NFL in London

National Football League in London

2021 NFL Tottenham

Week 5 Review

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What a tough week it was in the NFL!
Especially for the Giants, 49ers, and Jon Gruden!

Wade and Ryan look back at the week that was in our Week 5 Review podcast.

London Game

What a game in London!

A gorgeous, sunny day gave way to an excellent day of football at Tottenham Stadium.

The Falcons were able to squeeze a win over Zach Wilson and the struggling Jets, but that didn’t really matter to many UK fans.

It was also about getting out to enjoy a beautiful day, with new friends, and a heck of a lot of energy in a shiny new stadium.

We have amazing nights after, hosting all the fans at the Sports Bar & Grill Old Street, Clapham, and the Princess Alexandra in Crouch End.

Ready to do it all again this week?

Gruden

You should always be careful what you say on emails, especially if they are work emails.

Jon Gruden found this out the hard way this week, when an investigation into the Washington Football Team yielded some hefty words from the trash-talking Gruden.

The 90s’ might be done and dusted, but some of the language and nuance remains.

Gruden will most likely be the tip of the iceberg, with many more in the league likely to face justice for their naughty words.

This Week

Are you going to the bug game this week?
What about after the game?

Head to the Sports Bar and Grill Clapham or Old Street on Sunday, which will be hosting wicked after parties.

See you Sunday!

 

London to do (Oct 14-17)

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What a week it was in the NFL, as London once again hosted a game at Tottenham Stadium.

The Falcons flew supreme in this match, over powering the struggling New York Jets in a tight affair in North London. 

Afterwards, we hosted 3 parties across the city for hundred of NFL fans around the world!
What an epic night!

Ready to do it all again?

It’s the battle of Florida in North London, as the Miami Dolphins take on the Jacksonville Jaguars at White Hart Lane on Sunday October 17th. 

You ready to do this all again?

To help you figure out what to do, what’s on, and where to do on your trip to London this week, we’re here to help you out with all the advice that you need, in our London to do (Oct 14-17) tip sheet.

And of course, once again we hope to see you this Sunday at either the Sports Bar and Grill Clapham, Old Street or the Princess Alexandra in Crouch End. 

Getting to the Stadium

After talking to loads of people last week, it became evident that there are some better ways to get to the stadium that others. 

Getting close’ish, then taking a bus seems to have worked well for many people. 

Seven Sisters tube can get nutty, so consider the overground (White Hart Lane) or even walking from the Wood Green area, which has ample parking on Sundays. 

Thursday

Welcome to London! Are you drunk yet/

Lockdown has changed the working habits of many Londoners, with Thursday being the

optimal day to ‘work from the office’ as they can socialise, hit the bars, and get Friday to sleep in a bit.

With that in mind, hit some of the lovely bars in areas like Old Street, Kings Cross, Angel, Hoxton and Shoreditch. 

Frieze

Get your art on by hitting the Frieze London, a chance to catch art and artists you might never had heard of.
A great way to ease your way by hitting a gallery and satisfying your eyes. 

https://www.frieze.com/fairs/frieze-london

Noche Tardiva at Amazonico

Hit the jungle with some great drum and bass, jungle music, and Amazonian cocktails until the wee hours. Dance the night away in central London to rocking beats, and more in this forest themed bar. 

Downstairs at the Kingshead Comedy

One of the oldest running comedy nights in the WORLD, this new act night is one of the hottest tickets in town, with big telly stars popping in to do guest sets.
Located in leafy Crouch End, this comedy club hosts shows all weekend.
Book here:

http://www.downstairsatthekingshead.com/

Friday

Wendy’s

Missing a taste of America? We have Wendy’s!
They are slowly opening up across the UK, but if you are looking for a quick fix, head to Stratford, in London’s east end. 

Grab a bacon double cheeseburger and wash it down with a frosty as you get your America on!

Here is the address:
52 Broadway, London E15 1XE

BackYard Comedy Club

East is the beast when it comes to live entertainment in the capital, and this comedy club is one to check out!
Head to the hip Bethnal Green hood for a weekend of great comedy shows at the Backyard Comedy club. You never know who might pop in.
Booking ahead is recommended as tickets sell out quickly.

https://backyardcomedyclub.co.uk/

Dave Chappelle

If you’re lucky enough to have scored tickets to this show, good on you!
While many people across the pond are trying to cancel Dave, many in the UK simply just want a chance to see him.

This tour was originally rescheduled from the COVID days. 

https://www.eventimapollo.com/events/detail/dave-chappelle-1

Saturday

Football

The Premier League is back, which means that the pubs will be packed with punters looking to catch up on some footie. 

If you find yourself in London and you’re looking to catch a game, there are two London derby’s on to look at.

Watford will be playing host to Liverpool Sat Oct 16th at 12:30pm. Watford is in the north west of the city, & can easily be accessed by the TFL.

Brentford celebrates their promotion to the PL by hosting Chelsea this weekend, in what looms as a ‘Ted Lasso’ type match of epic proportions. 

NCAA Football

If you’re looking to watch college football in the UK, be aware that nobody really cares about it here.
A pub will never switch off a footie game to watch American college kids, so it’s good to find a location that shows this type of stuff.

The Sports Bar and Grill Clapham and Old Street will show the games that air on BT Sport/ ESPN.
They will be showing Kentucky vs Georgia on Saturday at 5pm, so that should keep you busy for a few hours. 

Bloomsbury Festival

Bloomsbury is a weird area of London that has a high density of businesses and residents, giving it a very unique vibe, and worth a walk around. 

The Bloomsbury Festival will be blasting lights, and action all weekend as you can explore the area, as well as hit some of the green restaurants in the area. 

Check it out here.
https://bloomsburyfestival.org.uk/2021-events/

Sunday

It’s gameday!
Remember that the game kicks off at 2:30pm GMT (9:30am EST), so make sure that you plan your journey there accordingly. 

Sunday’s are notoriously slow in the UK for travel (replacement buses everywhere), so give yourself a bit more time to get around. 

Double check your route using CityMapper so that you know exactly what your options are for getting to and from the game. 

PreGame

Looking to soak up the beer in advance by filling up?
Head to the Sports Bar and Grill Old Street, Clapham or the Princess Alexandra in Crouch End for breakfast, or beers prior to kick off. 

The forecast for Sunday is calling for rain, so make sure that you bring an easy jacket/ jumper to throw on, as bringing umbrellas is a pain in the butt. 

All 3 pubs will be showing the NFL game between the Dolphins and Jaguars, but book ahead if you want to make sure that you get a seat. 

The Princess Alexandra is a direct bus ride to the stadium, and there is plenty of parking in Crouch End around Priory Park if you’re looking for a direct route/ option to the game. 

Gametime

Miami Dolphins vs Jacksonville Jaguars at Tottenham Stadium at 2:30pm GMT, so give yourself a bit of time to get to the stadium and go through the security protocols. 

Check ahead with the stadium to make sure that you don’t bring TOO MUCH.

The forecast for Sunday October 17th is mostly cloudy, with a 40% chance of rain, and a high of 17c (64F).

After Parties

London is NOT a late night city, so make sure you plan ahead if you want to avoid going from closed door to closed door in shady parts of London you don’t know. 

Sports Bar Clapham

South London will be full tilt with action, as the SB&G Clapham will host south London’s most epic after party. 

With ALL of the NFL games on plus Redzone, the bar will be open late to make sure that you and yours can watch all of the NFL games. 

Loads of TVs, cold beer and hot wings will make this your best Sunday Funday option south of the Thames. 

https://www.sportsbarandgrill.co.uk/clapham/party-booking

Sports Bar Old Street

The OG of sports bars, this Old Street location will be open until 4am Monday, so that you can get your NFL on for the big game. 

With over 50+ TVs and room for 300 people, this bar will get packed quickly, so make sure you book ahead first. 

We will be accepting people on the door, although there will be a cover charge and seating isn’t guaranteed.
The pub has a late license until 4am, so you can stay for as long as your coherent, and be back in bed late if you want to avoid the rush. 

Book here now!

https://www.sportsbarandgrill.co.uk/oldstreet/party-booking

Princess Alexandra

Jump on the W3 bus near the pub, and you’re dropped off directly in front of White Hart Lane. 

An easy 15 minute journey will see you avoiding the direct traffic and at the stadium every 10 minutes. 

To get out of the stadium, just grab another W3 bus just across the road, and you’re back at the pub in time for the 6pm kickoffs. 

Areas to Avoid

Leicester Square

After hearing the horror stories from fans from week 1, we can only caution you about going to Leicester Square at night. 

Many fans want to crush down there after the games, only to find that the area is dead, and the only places that are open are packed and crazy expensive. 

Wembley

Did you book a hotel near Wembley instead of Tottenham? It’s a lot better than it use to be!

Not much going on unless you’re a student or work around the stadium.
Luckily you are now closer to central London than you were a few years ago. 

Tottenham

10 years ago, venturing outside to the side streets of Wembley would be lunacy.
Today the stadium is safely surrounded by a skyline of condos, busy franchises, and a bustling new community. 

Tottenham is Wembley 10 years ago.
The area is still very rough on the surrounding streets, and gentrification has yet to take hold , allowing Tottenham to maintain a tough, local vibe.
White Hart Lane is a notoriously rough area, and even less desirable at night. 

Get to the game and get out while the sun is still out, the Spurs vampires await. 

That’s it for this write up of what to do in London, have fun, enjoy the game and stay safe. 

See you Sunday at one of our NFL in London events! 

Week 3-London

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Summer is a done’r, as we pumpkin spice our way into another NFL season.

With the leaves starting to fall, children settled back into their schedules, and fantasy football taking over our lives, everything is starting to feel like football again.
And that’s a good thing!

A weekend of sports lies ahead, and if you’re looking to watch the NFL games on Sunday, we can offer you several things to do for Week 3-London.

Sports Bar-Old Street

The most happening NFL party in the city, as well as the biggest!

With over 45 TVs, pool tables, hot wings and cold beer, the Sports Bar & Grill Old Street is your NFL central for the 2021-2022 season.

The Sports Bar and Grill will be showing ALL of the NFL games on Sunday, as well as Redzone and the Sky NFL game.
Make sure you book ahead to avoid disappointment!

The Sports Bar Old Street is open until 12:30am, with a last call at midnight.
This gives you plenty of time to not only get your drinks in, but also stumble across the road to Old Street station and its many transport links.

Best of all, this week we are hosting our DraftKings contest, so that you can win tickets to the game between the Miami Dolphins and Jacksonville Jaguars.
The winner of the contest claims the tickets and the bragging rights!

https://www.draftkings.co.uk/draft/contest/114108483?bypassChallPop=true

This is the ONLY contest you can win the tickets in, so make sure that you enter this contest for the chance to win.
Winners must be UK residents, and able to make the game on October 17th.
Tickets will not be allowed to be resold.

Just an FYI that there is a football match (Tottenham vs Arsenal) at 4:30pm GMT.
The pub will be packed with soccer fans, but don’t worry, the bar has a dedicated NFL area, and will start the games on time.
Once the footy is over, all TVs will be switched to NFL so that you won’t miss much.

Sports Bar-Clapham

South London will be basking in the NFL on Sunday, as the Sports Bar & Grill hosts another great Sunday of NFL.

Located right off the high street, this amazing bar has loads of TVs, plus great wings and a fine selection of beers to round out your afternoon.

The bar will be showing most NFL games, but if there’s one that you want to catch, just ask a member of their helpful staff, and they will be glad to find it for you.

Unlike the Old Street location, Clapham closes at 11pm, so you will only be able to watch the 6pm games in their entirety.

If you would like to watch the late games, join us in Old Street.

Crouch End

The Princess Alexandra in Crouch End has been showing the NFL for years.

Locals can count on this intrepid sports pub for all forms of sports entertainment, and the NFL is just another fine feather in their caps.

The Alex is open until 12:30am, which means that punters can not only enjoy both the 6pm and 9pm games, but also make it back to the tube in time before it shuts.

Local transit hubs include Finsbury Park, Highgate, Turnpike Lane, Hornsey and Haringey train stations.

We are gearing up for the pre and post parties around the 2021 London games as well.
We will be throwing parties at BOTH the Sports Bar & Grill Old Street & the Princess Alexandra.
The Sports Bar has a late license until 4am, which means that you can watch ALL the games, as well as not have to worry about having to rush home to get the tube.

Look forward to seeing you all this Sunday, and at other NFL events going forward!

Empire Fantasy Football

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With the NFL only days away, everyone is frantically getting ready for what the season ahead holds.
Will the season go on without any hiccups?
Will the extra week of games add to more injuries?
How will my fantasy season go?

Let’s face it, Fantasy Football is the lifeblood of NFL fans during the season.
Diehard fans bleed their teams, often splattering this information to anyone who will listen.
‘Is Zeke trying to screw me?’

Thankfully, this season there is something new to fill the void in your fantasy football life.

Empire Fantasy Football is a new way to play along with the NFL, in a season long contest like no other.

Billed as the ‘World’s Biggest Season Long Fantasy Football League’, Empire taps into a massive gap in the football betting market.
Too often UK players have lamented about the lack of season long fantasy options, and now we have a solution to smooth that gap.

Here’s the basic intro video to give you an idea of what Empire is:

The Basics

First off, Empire Fantasy Football is a new product, and with that comes a new learning curve.

Empire bills itself as a single format league where you compete against an unlimited amount of players.
This makes the game bigger, and better given that you are taking on the world each week, opening up the global appeal.

Players are given 200 ‘credits’ to start the season, on which they can draft their rosters.
You must have 2 QBs, 3 RBs, 3 WRs, 1TE, and 6 Bench players.
Buying and selling of players occurs throughout the season in The Market, and you can get more credits by wagering on other weekly games.

Winning is a 50/50 chance, with the top half of managers being declared the ‘winners’ each week, and adding to your season record.

Credits for weekly betting can be used in the Market to add or drop players.
Savvy bettors will like the reactive process of being able to use your knowledge of the NFL to win big.

The top player of the season will win $1000 USD, and some pretty big bragging rights.

Gameplay

Obviously we don’t know how the gameplay works yet, as the NFL season hasn’t started.

The layout of Empire Fantasy Football is pretty straight forward, and the positioning map makes it easy to be able to see who you need, and for what role.

A search function would be nice, instead of scrolling through the list trying to find those value picks.
Given that the game is beta, this function should surely be added down the line.

Once your line-up is set, now comes the waiting game, as you follow along to see how your team fared during week 1.
We’re not there yet, so we will be keen to test this out week on week.

It’s always great when a new NFL product arrives on the market for fans.
The simplicity of Empire Fantasy Football makes it an easy addition to any weekly activity for NFL fans.
It’s also great that fans in the UK can compete with other fans from around the world, and a chance to show off our NFL knowledge.

To play along with Empire Fantasy Football League, just sign up here.

https://www.empireff.com/

 

 

Hey Fantasy!

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With the NFL officially less than a week away, fans will be assembling their fantasy teams for the 2021 football season.

To celebrate this annual last rite of summer, we offer you our ‘Hey Fantasy’ podcast, a look at some of the biggest fantasy news, picks and avoids for this year.

Wade McElwain and Ryan Cull flip through all the fancy NFL magazines from across the pond to compile their basic knowledge to offer you top tips for your draft, what to look at at each position selecting, as well as some basic draft psychology.

Among some of the things the guys talk about in this episode includes:

Strategy

Where you pick in the draft reflects the kinds of choices that you will need to make to be successful in this years’ draft.

Choosing early will get you those tempting top picks, but you’ll have to wait until it swings around again until you get 2 more picks.
Given that you will be picking in chunks, you need to adjust your picks so that you are still able to get top talent, but also to grab enough RBs and WRs to fill out a solid roster.

Middle picking in the draft seems like it would suck, but you actually get to a choice of players at a fast and furious pace.
Being mid-pick in the draft means that you really need to pay attention.
You can get really good value in the middle, as you can make those bold picks while carving away at the desperation of folks on the end who have to make two quick picks in a row.

Draft Dunces

There is always going to be that person who takes WAY too long to draft their team.
You COULD tell them that the draft is on another day, and that they ‘missed’ your draft do to some scheduling snafu (you need the other draftees in on it), but that’s a poor way to start out the season.

When it comes to Draft deadbeats, you need to be clear as to the outcomes.
2 minutes is more than generous these days for a player window thanks to digital drafting.
If it takes a person more than 2 minutes to make their pick, you are more than free to put up penalties and deductions for delating the draft.

Unless this person absolutely slaughters everyone in your draft, they shouldn’t be taking that long to hump down a roster.
Give them the parameters ahead of time, and make it get all nervy with 30 seconds left to pick.

Bad drafters are like bad dogs, you have to get that behaviour out before the draft even starts.

Flee Agents

Cam Newton couldn’t learn a playbook?
Maybe his big ass hat was in the way?

With Cam now looking to ride the season long bench, there are plenty of opportunities for teams to snag some value players moving forward.

AP, Mitchell Schwartz, Geno Atkins, Le’Veon Bell, Todd Gurley and the gales Frank Gore are all now without an NFL home for this season.

Sure, some of these guys are old, but with the way injuries gut-punched the league last year, it’s safe to say that a lot of these guys will be back in a new uniform at some point this season.

Cam? Might be a hard stretch to get behind him as a starter.

Empire Fantasy Football League

Why is it so hard to find good , season long, fantasy football?

Well the team at Empire Fantasy Football League are here, and they have a fun new product to help you play season long NFL.

With no manager limit, Empire Fantasy football will allow thousands of us from around the world to compete against each other every week.

Just like DFS, you choose your team by balancing out an NFL fantasy roster.
Unlike DFS, there’s no daily, so that you can play and compete against other players from around the globe every week.

Make changes and tweaks to your roster each week, and you could be on your way to winning $1000 USD just for playing!

It’s FREE to play and the game is in beta mode, which means there are some features that haven’t been added yet.

Try Empire Fantasy Football League now, and take us on every week!

https://www.empireff.com/main

Clapham

Do you live in Clapham?
Well we’re showing NFL every Sunday in Clapham at the Sports Bar and Grill!

Get in touch with us and we can make sure that you get to watch EVERY NFL game that you want to see.
South London is now rocking the NFL!

Enjoy the latest podcast, we have more to come this week!