Article - Mexico to stage 1st regular season game outside US

[k19]

Mexico to stage 1st regular season game outside US
Fri Jul 15, 2005 4:33 PM ET

By Chris Aspin
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Organizers are hoping to attract a record 105,000 crowd to Mexico's Azteca stadium when the San Francisco 49ers play the Arizona Cardinals in October, the first regular season NFL game outside the United States.

San Francisco safety Tony Parrish said his team were pumped up about the contest on Sunday October 2.

"This game right here is going to be all business," Parrish told a news conference on Friday. "I've never played in front of that many people and I'm excited about that."

The Azteca stadium, which normally hosts soccer matches and rock concerts, holds the record for an NFL game after 112,376 people watched the Dallas Cowboys lose 6-0 to the Houston Oilers in a pre-season American Bowl game in 1994.

This time the capacity is limited to 105,000 as giant screens will be set up for the crowd to watch replays.

Cardinals guard Rolando Cantu will be returning to his home country.

Cantu, a second-choice player for Arizona, is the only Mexican-born player in the NFL.

"It is an honor to be in this position and to be part of this magnificent event," said Cantu.

NFL executive vice president Roger Goodell said Mexico had been chosen for the game because of its fan base, with huge support for teams like the 49ers, the Dallas Cowboys and the Miami Dolphins.

But Europe, Asia and Canada may also host regular season games in the future, Goodell said.

"We would look to play an international game, maybe on an annual basis, and would look to rotate that around the areas I mentioned," he said.

 

[Alexander]

But Europe, Asia and Canada may also host regular season games in the future, Goodell said.

Why not take these games to American cities that are dying for professional football?

Or is it more lucrative to market the game to a public that might have a hard time understanding the game?

That is why I have never understood the excursion into Europe, or these meaningless jaunts to Tokyo.

What?

 

[XXB]

if you don't know Mexico is the second best market for NFL outside of US and the Cowboys is the team that has most fans outside US and also they understand very well the game

 

[·[A]koN·]

Even tho' they may speak another language, once you know whats going on you really dont need to hear anything. (but obviously its better to understand the komments') and very true, Kowboys are rekognized all over the WORLD, and Kowboy Fans' TAKE OVER MEXICO....

 

[Sarge]

Or is it more lucrative to market the game to a public that might have a hard time understanding the game?

Mexico has an enormous NFL fanbase. There will be 100,000 fans at the 9er/Cards game alone.

That might be why they are going there.

 

[lkelly]

Mexico has an enormous NFL fanbase. There will be 100,000 fans at the 9er/Cards game alone.

That might be why they are going there.

I think 100,000 fans usually represents the Cards' season attendance. Perhaps a wise move to double that with one game.

 

[junk]

I saw the thread title and thought this had something to do with Ron Mexico.

I was very disappointed.