College Football Makes Its Top-Tier Debut at Wembley Stadium
The short version
- Wembley Stadium staged the first top-tier college football game played in Britain.
- The game followed successful NFL outings at the London venue in recent years.
- Fox's Big Noon Kickoff Show broadcast live from Wembley Way with British-themed set pieces.
- Fans created a tailgate-style atmosphere, waving placards and chanting college anthems.
The first top-level American college football game on British soil drew a tailgate-style crowd to Wembley, with Fox's Big Noon Kickoff broadcasting from the concourse.
Wembley Stadium in London hosted the first top-tier American college football game ever played on British soil on Saturday. The occasion followed a run of NFL games at the venue in recent years.
The scene outside the stadium resembled a stateside tailgate party, with thousands of fans filling Wembley Way, the roughly 500-yard concourse leading to the stadium. Supporters waved placards and sang college anthems.
Fox's Big Noon Kickoff Show broadcast live from a temporary studio on the concourse. The set featured British-themed props, including a fake Grenadier guard and an old red telephone box, and the on-air team ate fish and chips during the program.
The broadcasters on hand included Brady Quinn, Mark Ingram II, Matt Leinart and Urban Meyer, who also discussed the game with both head coaches during the show.
Written by the Matchday Live desk from reporting by The Guardian.
Read the original report at The Guardian ↗