The NFL announced their slate of London games for 2018 on Thursday. The Green Bay Packers are not involved in those games.
Here are the matchups.
- Seattle Seahawks vs. Oakland Raiders, Tottenham stadium, Oct. 14.
- Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars, Wembley Stadium, Oct. 21 or 28.
- Tennessee Titans vs. Los Angeles Chargers, Wembley Stadium, Oct. 21 or 28.
It was thought that the Packers’ 2018 game with the Los Angeles Rams might end up in London. And as someone who lives in Los Angeles, I can say thank god that is not the case.
I don’t know if the Rams have had a sellout at the Los Angeles Coliseum, where they are playing until their Inglewood stadium opens. However, that place seats 93,607, so I have my doubts.
I went to the Rams’ playoff game against the Falcons and I can tell you that game wasn’t sold out. I can also tell you that I would wager that the Rams’ game against the Packers will be a sellout.
So what is their incentive to agree to play Green Bay in London?
Zero.
The Packers are one of three teams that haven’t played in London. The Carolina Panthers and Houston Texans are the others.
The next shot for a London game for the Packers likely comes in 2019, when they will face the Los Angeles Chargers. The Chargers currently play in a stadium that seats less than 30,000. They are also waiting for the Rams’ Inglewood stadium to be finished. You could certainly make an argument that it doesn’t make sense to try to cram Packer Nation into that joint.