Tampa Bay and New England to clash at Wembley in Oct 2009

As predicted by Nick Halling last night on sky!!

Now confirmed in an email i just got from NFLUK:

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will host the New England Patriots when the NationalFootball League continues its International Series at London’s Wembley Stadiumon Sunday, October 25, 2009, the NFL announced today. The Buccaneers and Patriots have been two of the NFL’s most successful teams inrecent years, combining to win four of the past seven Super Bowls. Both clubsare strong contenders for a return trip to the playoffs this season. The contest will mark the third consecutive year of a competitive(regular-season) game at Wembley. On October 26, the New Orleans Saints beat theSan Diego Chargers 37-32 in front of an 83,226 crowd, while the New York Giantsovercame the Miami Dolphins 13-10 in October 2007 on their way to winning SuperBowl XLII. The NFL has committed to playing at least one game in the UnitedKingdom for each of the next two seasons. “Over the past two years, we have seen first-hand the excitement that existsfor our sport in the UK,” said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. “The games havehelped us to deepen our connection with our UK fans as well as create new ones. We are looking forward to another outstanding game in 2009.” Joel Glazer, Buccaneers Executive Vice-President, said: “The Tampa BayBuccaneers organization is extremely excited and honored to be chosen toparticipate in the NFL International Series. We look forward to being part ofthe NFL’s global outreach and playing our great game in front of Buccaneers fansoverseas.” The game between the Buccaneers and Patriots, both of whom are currentlychallenging for places in this season’s playoffs, will take place in Week Sevenof the 2009 season and will be shown live in the United States on CBS, kickingoff at 5:00 p.m. UK time (1:00 p.m. ET). Tickets for the game will be available for sale in mid-January 2009 – unlikeother years in which the first wave of seats have been sold in April. Prior tothat a Registry of Interest will be made available to people interested inpurchasing tickets. All those that apply for tickets via the Registry ofInterest will be given priority in purchasing tickets before seats go on sale tothe general public. Click here for more information on ticketing for the 2009International Series game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New EnglandPatriots. http://www.nfluk.com/ticket-information.html NFL UK Managing Director Alistair Kirkwood said: “We are very excited at theprospect of welcoming two of the NFL’s leading teams to Wembley. The continuedcommitment of the NFL to the UK is a tribute to everyone who has made theprevious games such a success, from the fans and our partners to the teamsthemselves. Both the Buccaneers and Patriots have strong fan bases here and arenames that will be familiar even to those who don’t follow the sport closely. Weexpect this to be another fantastic game and an outstanding event.” The Buccaneers captured Super Bowl XXXVII following the 2002 season and arechallenging for their third NFC South division title in the past four years. Tampa Bay will be in the global spotlight prior to next season, as Super BowlXLIII will be played at Raymond James Stadium on February 1. The Patriots won the Super Bowls XXXVI, XXXVIII, XXXIX following the 2001, 2003and 2004 seasons and won their first 18 games last season in advancing to SuperBowl XLII. The team is bidding for its sixth consecutive AFC East divisionchampionship.

I would think the Bucs would not be that happy about it as there is a huge amount of Pats fans in the UK and it will be more like a home game for them and not the Bucs.

Good to see two good teams coming over again though. At least Sean Payton won't be moaning so much afterwoods.

nice 2 good teams,altough chucky and belicheck dont know who to pick for the biggest moaner

My younger bro is a Bucs fan, so I will have to take him... oh and to just boooo the pats!