The cut in ticket prices for Sunday’s game may be troubling.
Is the bloom off the rose in the National Football League’s love affair with the London market? NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has said that London could have not only one but two NFL franchises in a European Division and host a Super Bowl one day. It is too early to tell if the NFL and London’s engagement is headed for a long lasting relationship but there is a red flag or maybe in the NFL’s case a yellow flag on the field. The NFL has cut ticket prices for the first London game of the season on October 4th. There is a chance that not every seat will be filled for the Washington Commanders versus Indianapolis Colts match up. That is not the usual NFL way. The league cut the cost of the remaining tickets to 79 pounds or $105 US. The cost cutting has infuriated some who paid full price for the seats.
There seems to be various theories as to what is going wrong with this particular game and London games in general. The ticket prices are too high. The matchups are mediocre and there have been too many Jacksonville Jaguars games. Jacksonville is playing two games this month in London. There are many tickets available for the Jaguars-Houston Texans contest on October 18th. The October 11th game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Jaguars sold out despite the premium prices that are being charged because the Eagles have a popularity. The NFL has other cities in Europe hosting games which means there is no real need for people in Germany or Spain to go to London for a match if they want to stay close to home. The NFL ownership group is committed to playing international games because they can sell t-shirts and hats and make money. London may be sending the league a message.
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