francisco 49ers and Arizona Cardinals in 2005.

According to NFL commissioner, Roger Goodell, there are large numbers of NFL supporters around the world including Britain. NFL is growing in popularity and by hosting a game in London; it wants to get closer its British fans.

When contacted, Wayne Huizenga, Miami’s owner, expressed a great sense of pride of being a part of such a historic event. He said that the NFL games are regularly aired and followed in England and his team was one of the first NFL teams to have played in UK in 1988 and were highly popular among the fans.

Giants’ President John Mera also expressed excitement and said that his team was looking forward to the game.

While this decision of NFL was widely welcomed by fans, the Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, also appreciated the gesture by NFL. He is of the opinion that this game would be excellent opportunity for NFL to showcase themselves and he expects 100,000 fans from America to come to London besides those from Europe.