Tag: nfl international

Arthur Blank thinks Falcons will play Broncos in London this fall

The Falcons are expected to play against the Broncos in London, England during the 2020 NFL season.

In an interview with United Kingdom-based talkSPORT at NFL Honors on Saturday, Falcons owner Arthur Blank told Oliver Wilson that he thinks his team will face the Broncos in London, England next season.

“I really couldn’t be happier that we’re going back,” Blank said. “We had a weird ending to the last game [in London] — we lost on the last play of the last game against the Lions but we’re still looking forward to coming back.

“I think we’re playing against the Broncos — I think, from what I’ve heard — but I’m not sure. So we’ll see. We’re excited about it.”

Broncos president/CEO Joe Ellis has been campaigning for an international game and he made it clear during his end-of-season press conference last December that his team wants to play in England.

“I’m basically begging to get it because I think it’d be very good for us to play there,” Ellis said, adding that the contest would be played Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Denver last played in London in 2010, a 24-16 loss to the 49ers. The NFL will announce its 2020 international schedule later this offseason.

[vertical-gallery id=632159]

Broncos might play Falcons in London in 2020

Broncos president/CEO Joe Ellis wants his team to play the Falcons in London during the 2020 NFL season.

If Denver Broncos president/CEO Joe Ellis has his way, the team will face the Atlanta Falcons at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, England during the 2020 NFL season.

The Falcons are scheduled to have a “home” international game and Denver is scheduled to play an away game against Atlanta next season. Ellis, who has been campaigning for an international game for years, wants that game to be played in England.

“I haven’t heard anything from the league other than I’ve pestered and begged them,” Ellis said Monday. “I think it’d be really good for us to go there. I put in a personal request to [Falcons owner] Arthur Blank and he came up to me in the last league meeting and was supportive.”

The Broncos last played in London in 2010 against the San Francisco 49ers. Denver lost that game 24-16 but it was good exposure for the team.

“The league has to do what’s best for them in terms of their international strategy,” Ellis said, “but I think it would be good for the franchise, good for the organization . . . . I’m basically begging to get it because I think it’d be very good for us to play there.”

Last year, the NFL announced its international games for the 2019 season in late January. The league will likely announce its 2020 international games at a similar time this year, so Ellis should have an answer in the coming weeks.

[vertical-gallery id=630172]