Home · Sports · Oct 24 archive
NFL Cancels Fan Events in Paris Amid Protests
Confirmed
In Short: The NFL canceled several fan events in Paris Saturday due to escalating protests and security concerns.
The NFL canceled several fan events in Paris Saturday due to escalating protests and security concerns, including the closure of its 'NFL House' and the postponement of the Saints fan event until Sunday. Fans were notified through the OnePass app Saturday morning.
Despite the cancellations, the NFL said preparations for Sunday's game at Stade de France continue as scheduled. The league cited 'potential accessibility issues' for the closures, which also affected a pop-up NFL shop in the city center.
The NFL had planned several fan activities throughout the weekend, including a 'Hail Mary' football-throwing event along the Seine River on Friday. However, the ongoing security situation disrupted those plans.
The U.S. State Department issued a security alert earlier this week, advising Americans in Paris for the NFL game to 'exercise caution and be aware of their surroundings' due to the demonstrations. The protests have recently escalated into violence, rioting, and looting.
Paris is bracing for more protests linked to concerns about living costs and public services. Police resources are stretched with mass protests planned for the weekend, and local prefects have banned all protests in France’s second- and third-largest cities, Marseille and Lyon, for Saturday.
The NFL said it continues to work closely with local authorities and partners on all operational and security matters. The league noted that street protests 'are not unusual in France,' but the current situation has overshadowed the NFL's debut in Paris.
Around 80,000 fans are expected to attend the game at Stade de France, which is just on the outskirts of Paris. The NFL's official game information continues to list the event, with kickoff at 2:30 p.m.
Fans like Nick Paiva expressed disappointment, saying, 'I was looking forward to just checking out some of the installations they had — they were going to have the Lombardi Trophy.'
What this adds
The NFL's decision to cancel fan events comes as Paris prepares for more protests linked to concerns about living costs and public services.
The NFL and New Orleans Saints continue preparations for the game despite the cancellations, with the league noting that street protests 'are not unusual in France.'
Background
Violent protests erupted across France over the weekend, with students and other demonstrators clashing with police and causing widespread damage.
The NFL and New Orleans Saints continue preparations for a game in Paris despite escalating protests and violence in France.
What's confirmed
- The NFL notified fans of the closure Saturday morning through its OnePass app, citing "potential accessibility issues."
- The Saints also announced that "Saints House has been postponed until Sunday," while a separate Steelers fan event was canceled Thursday (October 22).
- The U.S. State Department also issued a security alert earlier this week, advising "Americans in Paris for the NFL game" to "exercise caution and be aware of their surroundings" because of the demonstrations.
- Goodell also noted that street protests "are not unusual in France."
- “Preparations continue as scheduled for NFL events and the game at Stade de France next Sunday,” the league said in a statement Sunday.
- An exterior view of the Stade de France with NFL branding on Thursday, Oct.
- The NFL has closed its “NFL House” in Paris as the city braces for street protests with a heavy police presence and storefronts boarded up.
- “I was looking forward to just checking out some of the installations they had — they were going to have the Lombardi Trophy,” fan Nick Paiva said.
- The NFL said Friday that its pop-up shop in the city center would be closed Saturday but that fans could use an alternative shop set up at Stade de France, located north of the city in Saint-Denis.
- A fan participates in the Hail Mary event on the banks of the Seine river in Paris, Friday, Oct.
- "We concur with the NFL's statement and are planning to play the game. In addition to working closely with the NFL, we have also maintained daily security updates with our security partners in France," Bensel said.
- Security concerns have overshadowed the NFL's debut in Paris. The New Orleans Saints will play the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday at Stade de France in the league's first-ever regular-season game in France. Also Saturday, the Saints announced that " Saints House has been postponed until Sunday."
What's still developing
- Another complaint related to a commentator on radio station France Info who wrongly claimed that far-left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon had “never clearly condemned the October 17 violence”.
- He had also expected to participate in the league’s activation called “Hail Mary over the Seine” in which you try to throw a football across the famed waterway, at a location near Notre Dame.
- The Steelers plan to practice in Pittsburgh before departing for France on Thursday.
- "Members of our football operations staff and internal security team have been on the ground in France for the past few days and there has been no disruption or impact at any of our team sites."
Sources
- Complexlink
- Newsweeklink
- AP Newslink
- Heraldbulletinlink
- Fox8Livelink
- Dailygazettelink
- Arabnewslink
- Newsweeklink
- CBS Sportslink
- Bleacherreportlink
- France24link
- Kdhnewslink
- Espnlink
- WarpBeat — background on France Grapples With Violent Protests Amid Student Riots link
- WarpBeat — background on NFL Plans Paris Game Amid Escalating Protests link
- TODAY — video link