last night there was something on the SNF broadcast that said the reports about there being 2 games in London next season were not true.

I would definitely support a Niners trip to London!

I’ve been wondering, though, if anybody else thought that it was a little (or, okay, a lot) tacky of the NFL to send the NEW ENGLAND Patriots to play in OLD ENGLAND this year?

London is nearly a 13 hour flight and I think that is way too long of a flight!

I wouldn’t even mind if it were a home game as long as it wasn’t against a good team. The way the 49ers are right now, if they lost their home field advantage against a good team, it could be the difference between winning and losing. But if they played someone like the Rams, I’ld be fine with it.

I don’t see the significant advantage of being a “home” team across the Atlantic, although perhaps the Brits would like our crimson looks. I don’t know how the crowd over there would be partial to a certain team in the game (maybe you could enlighten us on that NFATP), but a team on the other side of the U.S. from them, named after a mad historic American event in the mid 19th century, just might not be as appealing as, say, the Giants or Dolphins.

I don’t know – just going out on a limb: guess I’d be happy even if the Niners did play there as a home team. Just so long as it gets on local TV in Upstate NY too. ; )

The 49ers seem to be terrible on the road this season (maybe it will carry on to 2010).

I really don’t want them to give up homefield advantage.

during the week of the draft? I’d watch those for sure.

What time would it be on in the Pacific?

I live in London, though I’m from the City, which is why I have John Brodie for an avatar.

There are many loyal and devoted NFL fans in Britain, some who have been fans for over a quarter-century. Channel Four began showing the NFL in a highlights package in 1982, and it was an unexpected hit. The Super Bowl has been live on British television continuously since Super Bowl XVII and over 700,000 watched the game on BBC Two last year. Sky Sports, an expensive pay channel, achieve very good ratings for the NFL (compared to other non-soccer sports). The Wembley game has sold out 3 straight years. That’s 85,000 fans paying VERY expensive tickets.

The 49ers are among the most popular teams in Britain due in large part to the success of the Niners in the 80s during the Channel Four era. The Patriots are the most popular, which is why it was cold, hard money and not schmaltz that they played at Wembley this year.

There are two good non-I live here of course I want to see them in London reasons to want them in London.

1: Candlestick is the lowest revenue stadium in the NFL. Wembley has 15,000 more seats plus way more luxury boxes and club seating, which Candlestick doesn’t even have. Tickets ain’t cheap, depending on the arrangement the 49ers could come out with significantly more money than a Candlestick home game, which is important since the agreement to share revenue with the league’s poorest teams (which we unquestionably are) will not be in effect next year.

2: There’ll be huge numbers of 49er fans at the game. I feel bad for the people who show up every week, but let’s be honest. The Niners play in front of 30,000 empty seats every week. It’d be nice to have a home game with a full stadium.

Also, the game would be at 10 am (6 pm here in ol’ Blighty) and it’s an 11 hour, not a 13 hour flight. It’s rough but you get over it in a day or two, particularly if you’re flying first class like the Niners will.