The NFL officially shut down its “NFL House” in Paris on Saturday, a major move directly tied to escalating security concerns as the French capital braces for more demonstrations. This isn’t some small blip, either. This is all happening just before the league’s first-ever game in France, a Week 7 matchup between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New Orleans Saints.
Paris Erupts: The Protests Behind the Shutdown
So, what’s even going on in Paris? Protests kicked off earlier this month, all about the rising cost of living and seriously poor school conditions. But man, these demonstrations have just spiraled. We’re talking stores getting looted, property burned, and constant clashes with the police. It’s wild out there, and the city is geared up for even more demonstrations. That’s why the NFL, like, had no choice but to pull the plug on its big fan hub.
Cancellations Pile Up, But the Game Is Still On?
The closure of “NFL House” got announced to fans through the league’s “One Pass” apps, and it meant planned fan events, including “French Athletes in Football” and “From the Field to the Community,” were off. This isn’t the only event canceled either. Just a day before, the pop-up NFL shop also got shut down due to “potential accessibility issues,” according to the Associated Press. The New Orleans Saints even had to postpone their “Saints House” event until Sunday. And get this, a Steelers fan event in Bastille was canned on Thursday because of security concerns.
It’s not just football getting hit, either. Major museums like the Louvre and Orsay Museum are closed Saturday, according to CBS News. Even Paris Saint-Germain’s Ligue 1 soccer match against Lyon got moved from Sunday to Monday at the request of Paris police. The U.S. State Department even jumped in, issuing a security alert this week for “Americans in Paris for the NFL game” to “exercise caution and be aware of their surroundings.” You know it’s serious when the State Department sends out a warning.
Despite all this chaos, all the closures, and the real safety concerns floating around, NFL and union officials told The Ringer on Saturday morning that the Steelers-Saints game at Stade de France is still on as scheduled. So, Sunday morning, the league’s first game in France is set to kick off. Talk about playing under pressure!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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