Green Bay Packers

Green Bay Packers won't play in 2017 London games, but Vikings will

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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London isn’t calling for the Green Bay Packers in 2017, but the Minnesota Vikings will make the trip.

The Packers’ division opponents will meet the Cleveland Browns at Twickenham Stadium next year.

Jacksonville will play Baltimore, Miami “hosts” New Orleans and Arizona meets Los Angeles in an NFC West battle.

Green Bay is yet to feature in an NFL International Series game, and after 2017 will be one of only six teams not to travel overseas for a regular season game. The Panthers, Seahawks, Eagles, Texans and Titans are the only other teams yet to be selected to play in England.

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And it’s not because the Packers don’t want to make the trip. President Mark Murphy wants to play in a London game, so long as they are the road team.

“We’re a unique team with our ownership structure and our fan base,” Murphy said in January, via Packersnews.com. “I think it would be good for the league, too. We would love it. The challenge is that we travel so well teams are reluctant to give up home games against us.”

And that’s the main issue. “Home” teams are forced to give up a game inside their own stadium, which appeals to the likes of Jacksonville, who don’t always sellout. That is, of course, unless the Pack comes to town.

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As Packers fans travel so well, teams are reluctant to give away what would be an excellent day for revenue.

Green Bay travels to Cleveland next season, and the Browns were selected for a London game. You can bet the league would have loved the Packers to make the trip, but it’s unlikely Cleveland would give it the green light. Instead, the Vikings will make their second trip to London.

The Pack will eventually take part in the league’s International Series. London will host four games for the first time in 2017, with speculation of a future franchise continuing to gather momentum.

Soon, host cities of the Super Bowl will be forced to play a future game in London. Minnesota hosts the Super Bowl in 2018, meaning they’ll have to “host” a game across the pond at some point.

The NFL will be licking its chops at the prospect of a Packers-Vikings showdown in London.

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