The NFL is heading to Paris this weekend for a Steelers-Saints regular-season matchup at Stade de France, and it’s doing so while insisting everything is under control. The league announced it will not move forward with the Steelers House fan event in the Bastille area, citing security concerns after recent events in the neighborhood. Preparations for Sunday’s game, though, are continuing as planned.
Commissioner Roger Goodell downplayed the risk, saying security will be very high and that protests are not unusual in France. He said the league has been in touch with authorities and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and the NFL added that it has seen no disruptions at league sites while working closely with local officials. Friday and Saturday fan events are still expected to proceed as scheduled.
The move raises obvious questions about the league’s growing international push, with nine overseas games this season and Paris as one of its marquee stops. Canceling a fan event while keeping the game on the calendar is the kind of mixed message fans and players tend to notice. Should the NFL have postponed the game entirely, or is playing through the noise the right call for player safety and league credibility?
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.