A contingent of 49ers has spent time in London over the last few days, raising publicity for the team’s upcoming “home game” against the Broncos on Halloween.
“I was excited about coming here,” owner John York told Matt Maiocco of Comcast Bay Area. “I think we will have a good home-field advantage here in the UK. I was here for the [New England-Tampa Bay] game last year and there were a lot of 49er fans here.”
The 49ers may be somewhat popular overseas, but we can’t imagine the crowd making much of a difference. The Patriots are far more popular than the Bucs and the crowd in that game was lively, but hardly rowdy in favor of the Patriots. It’s like a U.S. soccer crowd: no one knows when to cheer.
We doubt York’s assessment of the homefield advantage, but he’s the chair of the league’s international committee, so his words regarding the future of London’s role in the NFL is telling.
“There is easily enough of a fan base over here to stage two games a season. I think eventually there will be a Super Bowl outside the U.S. I couldn’t tell you when that would be. I can see it both ways. I’m not sure what will be first, a Super Bowl over here or an NFL team, but they both seem likely to happen.”