NFL TO RETURN TO UK
American Football will be coming back to the UK in 2008, NFL chiefs have confirmed.
The Miami Dolphins and New York Giants made history in October this year by competing in the first ever regular season game to be held outside of North America as the Giants beat the Dolphins 13-10 at Wembley Stadium.
A crowd of 81,176 packed into the national stadium although NFL UK claimed that the venue could have sold out up to three times, such was the demand for tickets during the initial ballot.
"The game in London was undoubtedly one of the highlights of the entire 2007 season," said NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.
"The fan interest was tremendous. The passion they demonstrated for our sport that day continued throughout the season, as television viewership in the UK has grown by 40% since the game."
NFL UK managing director Alistair Kirkwood said: "Clearly, the fans - with their passion and enthusiasm - have convinced the NFL that the UK should be rewarded with another game in 2008.
"We are very excited as we begin preparations for that game and conclude this historic season next month with BBC TV showing its first-ever Super Bowl."
The NFL confirmed their intention to take a game to the UK yesterday and the date and venue are likely to be announced in the week before the Super Bowl on February 3rd.
Wembley is thought to be the likely venue although the �800m stadium was criticised heavily due to the poor condition of the pitch, not helped by persistent rain on the day of the game.
That has prompted NFL bosses in both the UK and US to look at other venues, with the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff and Murrayfield, Edinburgh thought to be in the running.
Roger Lewis, chief executive of the Wales Rugby Unionnion, which owns the Millennium Stadium, hopes Cardiff's retractable roof will count in its favour.
"We would welcome them coming to the Millennium Stadium. We think we are the perfect fit for them," he told the Financial Times, adding that talks with the NFL were continuing.
"We have a retractable roof, which permits a rain-free fixture, and we have one of the finest pitches in world rugby."
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