# Packers to play in London **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** football-nfl\ **Created:** [March 1, 2022, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/packers-to-play-in-london/960277 "2022-03-01T11:43:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2022, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/packers-to-play-in-london/960277/1 "2022-03-01T11:43:23Z")
> **[Packers will play in London in 2022](https://www.packers.com/news/green-bay-packers-will-play-in-london-england-in-2022)** > > Green Bay previously was the only NFL team that hadn’t played an international regular-season game I’m surprised no one has commented on this. I’m thinking GB has a a reasonable quantity of fans willing to travel internationally in order to see a game. I’m not a huge fan of London games in general – I’m maybe 2% more interested in this than any other Packer game. Brian ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2022, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/packers-to-play-in-london/960277/2 "2022-03-01T12:52:22Z")
They will play at the soccer ground of Tottenham Hotspur (“Spurs”), who are a leading English club. The stadium is pretty new and has two pitches (effectively stacked vertically), one for soccer and one for American football. ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2022, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/packers-to-play-in-london/960277/3 "2022-03-01T15:46:30Z")
The stadium is quite an engineering feat. As mentioned, there are two playing surfaces - a grass pitch for soccer and an artificial turf pitch for American football. When the soccer pitch isn’t being used, it is stored under the parking lot. ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2022, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/packers-to-play-in-london/960277/4 "2022-03-01T19:54:00Z")
> [@zimaane](#): > > When the soccer pitch isn’t being used, it is stored under the parking lot. Would be more correct to say the grass surface is retracted when the synthetic surface is required. Grass doesn’t grow that well under a parking lot ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2022, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/packers-to-play-in-london/960277/5 "2022-03-01T20:44:55Z")
I hadn’t heard about the Packers playing there, however, I recently ran across this video talking the logistics\* of American Football teams playing in Europe as well as the possibility of the NFL adding a team in London. \*I was surprised that the physical size of the players is one of the logistics issues they have to deal with when flying. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/pJ_LUFBSoqM/maxresdefault.jpg "The NFL's Logistics Problem") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJ_LUFBSoqM) ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2022, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/packers-to-play-in-london/960277/6 "2022-03-02T21:53:39Z")
Whom would they be playing against? It seems odd for the article to just be talking about the Packers. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2022, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/packers-to-play-in-london/960277/7 "2022-03-02T21:56:36Z")
Appears undecided > Dates, matchups and kickoff times will be confirmed as part of the full 2022 schedule announcement later this year. Brian ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2022, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/packers-to-play-in-london/960277/8 "2022-03-02T22:22:21Z")
As this London game will be replacing a home game in Green Bay for the Packers, the opponent will be one of the nine teams which have already been announced for their “home” schedule for 2022: - Bears - Lions - Vikings - Cowboys - Rams - Patriots - Giants - Jets - Titans I suspect that the Packers would have rather the choice to _not_ be one of their NFC North rivals (as those are usually the most popular games on their schedule), so if I had to make a bet on it, it’d be one of the other six teams in the above list. The league is likely to announce the actual schedule for the season sometime in May. > **[Packers.com, the official website of the Green Bay Packers](https://www.packers.com/schedule/2022-opponents)** > > Green Bay Packers Schedule: The official source of the latest Packers regular season and preseason schedule ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2022, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/packers-to-play-in-london/960277/9 "2022-03-05T15:30:39Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > As this London game will be replacing a home game in Green Bay for the Packers, the opponent will be one of the nine teams which have already been announced for their “home” schedule for 2022: The article didn’t specifically mention giving up a home game, at least from what I read. I assume they will be the visitor. I can’t see teams like the Packers, Cowboys, Patriots ever giving up a home game. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2022, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/packers-to-play-in-london/960277/10 "2022-03-05T15:42:33Z")
I read an article that said that there are five NFL teams that will play games outside of the States next season and I thought: “Aren’t you going to need six?” I think the article was just poorly written. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2022, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/packers-to-play-in-london/960277/11 "2022-03-05T15:59:15Z")
Here’s how they do it: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/SsQZnyCH37M/maxresdefault.jpg "How Tottenham Stadium Moves Its Massive 9000 Tonne Pitch | Richard Hammond's Big") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsQZnyCH37M) ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2022, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/packers-to-play-in-london/960277/12 "2022-03-05T18:13:24Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > The article didn’t specifically mention giving up a home game, at least from what I read. I assume they will be the visitor. This doesn’t appear to be the case. The third paragraph in the article on the Packers’ site, which was linked to in the OP describes this, though it could be clearer: > [@](#): > > Last year, as part of the NFL’s expansion of the regular season to 17 games, it was determined that, beginning with the 2022 season, up to four of the teams from the conference whose teams were eligible for a ninth regular-season home game would instead be designated to play a neutral-site international game. Last year, it was the AFC teams who got that ninth home game. And, other than the Jaguars (which have a separate arrangement for playing “home” games in London), the two teams which were named in that article – the Packers and the Saints – are both NFC teams. And, if you look at the link I shared to the Packers’ 2022 opponents, it says: > [@](#): > > Next season, Green Bay will play eight home games, eight road games, and one neutral-site game in the NFL’s 17-game format. Here’s the rundown. > > **TBD (9):** Vikings, Bears, Lions, Cowboys, Giants, Rams, Patriots, Jets, Titans (The Packers will play an international regular-season game for the first time in 2022, with a matchup set for Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. The date and opponent have yet to be determined.) > > **Road (8):** Vikings, Bears, Lions, Eagles, Commanders, Buccaneers, Bills, Dolphins The league is calling it a “neutral site” game, but it’s pretty clear that, for the Packers (and likely, the Saints, too), it’s coming at the expense of one of their home games. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2022, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/packers-to-play-in-london/960277/13 "2022-03-05T18:21:44Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > I read an article that said that there are five NFL teams that will play games outside of the States next season and I thought: “Aren’t you going to need six?” One team could play twice. ---
**Author:** ![Tabco](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tabco/32/7644_2.png) [@Tabco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tabco)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2022, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/packers-to-play-in-london/960277/14 "2022-03-05T18:30:27Z")
I recall reading that the Packers were resisting giving up a home game for London in part because of their importance to the Green Bay economy on game days. Green Bay is the only team who hasn’t played in London. Even other teams willing to travel to London didn’t want to give up _their_ home game against Green Bay because _those_ games often drew larger than average crowds. From an [SI article](https://www.si.com/nfl/packers/news/best-for-last-packers-finally-going-to-london) on the subject: > The small-market Packers had been reluctant to give up a home game, and opponents were reticent to giving up a home game against the Packers because their fans travel so well. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2022, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/packers-to-play-in-london/960277/15 "2022-03-05T18:39:01Z")
I think I’m more likely to sprout a 3rd hand or a 3rd eye than to see the Packers give up a home game, but we shall see. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2022, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/packers-to-play-in-london/960277/16 "2022-03-05T20:57:12Z")
Now the dopey expansion to 17 games finally makes sense to me. No way to get the majority to agree to losing one of their precious 8 home games, but what if when you gave up a home game, _you still get your standard 8, at a minimum, always_? That was a much easier sell in the owners’ room, I’m sure. ETA: If it were me, I’d only agree if there were never any divisional games abroad. No way to spin facing a division rival in London instead of home as anything but a lost home game. Ideally it would be one of the two in-conference strength of schedule games since those are lower in the tiebreaker order. All other in-conference games are common games in terms of division standings. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2022, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/packers-to-play-in-london/960277/17 "2022-03-05T21:13:39Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > That was a much easier sell in the owners’ room, I’m sure. …as opposed to adding two weeks for 18, I mean. Obviously the owners want more games in general. I imagine the pro-18 games faction dismissing the 17 idea as unworkable; that’s an uneven number of home games by definition! “No, think of them as ‘extra’ home games we can spend on foreign soil. Always get your 8 home games, same as the majority of the league every year, and now we can showcase in London and Mexico essentially ‘for free.’” ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2022, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/packers-to-play-in-london/960277/18 "2022-03-05T21:18:15Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > I think I’m more likely to sprout a 3rd hand or a 3rd eye than to see the Packers give up a home game, but we shall see. The SI article that @Tabco linked to has a couple of quotes from Packers president Mark Murphy on it. As has been noted, the Packers have been reluctant to give up a home game at Lambeau, but it sounds like the new CBA gives the league the right to force a team to do so. > [@](#): > > “The games in Green Bay are so important to the local economy that we’ve always been reluctant to give up a home game,” Murphy said. “The other side is, in terms of when we’re the visiting team, we travel so well that teams that would be hosting us are reluctant to give up a home game against the Packers. But with the league move to the 17-game season, we knew this was a possibility and we’re really excited about it.” The article also explicitly states that the London game will be a home game for the Packers. FWIW, I was talking with my father on Thursday; he still lives in Green Bay, and he works with a local ticket broker to sell our season tickets every year; said broker also operates a travel agency, and arranges package-deal trips for Packer fans to go to away games. My dad talked with the broker earlier this week, who told him that they (the broker) already had over 1000 local Packer fans inquiring about travel packages to see the Pack play in London. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2022, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/packers-to-play-in-london/960277/19 "2022-03-05T21:23:49Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > Ideally it would be one of the two in-conference strength of schedule games since those are lower in the tiebreaker order. All other in-conference games are common games in terms of division standings. Just looked it up: The Packers’ two NFC strength-of-schedule games are @ Bucs and hosting the Rams. So the Rams would be the ideal opponent in terms of fairness. (Tied for second-least meaningful game on both the Packers’ and Rams’ schedule.) ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2022, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/packers-to-play-in-london/960277/20 "2022-03-05T21:24:53Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > The article also explicitly states that the London game will be a home game for the Packers. Also, this article in the Green Bay Press-Gazette makes it explicit, as well: > [@](#): > > As a result, the Packers will host only nine games at Lambeau Field this year instead of the usual 10, eight regular-season games and one preseason game. > > Under the [NFL’s unbalanced 17-game](https://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/story/news/2021/03/30/nfl-adds-17th-game-guarantees-green-bay-packers-play-international-contest-london/7001704002/) schedule, NFC and AFC teams alternate hosting an extra, ninth, home game every other season. When they have nine regular-season home games, they have one preseason home game, with the result that they have 10 home games every year. Except, that is, if they are one of the teams playing internationally. Those teams will have the usual eight regular-season home games and one preseason game. > **[The Green Bay Packers, the only NFL team that hasn't played a regular-season...](https://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/story/news/2022/02/28/green-bay-packers-play-london-england-year-nfl-2022-season-tottenham-hotspur-stadium-lambeau-field/6943236001/)** > > As a result, the Packers will host only nine games at Lambeau Field this year instead of the usual 10. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/packers-to-play-in-london/960277.md?page=2)