Thread: Broncos Travel to London in 2010

Originally Posted by Apollo

Thanks very much. It'll be a great experience for all those in attendance. The previous NFL UK games have been packed out with great atmosphere.

Have you attended any of those other games?

Originally Posted by Denver Native (Carol)

Have you attended any of those other games?

Yes I have attended before and the atmosphere is always excellent. The players often state it's like being at a Home game.

Nothing compares to watching it in it's home, but watching the Broncos in London would be an awesome experience providing I get tickets.

Originally Posted by Denver Native (Carol)

http://www.denverbroncos.com/page.ph...4&storyID=9765

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- The NFL will announce that the Broncos will traval to London on Sunday, Oct. 31, to face the San Francisco 49ers as a part of the NFL's International Series.

YESSSSSSSSSS !!!! GO BRONCOS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



(Is that enough east-side-of-Atlantic enthusiasm for you, football fans??
Heard about this news at 2am in the morning and just had to log on!! )

Originally Posted by Nomad

Good for you, Sharkie, Sparkie, Den 21, Manchester, and whoever else is there!! My wife's up for overseas starting this next cycle....we have Lakenheath, all of Germany, and Aviano, so we'll see!!

Thanks, Nomad! Hopefully see you at Wembley, then!

Funny Jacksonville told the NFL hell no, so they pick the BRONCOS!!

Says a lot about the Broncos organisation that they're prepared to do it. Getting 2 teams over to Wembley from the West coast is no mean feat.

Originally Posted by ManchesterBroncoLUHG

As it happens I'll be in Bratislava at that time.

I'm not happy with this at all though. I'm against the whole concept of the International Series. I wouldn't be going that's for sure. My dream is the see the Broncos live and I will no questions about that. I'll be watching it in your back yard however. I want the whole culture like the tailgating and the whole gameday experience. The last place I want to see my first Broncos game is sat in expensive seats in an over rated stadium in an over rated and expensive city sat with people who more than likely wont have a clue who most of our players are. All in a fake and sanitised atmosphere. No thanks.

America's Game? It should be kept that way.

ManBronc: You're entitled to your opinions, and I hope you get to see the Broncs at home at Mile High one day ... but ... shame on you. Poor attitude.

For me, with health not being so great and monies not being in huge abundance, a trip to the States is right out of the question. So I'm jumping at the chance to see the Broncos come over here and play just 150 miles from my home.

Last year I went to the London NFL International game for the first time and - even though the NE@TB game was so one-sided - the atmosphere ROCKED.

And to my eyes most of the 84,000+ people in Wembley stadium last year DID have a clue, they were die-hard fans.

The atmosphere was NOT "fake and santitised". My one regret about it though is that we didn't know the TB home game culture enough to respond to the "TAMPA - BAY!" drumbeat that rolled out across the stadium every now and then. Suggestion to NFL: maybe this year the SF team calls and chants can be included in the ticket package and gameday programme so fans from other teams can join in? (Oh and I'm looking forward to some cheeky "INN - COMM - PLEET!" calls from Broncos fans when SF are on offence ... )

I will admit that the atmosphere at the London game depends on what the "home" team do with it. But Tampa Bay put on a GREAT show last year - and their provision of TB Battle Flags on every seat was absolutely inspired, 84,000 people waving flags really added to the atmosphere (and the flags made a great souvenir).

Having only ever seen the game on TV before, it was great to witness what actually happens on and off-field during an NFL game - cheerleaders, mascot, team benches, the setup & layout of the field, the chain team at work, where the referee & officials stand during each play, etc etc.

Kudos to the Broncos AND the 49ers for being prepared to travel the distance for NFL fans in Europe. Let's hope and pray the experience is a great one for EVERYONE.


PS: The new Wembley stadium isn't "over-rated". It's FANTASTIC compared to the cramped tumbly-down old stadium that I saw hockey internationals and U2 at during the 80s (well, "saw" in inverted commas, the sightlines at the old Wembley were awful).

The stadium food was over-expensive and crap, yes. But the views of the field were great. And the stadium staff were helpful and friendly. I think they enjoyed having a football crowd that was good-natured for once.

Originally Posted by broncofaninfla

I think this is a NFL network game

Originally Posted by Skinny

As long as it's on t.v., i'm down. I'm happy for our UK freinds too.

Originally Posted by camdisco24

I guess this is good...
Dont they always show this game on TV across the country???
If so, I wouldn't usually see this game most likely, so now I will!

This game will not be shown nationally. It will be shown just like all the rest of the regular Sunday games.

Originally Posted by silkamilkamonico

The NFL better give both the Broncos and 49ers a bye the following week. It can take days to recover from jet lag, let alone an athlete recovering from an NFL game and then preparing to play just a few days later.

I understand the NFL wants to expand the popularity of the sport, but if he actually thinks he's going to get a team based out of London in the near future, he doesn't have a clue.

coming back to the sates is not as bad as going over is.. that is when the body clock gets screwed up..

at least the games is on the same time cycle they are used to.

Originally Posted by dogfish

****!

this blows. . .

i suppose the exposure is good for the team and all that, but the added travel time sure isn't. . . at least we're facing an opponent who's also had to travel, but historically the broncos don't fare well in east coast games-- this is a hell of a lot farther. . .


oh well-- i hope our friends across the pond get to go. . .

well actually this is really a west coast game for Europe.

not really too happy about this. i don't know if it counts as a home game or away game, but if it counts as a home game, then it's a load of crap.

Originally Posted by broncofaninfla

I think this is a NFL network game

um no, the game will air on CBS.

Didnt Denver lose an exhibition game in England when Reeves was coaching many years ago...

...uh, someone told me that er something.

Sweet! I've never been to Wembley stadium before. the wife and I have been wanting to go play tourist in London ever since moving to Scotland. I'll use that to my advantage.

"btw, sweet thing. We'll be attending an event at historic wembley while we're there. won't that be great?!"

Originally Posted by Sparkie

ManBronc: You're entitled to your opinions, and I hope you get to see the Broncs at home at Mile High one day ... but ... shame on you. Poor attitude.

Poor attitude for feeling for the thousands of people who wont get to see their team.

The average attendance at Candlestick is 69,732

link: http://espn.go.com/nfl/attendance

Lets say for arguments sake that there is 3 to 4,000 neutrals in there and the rest would be 49ers or Broncos fans. So say 66,000 Broncos and Niners would be there.

The capacity at Wembley is 90,000. Out of that 90,000 that will go how many will be Broncos or Niner fans? Certainly less than half possibly no more than a quarter. Straight away there that is at least 40,000 less fans that will get to see their team that day.

Originally Posted by Sparkie

For me, with health not being so great and monies not being in huge abundance, a trip to the States is right out of the question. So I'm jumping at the chance to see the Broncos come over here and play just 150 miles from my home.

I'm really sorry that you are not feeling in tiptop shape health wise at the moment and whatever is wrong I really hope that you get over it soon . Money is also a very big factor, it does cost a lot of money to head stateside. However I don't think either of those reasons are good enough to warrant games being brought over here. If money wasn't an object for me I would be over in Denver each year, I also have money concerns, I don't know when I'll make the trip but I will. I also really want to go to a Boca - River game in Argentina, my mates have spoken about it for years but there is always at least one of us (usually all of us) who haven't been able to afford it each year. That is no reason for Boca and River to hop on a plane over here just for our benefit.

You are certainly entitled to go and see the boys where they are on the doorstep. It is a chance of a lifetime to see te Broncos. I genuinely hope you enjoy it.

Originally Posted by Sparkie

Last year I went to the London NFL International game for the first time and - even though the NE@TB game was so one-sided - the atmosphere ROCKED.

The atmosphere was NOT "fake and santitised". My one regret about it though is that we didn't know the TB home game culture enough to respond to the "TAMPA - BAY!" drumbeat that rolled out across the stadium every now and then. Suggestion to NFL: maybe this year the SF team calls and chants can be included in the ticket package and gameday programme so fans from other teams can join in? (Oh and I'm looking forward to some cheeky "INN - COMM - PLEET!" calls from Broncos fans when SF are on offence ... )

Sorry Sparkie but I feel you proved my point that it is indeed fake and sanitised. By your own admission you didn't know the Tampa Bay culture to me that equals sanitised as there are not enough people there to give it the Tampa Bay gameday feel. Your suggestion for teams calls and chants to be included with the ticket and programme = fake in my eyes. Imagine if United played Liverpool in New York and the fans there were given the words to United and Liverpool songs do you think that would make it a real Premier League atmosphere?

Again I hope for your sake that I am wrong on this but don't be expecting many people to join in with the IN - COM - PLETE chants. I remember a thread on here not so long back that there were plently of people who didn't know what it was until visiting Mile High so just like not knowing the Tampa Bay experience I can't see there will be many who will know the Broncos experience.

Originally Posted by Sparkie

I will admit that the atmosphere at the London game depends on what the "home" team do with it. But Tampa Bay put on a GREAT show last year - and their provision of TB Battle Flags on every seat was absolutely inspired, 84,000 people waving flags really added to the atmosphere (and the flags made a great souvenir).

Again though unless they do that every home game it's a fake atmosphere and experience. It's the NFLUK experience.

On a side note, did they have cannons last year? If not then what is a Tampa touchdown without the cannons? (What I would do to see one of those cannons fire a cannonball in the the Glazers box.)

Originally Posted by Sparkie

And to my eyes most of the 84,000+ people in Wembley stadium last year DID have a clue, they were die-hard fans.

Read this from a Pats fan who went last year

Originally Posted by Pats fan on NFLUK

Now a week has gone since the game, and i have got my thoughts together and the imminence feeling of anti climax has subsided i can understand why and would like to discus it.
First of all I cant complain about any thing of my day. From door (south Birmingham) to stadium, 2 hours 15 and back home 3 hours. Tail gate very good this year and did add to the day. i didn't use the stadium facilitates because ive been there before and dont find the need to drink my self silly. The build up in the stadium was excellent this year i saw mainly pats and bucks shirts and it looked that way in the stadium. Sat in the top tear on the Pats goal line.

When the teams came out the Boys came down our end and the crowd went wild YEAAAA. then then Bucks came out with the fire works etc. a bigger YEAAAAAA . I thought with a split crowd and the noise pre game this is going to be an amazing atmosphere. I`m up waving my `small` New England flag. Sat down at the kick off. That was it.

I had a top on the shoulder `watch what your doing with that` some one up the row said to me. Yea OK i said it will only between plays. ( after all we all had payed £65 each).

Every one just sat there and `watched the game` like it was on the telly. Where had all the atmosphere noise gone. After several attempts of trying to get the section which was mixed fans getting behind the defence, I shouted my frustration at them and gave up with being a loan voice in the wilderness. I felt I could have had a conversation with the sidelines it was so quite. When some thing good did happen a pick off, touchdown, good run, The people around me would Murmur positive comments and politely clapping and some times would even stand up. I WAS SO DISAPPOINTED AT THE LACK OF CROWD INVOLVEMENT.

The people around me we nice people and I did talk to a very knowledgeable lady next to me and every one there were football fans, ITS JUST THE WAY WE WATCH SPORT. When we are involved in a minority sport we are all anoraks and wont to take everything in.

The game was a game off football, watching the superstars of the sport and seeing there excitation of the game was superb. But the expectation and excitement of over 10 months + a British, reserved crowd, lead to my feeling of disappointment.

The day as always was brilliant, and I will be going again hopefully, but only in the lower price seats, there is`nt a bad seat for view in the place. Hoping we can get the stadium rocking, ether soccer style with singing chanting or noise all game or like the yanks, when your team is on defence. but it wont happen because were British.

If the atmosphere is like a pro bowl, you wont find me going to Hawaii to watch it ;-)

I fear that person would be me.

Originally Posted by Sparkie

PS: The new Wembley stadium isn't "over-rated". It's FANTASTIC compared to the cramped tumbly-down old stadium that I saw hockey internationals and U2 at during the 80s (well, "saw" in inverted commas, the sightlines at the old Wembley were awful).

The stadium food was over-expensive and crap, yes. But the views of the field were great. And the stadium staff were helpful and friendly. I think they enjoyed having a football crowd that was good-natured for once.

Most stadiums are fantastic compared to the Old Wembley. I hated that place. I wasn't comparing the new one to the old one. I was comparing to other stadiums. I personally don't think it is the best in London never mind the world. It has a good view yes it is big yes but that is it.


The way I see it is that the crowd play a part on the whole spectacle. Would the Premier League have the same appeal if no fans were there to watch it? I have been extremely lucky to grow up within walking distance to Old Trafford and started going to the matches regulary from the age of 7 or so. It became an obsession with me and my mates and it was and still is like a religion. It didn't matter if we won lost or drew. Yes we would be happy when we won, pissed off when we lost (which was quite a lot back then) but we were all happy in the knowledge that come 2 weeks away we would be back doing what we loved, watching our team play. I'm sure there are people all over the world who can relate to me with their own team and sport. Broncos fans in Denver, Cubs fans in Chicago, Lions fans in Brisbane, Cricket fans in Mumbai. Win or lose we have grown up knowing that our team will be there to play. Now that is no longer certain and it really pisses me off that that money is being seen as more important that the community that helped make the clubs/franchises in the first place. The NFL will say that they are doing this to give the opportunity to give more people the chance to watch their "product" (I hate using that term). It is all out $£$£$£$£$ though. They don't care whether the people going to the IS know the chants or not, all they care about is that you get a programme and as much merchandise as possible whilst no doubt paying twice as much as you would in America. They will put the NFL experience spin on it which will also be fake. "Want to tailgate like the Americans do? Great news you can! (kind off, what we really mean is that we will charge you £5 to join the Tailgate Party (TM). You can't bring your own bbq and beers to enjoy at the back of your car but go an purchase an overpriced burger and beer at one of several stalls we set up for you lucky people."

I respect your opinion I really do but if you think that I have a poor attitude for wanting to prevent the heart of communities being ripped out in the pursuit of £$£$£$£$£$ then we are on different planets when it comes to wanting a particular gameday experience.

I really don't want to put a downer on it for you. I hope you have the time of your life there, hopefully leaving with a W.

Here ya go Broncolingus


_________________________________________________



Broncos set to play in London
Denver will battle the 49ers in an Oct. 31 game at Wembley Stadium.
By Lindsay H. Jones
The Denver Post
Posted: 01/16/2010 01:00:00 AM MST


Get your passports ready, the Broncos are headed to London.

The NFL and the team announced Friday that the Broncos will play the 49ers at London's Wembley Stadium on Oct. 31 as part of the league's international series of games. It will replace the game the teams were to play next season at San Francisco.

The London game will not affect the Broncos' schedule of eight home games at Invesco Field at Mile High.

"I think it's going to be exciting, crazy. I've never played out of the States before. It'll be a good experience for a lot of people," Broncos linebacker Andra Davis said. "It's one of those things that when you look back over your career, it will be one of the highlights."

The game, which will begin at 11 a.m. Mountain time and be televised by CBS, will mark the first time in franchise history the Broncos will play a regular-season game outside of the United States.

The team previously has played in seven exhibition games in Australia, England, Germany, Japan, Mexico and Spain.

The Broncos were approached by the league earlier this week to see if they would be interested in playing a regular-season game in London, and accepted the offer Thursday. The NFL will begin promoting the game during the broadcasts of the four playoff games this weekend.

"It's a situation you embrace," Broncos chief operating officer Joe Ellis said. "It's good for the game and good for the Denver Broncos."

The NFL said it is considering adding a second game in London in the 2010 season.

London has played host to a regular-season game each season since 2007, each in front of sellout crowds. The 2009 game featured the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers and was played in front of more than 84,000 fans.

The rest of the Broncos' 2010 schedule will be released in late spring, but the Broncos are likely to play a home game Oct. 24 and have their bye on Nov. 7, the Sunday after the game in London, to give players time to recover from the European travel.

Broncos coach Josh McDaniels can surely ask his mentor, New England coach Bill Belichick, for advice on traveling — and winning — across the Atlantic.

"The previous games in London have had a playoff-like atmosphere to them, so that's always a good thing to play in that type of an environment," McDaniels said in a team statement. "We'll be ready for the challenge."

Broncos linebacker Mario Haggan said Friday he is planning to bring his wife and two children to London to experience Europe as a family.

But, Haggan said, the reason for the trip is clear.

"Hopefully, we'll be able to go over there and get a win," Haggan said.

Mike Klis contributed to this report. Lindsay Jones: 303-954-1262 or ljones@denverpost.com

Playing over the pond

The Broncos-49ers game will be the fourth in the NFL's series at London, which started in 2007. Each game at Wembley Stadium was sold out and was played in front of more than 81,000 fans.

Date Result Attendance


Oct. 28, 2007 Giants 13, Miami 10 81,176
Oct. 26, 2008 New Orleans 37, San Diego 32 83,226
Oct. 25, 2009 New England 35, Tampa Bay 7 84,254


The Broncos have played seven previous games in foreign countries, all in the preseason. The team is 3-4 in those games.

Date Site Opponent Result Attendance


Aug. 9, 1987 London L.A. Rams L, 28-27 72,786
Aug. 5, 1990 Tokyo Seattle W, 10-7 48,827
Aug. 15, 1992 Berlin Miami L, 31-27 60,813
July 31, 1994 Barcelona L.A. Raiders L, 25-22 37,406
Aug. 6, 1995 Tokyo San Fran. W, 24-10 48,526
Aug. 4, 1997 Mexico City Miami L, 38-19 104,629
Aug. 8, 1999 Sydney San Diego W, 20-17 73,811







Read more: http://www.denverpost.com/ci_1420421...#ixzz0cmqlfj1F

BRONCOS are 0-3 in Europe, hopefully this will be their first win there!!

Originally Posted by Sharkie

If we get tickets, then hopefully I'll be close enough to the gridiron to chomp some 49ers legs if assistance is needed on the D!

Already booked the Hotel.
How's that for enthusiasm!

I hope you and the others have a feeding frenzy with the FairyNiners (they need a jaws smilie).

I don't doubt the BRONCO fans over there will have all the hotels booked and tickets bought!! Just think last game I saw live was in Seattle at the Kingdome many moons ago!! Main thing is have fun with a BRONCOS win and hopefully the BRONCOS have a moment to meet with fans and sign autographs.

I wish the game was tomorrow!!

And, even more important....

The Broncos are playing IN JACKSONVILLE this year so I GET TO GO TO ANOTHER GAME!!!!!

Oh, all the other southeastern US fans can come, too because the Faguars NEVER sell out!

HELL YEAH!!!

Ooops, I guess this was about London. Yay, good for you Brit fans, too.

Ticket sorted, going to Wembley