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August 27, 2006

Pats to play in China?

The Tacoma News Tribune is reporting that the Patriots and Seattle Seahawks will play a preseason game in China next year, which would be the first-ever NFL game in the world's most populated country.

According to the News Tribune report, NFL officials are discussing a plan whereby the Patriots would spend a week in Seattle, with the teams possibly playing an exhibiton game at Qwest Field. The Pats and Seahawks would then travel to China for practices, public appearances and another game in Beijing.

Outgoing NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue, who is schuled to hand the reins to Roger Goodell on Friday, said earlier this year that the league was targeting China. A game next year could serve as the beginning of the one-year countdown to the 2008 Summer Olympics, which will be centered in Beijing.

Interestingly, the Patriots were the first NFL team to have a Chinese-language team website.

The NFL has not yet made an official announcement. The league has held preseason games in other countries since 1986, though there were none this year. Last October, the first regular-season game was played outside the US, with Arizona and San Francisco playing in Mexico City.

shalise

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 9:22 PM | Permalink