Giants, Packers raise objections to NFL's plan to host games in China
The NFL wants to play a game in China in 2018. Two teams don't want to go.
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2 min read
The NFL remains committed to its vision of expanding to the other side of the planet. But support for that vision, which includes a regular-season game in China in 2018, is not unanimous. Two teams, in fact, are raising objections to the league's plan.
The Packers and Giants do not want to play in China.
On Thursday, ESPN published a detailed and well-reported story on the NFL's plan to bring football to China. That feature, which was written by Ashley Fox, includes statements from the Packers and Giants, both of which question the NFL's idea.
Here's what Packers president Mark Murphy said:
"We would not be in support of that," Murphy said at the NFL owners meeting in March. "That's such a long trip. If they do it, it would make sense for West Coast teams -- shorter trip for them. But that wouldn't be something we would want to do."
And here's Giants owner John Mara weighing in:
"I think there's a feeling that our game could be very attractive over there and generate a lot of interest," Mara said. "But I'm sure not volunteering to play over there. That's a tough trip. I don't know how you do that. You certainly have to give them a week off afterward. And even a week before -- it's a pretty tough trip."
As Mara sort of alluded to with his "interest" comment, this comes down to money -- a topic that ESPN's story touches on throughout the piece. Mark Waller, the NFL's executive vice president international, told ESPN that China is "the world's largest market, the world's most developing sports market. ... a huge land of opportunity."
A problem remains, though, and that problem is directly related to the sacrifices teams will be required to make in order to travel around the world for a football game. As Mara mentioned, teams that make the trip should receive a bye week immediately after the game. But that simple solution doesn't solve the issue of the week leading up to the game. A quick Google search says a flight from Los Angeles to Beijing lasts more than 12 hours. A flight from New York to Beijing takes more than 13 hours.
For what it's worth, Jaguars owner Shad Khan expressed his support for the NFL's international plans. He did not, however, express interest in his Jaguars traveling and playing a game in China.
Still, the NFL is committed to China -- and other locations around the globe. An earlier report listed the Rams as one of the teams that'll participate in the first game in China. And, as John Breech previously reported on, the Raiders and Texans will play a Monday night game in Mexico City in 2016. The NFL has also expressed interest in holding a game in Germany.
ESPN's entire story, which goes into more detail on the league's vision, is worth a read.
