What It’s Like to Attend an NFL Game Overseas (Expect Lots of Jerseys from Teams Who Aren’t Playing!)

I just got back from your typical trip to London: taking photos in front of Buckingham Palace, eating fish and chips at the pub, touring the Tower of London and singing “Shout” every time the Buffalo Bills score.

Maybe that last one isn’t quite what you imagined, but that was the reality for 60,000 fans on Sunday when the Buffalo Bills faced off against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. And while the UK is better known for football (or “soccer” as they know it) and rugby when it comes to sports, the NFL increases its presence every year with games played in London and other European countries for their international series.

With my husband being a lifelong Bills fan and me covering the Royals for work, we started looking for flights shortly after it was announced that our team was playing overseas — and we weren’t the only ones. Starting with our flight to London and continuing all week in almost every place we went, we spotted jerseys and caps cheering on the Bills, Jags and just about every other NFL team.

Thinking about supporting your team abroad? Here’s what you need to know.

Expect to see a lot of jerseys (even for non-playing teams!)

While Bills and Jaguars fans were heavily represented, there were also plenty of jerseys, caps and apparel in support of nearly every team in the NFL in the stands. You wouldn’t expect fans of teams that don’t play a game in the US, but when it’s the only chance for NFL fans to see a game (whether they’re natives from the host country or transplants from the state), they’ll take advantage and represent.

Not everyone traveled far for the game

We met loads of people who had traveled from the US to cheer on their teams, and there were plenty of locals in Tottenham too. Quite a few Brits were there, whether they were fans of one of the teams playing or just wanted to see a live “American football” game. And some traveled from different countries, but not across the pond — we sat next to some people from Germany!

Fans show support before the NFL game between the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Buffalo Bills at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on October 8, 2023 in London.

Peter Nicholls/Getty

It is not like other sports events in the host country

Before going to the NFL game, my husband and I also had the opportunity to watch a football game between Fulham and Sheffield. We expected a scene similar to a sporting event in the United States – fans showing up early for the game, nearby bars opening early to accommodate the fans, lots of gear representing their team. It turns out that getting to a Premier League game early isn’t the same at all. Just a few hours before the gates opened at the football game, there was hardly anyone around the stadium, and the nearest bar didn’t open until an hour and a half before the entrance. Instead of Fulham gear, almost half the crowd was dressed in plain clothes. Another big difference in football was the separation between home and away fans — apparently things can get pretty nasty if they sit together. There were even specific entrances for the visiting team! During the game, there were no Jumbotron moments or those other sideline activities that take place at most American sporting events. Also a big culture shock: you can’t bring alcoholic beverages to your seats! If you get a beer, you have to drink it in the hall, and there is a break in the sale of drinks during the game. At an NFL game they kept to more American ways and it was perfectly fine to bring a drink to your seat or sit next to a fan of the other team…and they all showed up early!

Fireworks are set off before an international NFL game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.

Simon Marper/PA Images via Getty

It’s still a home game (but with some twists)

Sunday’s game in London counted as a home game for the Bills, and the stadium was set up that way. They continued many of the traditions held for Buffalo home games, from singing “Shout” when they score to blowing the train whistle to get the crowd excited when it was time to step up on defense. But there were also a lot of noticeable differences – for example, in addition to singing “The Star-Spangled Banner” before the game, there was also “God Save the King”.

There’s tons of socializing with fellow fans…but book early!

I can’t speak for Jacksonville fans, but Bills fans held events the week before the game, from pub gatherings to tours. However, by the time we heard about them, they were all sold out! If your favorite team plays overseas, do your research and find out about the gatherings, then make sure you buy tickets to these events well in advance so you don’t miss out.

Fans arrive at the stadium before the NFL game between the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Buffalo Bills at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on October 8, 2023 in London.

Henry Browne/Getty

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education