The NFL Paris game remains on course for Sunday, with the Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints due to meet at Stade de France in Saint-Denis in the league’s first regular-season fixture in France. The build-up has unfolded against a backdrop of large protests in the capital and a spell of severe weather that has forced several schedule changes, but the league said its preparations were continuing as planned.
Stade de France sits roughly 10 kilometres from central Paris. The stadium itself is outside the city, though the surrounding region has been the stage for both the demonstrations and the storms that have complicated the week.
Rodgers voices confidence in security assessment
Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers used his Friday press conference to address the security question directly. The four-time NFL MVP said the league was alert to the situation and that the game meant a great deal to the NFL. He also made clear that the team would not have been present if conditions were judged unsafe.
The NFL said it was working with local authorities on security and reported no disruption or impact at league sites.
PSG and Lyon moved to Monday at police request
The most visible scheduling change in French sport came when the Ligue 1 match between Paris Saint-Germain and Lyon was postponed from Sunday to Monday. The postponement was made at the request of local police.
The decision underlined how the unrest has stretched resources in the Paris region, even as the NFL fixture at Stade de France has so far held its slot.
Protests continue after a weekend of unrest
Last weekend’s protests were among France’s worst urban unrest in years. Some estimates put the number of marchers at 800,000. The demonstrations have been driven by the cost of living, school conditions and teacher shortages.
On Thursday, President Emmanuel Macron tightened protest restrictions. Further demonstrations were planned for Saturday.
Fabien Allègre, PSG’s marketing director, and Brett Gosper, the NFL’s Europe and Asia-Pacific chief, are among the figures associated with the two organisations whose events have been affected by the wider climate. Matthieu Maignal, the NFL France general manager, has also been involved in the league’s local operations.
US alert advises caution for Americans in Paris
The US State Department issued a security alert on Thursday night. Americans in Paris for the game were advised to exercise caution and to avoid demonstrations and areas affected by unrest.
Fan events curtailed by security and weather
The Steelers cancelled a fan event in the Bastille neighbourhood on Thursday. On Friday, the NFL announced that its pop-up store in Paris would be closed on Saturday, and the NFL Experience Paris fan event closed on Friday because of the adverse weather.
Weather has been a second front. Météo-France issued orange alerts for north-west France, including the Paris region, as Storm Austen affected parts of the country. The Steelers cancelled a training session because of the bad weather and moved their press conference to a hotel. The Saints, who arrived on Monday and practised in Versailles, had the media viewing portion of their session cancelled because of wind and rain.
Fans weigh caution against commitment
Supporters in the city offered a mixed but largely calm reading of the week. Fred Zelt, a 67-year-old Steelers fan, said he had seen a peaceful student march last Saturday and that the places he visited had seemed calm. He was not overly worried.
Fabian Bauer, a 28-year-old Saints fan, said he and others had discussed whether to come. Most fans he spoke to felt it was likely safe, especially on Sunday, and he described the situation as not as bad as expected.
Monika Allen, a 56-year-old Steelers fan, was focused on the practical side of the trip: she planned to shop for more Steelers clothes.
The game is still scheduled for Sunday. Final attendance and the exact security measures at the stadium have not been disclosed, and it remains to be seen whether further demonstrations take place or whether conditions change before kick-off.
