Quite a venue: MetLife Stadium
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Fresh from a snub from Edinburgh on the proposal to play a match in Cape Town, Saracens have now had their New York plans dashed by NFL sides.
The Aviva Premiership outfit had hoped to take on Munster at the MetLife Stadium on December 15, but logistical problems have ended those hopes.
82,500 fans can fit in the stadium that is the home of the Giants and Jets, but the teams are unwilling to install rugby posts on the artificial pitch.
"We are in a unique position this season because our new stadium is not ready," Saracens chief executive Edward Griffiths told Sky Sports.
"I went to New York in July and looked at the MetLife Stadium. We looked at the size of the pitch and it came down in the end to the fact that we would need to put rugby posts into the artificial turf.
"The owners of the two NFL teams didn't want that.
"It was disappointing. My feeling was if we had been able to play there, we would have had a great occasion.
"The indication from Munster too was that they would be eager to receive a proposal.
"I think they had worked out that, for an Irish team to go to New York, it made quite a lot of sense."
Comments
Lucasrg says...
Cape Town make much more sense to me, it could fill 3/4 of a a stadium there...maybe, but in USA for barely what?....10.000 people would be bad business for the Giants and Jets's owners. Boston is more ideal as rugby is somewhat played there.
Posted 19:32 18th October 2012
melkdave says...
@GoWalesGo
They where lol ok thanks for the info lol.I suppose the rather large irish community in NY would have apprecited it ,but still seems harebrained to me lol.
Posted 11:40 13th October 2012
sandal says...
Never mind, Eddie, you got a trip to New York.
I know a lot of New Yorkers get dewy-eyed about the old country, so they might have turned out to watch Munster.
But think what damage such a fixture could have done to the game in the US. As football fans used to say of teams they despised: "If they were playing in my back yard I wouldn't open the curtains." I'm not sure if I would have crossed the road for this one.
Posted 04:13 13th October 2012
GoWalesGo says...
melkdave
You're wrong. Munster were up for it
Posted 03:26 13th October 2012
reded says...
Aren't most Saracen's fans South Africans anyway,.. home games unnecessary
Posted 22:40 12th October 2012
J_HDK says...
Do Saracens really hate their fans so much that they are constantly trying to get to the other side of the planet or cross the ocean just to get away from them? Find a closer stadium and let them cheer you on FFS.
Posted 22:03 12th October 2012
Kent says...
Or in Europe
Posted 21:51 12th October 2012
melkdave says...
Well annother hairbrained idea imo,couldnt see Munster wanting to play in New York to be honest ,same as Edinburgh wanting to play in CapeTown.Saracens really should just concentrate on making their fans happy ,if they want a big stadia then try Wembly or the Olympic park,wanting to play cup games in far off countries atm ,is really a non starter,though i suppose it would have promoted rugby in the USAas a sport .But still hairbrained thinking fans would want to traval such a distance.
Posted 21:35 12th October 2012
GoWalesGo says...
Shame...
That would have been a great occasion.
Posted 17:07 12th October 2012
ArmchairGeneral says...
Most teams try to make their game more exciting by working on their attack rather than playing somewhere where the fans will get jet lag. It doesn't promote rugby either if the dullest of teams globe trots.
Posted 14:31 12th October 2012
Jediboy says...
I think sarries are getting a little too big for their boots. What about the fans?? If club wanted to go off and play around the world I'd be very unimpressed. It sounds like Griffiths is getting a bit carried away with his own self importance.
Posted 14:21 12th October 2012
moolooman8 says...
ever been to NYC in December? It's bloody freezing...
Posted 13:44 12th October 2012
physiodan says...
what about just playing some rugby.
Posted 12:27 12th October 2012
Waz4before says...
APV1 - been done for years mate, without problems ...
Posted 12:14 12th October 2012
APV1 says...
And what about playing rugby on artificial turf?
Posted 11:11 12th October 2012