Sad to say it but this weeks game looks like being the lowest attended full international at the KCOM to date. 20,324 is the lowest ever for a very weak NZ side in 2007, all others have been 23K+ but this time round the top tier isn't even on sale with a few days to go, and lots of green lights in the blocks that are on sale too.

If we can't sell an International game in RL mad Hull then we really are in trouble. The National side is the best it has been since the 90s, the Kiwi's and the Haka always have marketing appeal, yet we can't sell a 25k RL hotbed ground out.The RFL rely far too much on outdated tactics such as spamming e-mails out from what is probably an antique list of e-mail address and expecting casual fans to sign up for 'Our League' to get a promo code to get £5 off.

American Football is bigger than Rugby League, shocker.

The fact the NFL can sell out Wembley doesn’t surprise me, however what I do find impressive is that they have NFL games on the BBC, probably with a few million watching, that’s how they are going to build up a fan base to potentially launch a team over here.

We really need to get RL regularly on free to air TV, ideally this would be at least one Super League game per week. If this is going to take the value of the TV deal down too much to stomach get an NRL game, State of Origin all Internationals both with and without England on free to air tv, sky must only pay a pittance for coverage of games from downunder.

so seeing how everyone is raving over this NFL series being played in England, which is a country with no professional team, (and no Amateur league that I've heard of) surely ....surely.... we all agree that the Toronto wolfpack idea is a great idea then ....??
and i'll stop seeing people scream on facebook "should get rid and get a cumbrian team in ...!!!"..??

Surely even the most hard nosed northerner can see that having teams play a sport in a country that is in essence foreign to them is still a damn good idea of spreading the game....??

And also we cant underestimate how good terrestrial TV is for a sport.
I watched Channel 4's NFL coverage religiously back in the day, and loved all the great's, Marino, Montana, Elway, LT, and my favourite Barry Sanders the great Detroit lions running back. Its no coincidence that post 1997 I couldn't name single player.

So.... NFL is booming in a foreign country. The toronto wolfpack can only be good for RL, and the BBC needs to up its game for Rugby league.
oh yeah and heartland fans need to watch the sport.... I'm off to Anfield to watch England v New zealand anyone else...??

Great point flying biscuit, you are absolutely correct

You may not have heard of it but the Amateur league is flourishing along with UNI and womens team plus non contact flag and juniors, i did play for the Manchester Titans for a period as left guard and it was bloody hard work, like has been said before it may be stop start but when there is action you have to be at 100% all the time otherwise you mess up and let you team down, which you do not want to do.

The Titan run several different teams aos the appetite is there people just need to tap into it.

I have attended everyone of the NFL games since the first in 2007, only cant make these as they are on consecutive sundays and i cant commit unfortunately due to work.

They are light years a head of anything we offer based on the match day expereince.

It is a real party atmosphere.

Considering premier sports once held the NRL rights, yeah it can't be that expensive. FTA could have went for the rights year but obviously chose not too.

Didn't sky recent get 5 year deal? NRL and SOO are not coming to FTA anytime soon.

TBF it won’t be long before we get that in SL

One thing to note is that after 11 years of doing this they still don’t have a UK team, that’s not a criticism btw but it shows that even a sport as big as NFL take their time with such a move. Over here in RL we expect things to be perfect and deliver right away whenever we try things whether it be a new team or structure or event and if it hasn’t done that after 1 or 2 seasons then it’s deemed a failure and we want rid.

Think the Jaguars where earmarked for a move to London at one point, but they seem to be doing well again. Can see expansion in NFL again in next 10 years possible 4 new teams one in San Antonio Texas, one in London new mexico want a team as so does college football stronghold Oklahoma. time will tell.
or Leigh could apply for a team

It was mooted that either the Jags or Rams where looking to move, St Louis went back to LA and the Jags have had a huge upturn in fortune which may have ruled them both out.

Shahid Khan did want to buy Wembley and he owns the Jags so that would have added fuel to that fire.

Not sure how often franchises are added the last ones where the Jags and Panthers in 1995, and Texans in 2002 so there is scope for future.

I have been Last two NFL matches and going again this weekend.
Ticket prices depend on what you want.
Seattle game I went without the kids as it was a night match. I chose a restricted view ticket and it was £36. This was block 109 row 4 so close to the action. Chargers game went upstairs and it’s £50 adult £21 for the kids.
Same again with the kids for this weekend.
The grand final cost me £35 and £22.50 for the kids so not much different in price.
Great atmosphere and all the games i’ve Been to and kids love the tailgate experience so we get there early when it opens at 9am and they get loads of freebies by doing the activities, not just a cardboard sign which says TRY or NO TRY

There was a running line until a few years ago that LA was the most important city in the NFL, because any team that wanted to bully/bribe the local goverment into financing a new stadium would simply threaten to move there.

Now that the Rams and Chargers have moved, London is now that city.

This is the weirdest thing I just can't get my head around, I love the game/s RL/NFL but St Louis playing in L.A & Chargers etc, etc.
Imagine this franchise .....
London home Leeds
Leeds home St Helens
Wigan home France *that would be nice*
St Helens home Barrow
Warrington home East Hull
Hull FC/KR home London !!!

Fair play to anyone who can get a days entertainment out of NFL - but the product on the pitch defies comprehension; it genuinely bores me stiff, and I have given it a proper good go. I'd even watch RU over it, and that's a fair old bore-fest an all.