PARIS — The NFL decided to close its “NFL House” in Paris on Saturday, coinciding with plans for protests that brought a significant police presence, and many storefronts boarded up in anticipation.
This announcement was made through the league’s “OnePass” app, just a day after it revealed that its pop-up NFL shop would also be closing on Saturday due to “potential accessibility issues.”
Security concerns have loomed over the NFL’s first appearance in Paris. The New Orleans Saints are set to face the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday at the Stade de France, marking the league’s inaugural regular-season game in France.
On the same day, the Saints revealed that the opening of “Saints House” would be delayed until Sunday.
Saturday’s planned activities at NFL House included discussions on “French Athletes in Football” and “From the Field to the Community.”
“I was really looking forward to checking out some of the installations — they were even going to showcase the Lombardi Trophy,” shared fan Nick Paiva.
Museums closed
Key attractions like the Louvre and Orsay Museum remained closed on Saturday, although tourists still queued to enter Notre Dame Cathedral. Authorities were keen on preventing a resurgence of the recent violent protests.
Additional coverage of the unrest in France
This week, the U.S. State Department issued a security alert advising “Americans in Paris for the NFL game” to “exercise caution and be aware of their surroundings” amid the ongoing protests.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell stated that preparations were made in collaboration with U.S. and French officials. He mentioned that street protests “aren’t unusual in France.”
On Friday, French President Emmanuel Macron met with Goodell along with Saints owner Gayle Benson and Steelers owner Art Rooney II at the Élysée Palace to discuss the upcoming game and the future of the NFL in Paris.
The NFL confirmed on Friday that its central city pop-up shop would be closed but offered fans an alternative at Stade de France, located north of the city in Saint-Denis.
A weekend event geared towards Steelers fans was canceled on Thursday due to security worries.
Fans react in Paris
Paiva, an American living in France, had intentions of visiting NFL House so that his French partner could learn more about the sport.
He also looked forward to participating in an event named “Hail Mary over the Seine,” where attendees try to throw a football across the iconic river near Notre Dame. However, after registering, Paiva discovered it was necessary to have a time-slot reservation as well. “That wasn’t communicated very well,” he remarked, after being turned away. “C’est comme ca — it’s the way it is.”
French teenager Oskar Le Gall, donning a Bryce Young jersey, managed to attempt a throw but fell short. A staff member on the opposite bank remained busy retrieving balls from the river using a long pole with a net.
Le Gall, hailing from Brittany, expressed that “the atmosphere of the NFL in Paris is amazing,” remarking that local sports leagues don’t usually promote themselves quite as effectively.
He and his brother were mindful of the ongoing protests scheduled for Saturday.
“It doesn’t feel calm and good to be a tourist in Paris,” he acknowledged. “It’s not good for the NFL.”
During the “Hail Mary” event, a series of eleven police vans with flashing emergency lights passed by as one fan was about to throw a football.
Fan groups staying informed
Steelers fan Monika Allen successfully avoided protests thanks to updates shared in fan-run Facebook groups.
“The fans are doing a great job keeping everyone informed about where to go and where to steer clear of,” she mentioned by the ‘Hail Mary’ event.
Her cousin, Viktor Toth, sported a black Steelers jersey bearing the name of Terry Bradshaw.
“We’re not worried,” she reassured. “Since my cousin is Hungarian, he’s familiar with the fact that protests happen regularly in Paris.”
