TC Martin

Ready for Football, NFL Season is Here 

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Its that time of year!  The frenzy of the NFL season is here.  Whether its rabid fan bases, fantasy football fanatics or even the casual fan, this what makes sports fans tick as the excitement level is unmatched compared to any other sport. 

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There is mad love for baseball, basketball and hockey but when the football season arrives it's at another level.  Primarily because your favorite team plays only once a week and every game is vitally important.  Add in that games are focused on Sunday's and fans have their routines and meaningful weekend football is a priority. 

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The NFL continues to expand its horizon outside of the United States.  For some that is a little irritating because it takes away home games fand puts them in neutral cities in another country.  The NFL wants to spread its product globally which is understandable but at what cost?  

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This season, the NFL season opener is on a Wednesday.  It's a Super Bowl rematch between Seatle and New England.  The reason is that the NFL had to make way for its first game in Australia which will be played on Friday there but winds up being a Thursday night in the U.S.  Thursday has been reserved for the traditional season kickoff since 2002.  There has been one other Wednesday night season opener in 2012 but that was because the NFL didn't want to compete with the Democratic National Convention that year. 

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The NFL will have more games internationally this season than ever before.  Nine games will be played outside of America.  After the Melbourne Australia game featuring a division contest between the 49ers and Rams, games will be played in Madrid, Spain, Munich, Germany, Paris, France, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, Mexico City, Mexico and three games in London, England. ​

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Despite some of the European games forcing fans in the U.S. getting up extra early (6:30 A.M. Sunday starts), the fandemonium is there. 

 

Get ready for some football as the NFL is here and everybody will be watching for a myriad of reasons from now until Valentines Day when the Super Bowl will be played in Los Angeles.  If that's not love, I don't know what is. ​​