UCFB Future Sport 2018

NFL IN LONDON
STUDENT SUCCESS
Kerry Russell, UCFB student, and Lewis Payne, UCFB graduate, media assistants at NFL International Series
Understanding the NFL and its travelling army
When the NFL comes to London you can guarantee it’ll be the biggest show in town. For two UCFB students, the
chance to work behind the scenes of the annual International Series was a chance they couldn’t miss…
Access:
UCFB students
go behind the
scenes at a Colts
press conference
The NFL International Series matches at Wembley
Stadium have become some of the most anticipated
sporting events in the UK over the last decade.
80,000 fans regularly flock to north west London to
see their favourite gridiron stars and get a true taste of
America’s Game.
But it’s not just fans who get to soak in the unique
carnival atmosphere of the NFL when it hits the streets
of the capital. UCFB’s close ties with Wembley Stadium,
as well as the wider sport industry, has enabled
students to gain valuable work experience opportunities
with the NFL when it comes to town.
With teams regularly arriving a full week before they
run out at Wembley Stadium, it’s not uncommon for the
players’ week to be filled with numerous media duties.
For NFL fans and UCFB students Kerry Russell and Lewis
Payne, the opportunity to immerse themselves in the
media production of the NFL and one of the busiest weeks
of the organisation’s season was something they could
only have dreamed about before starting higher education.
“I found the experience invaluable to say the least,”
Kerry said, after filming some of the league’s biggest
stars. “To be stood watching the teams train and being
present at the exclusive press conferences was so surreal.”
And while the pair can now put the prestigious NFL
on their CV’s, as well having gained invaluable advice
from the pros on vital skills such as camera handling,
there is one major aspect of the hugely competitive
media field Kerry in particular found out about.
She said: “Being at a major event such as the International
Series taught me a lot, especially how to think on your feet
to solve problems and how brutal the broadcasting field is.”
Kerry added: “No one moved out my way just because
I was a student, it was every camera man and woman
for themselves!”
Kerry studies BA (Hons) Sports Business & Sports
Broadcasting at UCFB Wembley, and Lewis is a graduate
of BA (Hons) Football Business & Marketing.
Touchdown: UCFB graduate Lewis Payne with New York
Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr.
UK would hurt American fans the most. Even the most
dedicated fan isn’t going to follow his team to London.
In its current format, the International Series sees
four teams give up a home game to play in London,
leaving thousands of American fans short changed.
Not upsetting a dedicated US fan base is key to any
potential franchise relocation.
“Whatever is done in the UK needs to be thoughtfully
and carefully planned,” Deepak says. “The NFL do not
want to upset the US fan base, and season ticket
holders will not want to miss out on any more games
than are now already being played overseas.”
American football, despite its worldwide appeal
and ability to print money, is still a very insular sport.
NFL bosses are desperate to take their product abroad
and give it a global footprint. A regular season game is
also scheduled for Mexico next season featuring Super
Bowl winners New England Patriots, and it’s looking
increasingly likely that Germany could soon play host to
an International Series game.
Other sports are following suit too as the appetite for
American sport in the UK grows. The NBA has a regular
season game at the O2 Arena in London, and talks are
progressing about bringing Major League Baseball to
the capital and the Olympic Stadium.
The NFL though have led the way from the start, and
it seems it’s now only a matter of time until London
becomes home to the other football.
Tomorrow’s talent, today | 47