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 'Loose Talk'
By Benjamin Benedict
Good Ole’ American Know-How!
As David Beckham pockets many millions for playing for the LA Galaxy, the NFL loads up it’s coffers by staging on October 28th, the first American Football Game that actually counts for points in the NFL championship at the newly constructed Wembley Stadium, London, England. Both moves are aimed at promoting what are essentially competing sports, but the differences of approach are significant.
The LA Galaxy is a team of course, while the NFL is the American governing body, but can anyone imagine the National Football Association in England (never, ever familiarly known as the NFA) having the wit to hire The Giants Stadium in New York, and stage a points counting match between say Manchester United and Arsenal there? You cannot be serious! Those greasy palmed (palm greased?) clodhoppers couldn’t to use an American sporting expression, get to first base.
The NFL first punts a package of tickets plus flights and hotel accommodation to the States-side fans, who credit card willing are more than up for such a junket. These deals are snapped up in a flash. This of course means that the NFL is picking up change, not just for ticket sales, but for the whole excursion. It also means that there will be a real football atmosphere with real fans. They sell the remaining tickets in batches over the net at between $110.00-$180.00 a seat! These are also gobbled up.
I believe that Wembley Stadium has in excess of 80,000 seats and the great majority of these are in the $180.00 category. One can only guess at the gross receipts, but I think it safe to say that this is a very cost effective way of promoting American Football.
David Beckham’s move to LA, makes it hard for him to play for his country, and the guys running the English show are left out in the cold, not having turned a coin. Then, to put the icing on the cake, the NFL say, ‘Please note that any tickets from this sale that are found to be on eBay or similar ticket touting websites will have their sale cancelled, and made available to genuine fans in a final general admission sale that will take place in late September’. Ticket touting is rife in soccer and all The NFA can do is to click their tongues a little.
The NFL is a business and the NFA is jobs for the boys. I’m not saying that all is sweetness and light in the NFL, but despite the many problems that beset the States, Americans know how to run things, know how to show things. Good ole’ American know-how! I bet they are picking up another billfold from live TV coverage in the UK as well.
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