Escalating Protests, Security Concerns Overshadow NFL’s Paris Debut

The NFL envisioned a mini-Super Bowl experience for its first regular-season game in France. Instead street protests and mounting security concerns have forced the league to scale back its Paris festivities, leaving some fans disappointed.With the New Orleans Saints scheduled to face the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday at Stade de France, the league canceled or postponed several promotional events as tens of thousands of protesters marched Saturday at Paris and other cities, confronted by some 70,000 police officers nationwide. The marches were initially reported as largely peaceful, unlike those a week ago that were marred by widespread violence and arson attacks.The NFL closed its “NFL House” on Saturday, announcing the decision through its OnePass app. A pop-up merchandise shop in the city center was also shut, with the league citing “potential accessibility issues.” The Saints separately announced that their “Saints house” event had been postponed until Sunday.The disruptions have complicated what was planned as an international showcase designed to introduce American football to potential French fans by giving them a taste of the festivities that surround a Super Bowl.For fans who had traveled to Paris or planned their weekend around the league’s activities, the cancellations meant missing an opportunity to experience the NFL beyond the United States.Nick Paiva, an American living in Paris, told the Associated Press, “I was looking forward to just checking out some of the installations they had — they were going to have the Lombardi Trophy.”The State Department this week issued a security alert that cautioned “Americans in Paris for the NFL game” to “exercise caution and be aware of their surroundings” because of protests.NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said this week that preparations were made in consultation with American and French authorities. Street protests, he said, “are not unusual in France.”Despite months of planning, the NFL’s debut in Paris has unfolded against a backdrop of domestic disruption over social and political issues. Major cultural attractions, including the Louvre and Musee d’Orsay were closed on Saturday. Storefronts were boarded up in parts of the city, while police prepared for more demonstrations.A gathering for Steelers fans was canceled Thursday because of security concerns, and the league’s decision to close its downtown merchandise shop Saturday left Stade de France as an alternative location for fans seeking NFL gear.The tension was visible. Multiple police vans drove with their emergency lights flashing along one street near where a fan prepared to throw a football.Some visitors seemed comfortable amid the volatile environment. Steelers fan Monika Allen told the AP that advice shared through fan-run Facebook groups helped her avoid areas where demonstrations were expected.“The fans are doing a good job keeping each other informed of where to be and where not to be,” Ms. Allen said. “We’re not worried.” The game itself remains the centerpiece of the NFL’s French experiment. On Friday, President Emmanuel Macron met with Mr. Goodell, Saints owner Gayle Benson and Steelers owner Art Rooney II at the Élysée Palace. The meeting addressed Sunday’s game and the NFL’s future in Paris.For a league accustomed to carefully orchestrated spectacles, the weekend has offered a reminder that expanding internationally requires more than bringing teams and fans across an ocean. It also means navigating the realities of the host city.

Escalating Protests, Security Concerns Overshadow NFL’s Paris Debut

Escalating Protests, Security Concerns Overshadow NFL’s Paris Debut

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