NFL weighs venue shift for inaugural France game amid escalating street unrest
The NFL says it may relocate the Saints-Steelers game in Paris if the recent French riots worsen, though no move is planned yet.
Mass protests in France on Saturday, involving up to 800,000 participants, devolved into clashes with police, looting and fires, prompting arrests that rose to roughly 1,800, with 855 in the Paris area. The NFL, set to stage its first game on French soil next Sunday between the New Orleans Saints and Pittsburgh Steelers at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, is monitoring the situation but has not yet decided to move the contest.
A league source said officials are working with French authorities and could consider an alternate venue if conditions worsen. President Donald Trump posted remarks about the unrest, adding political pressure. Saints owner Gayle Benson described the match as a step in deepening Franco-American ties, and the team will fly from New York directly to Paris, planning a full week to adjust to the time zone. Shifting the game back to New Orleans would be difficult, as the Caesars Superdome is booked on Oct. 25 and the Steelers' home stadium has no open date then.
Why it matters
The game’s location hinges on public safety amid France's widespread unrest, affecting a historic NFL event.
In this story
