Oct
24
As the NFL's commitment to London gets stronger as it works toward the idea of having a franchise there long-term, the league is also looking at Mexico, Albert Breer of NFL Network reports.
Following next week's Lions-Chiefs game at Wembley, an NFL contingent will travel to Mexico City with reps from Populous (an architectural firm that works with the league in retrofitting stadiums for big events) to meet with Mexican officials and visit Azteca Stadium..
"All the work we're doing in Mexico now is to determine whether the stadium can be ready," said Mark Waller, the NFL's executive vice president of international. "We don't have a definitive decision yet, but they're working hard to get (the stadium) there." Per Waller, there are three things the league will need to be comfortable with when making the final call, which has to come, for logistical reasons, in the next four-to-six weeks. First, the locker rooms are built for soccer teams and aren't nearly big enough to house an NFL team, and that's something the league wants a solution to. Second, the technical infrastructure -- as it pertains to elements facilitating coach-to-quarterback and sideline-to-booth communications -- needs to be upgraded. And third, more broadcast accommodations are needed and, in particular, more space for TV setup and the general media.
If the league is satisfied that those issues have been properly addressed, it's pretty much a certainty there'll be a game there in 2016. "It'd be fantastic if we could do it next year," Waller said.
24
As the NFL's commitment to London gets stronger as it works toward the idea of having a franchise there long-term, the league is also looking at Mexico, Albert Breer of NFL Network reports.
Following next week's Lions-Chiefs game at Wembley, an NFL contingent will travel to Mexico City with reps from Populous (an architectural firm that works with the league in retrofitting stadiums for big events) to meet with Mexican officials and visit Azteca Stadium..
"All the work we're doing in Mexico now is to determine whether the stadium can be ready," said Mark Waller, the NFL's executive vice president of international. "We don't have a definitive decision yet, but they're working hard to get (the stadium) there." Per Waller, there are three things the league will need to be comfortable with when making the final call, which has to come, for logistical reasons, in the next four-to-six weeks. First, the locker rooms are built for soccer teams and aren't nearly big enough to house an NFL team, and that's something the league wants a solution to. Second, the technical infrastructure -- as it pertains to elements facilitating coach-to-quarterback and sideline-to-booth communications -- needs to be upgraded. And third, more broadcast accommodations are needed and, in particular, more space for TV setup and the general media.
If the league is satisfied that those issues have been properly addressed, it's pretty much a certainty there'll be a game there in 2016. "It'd be fantastic if we could do it next year," Waller said.
