NFL House Paris Closes as Protests Raise Security Concerns
The NFL closed its NFL House in Paris on Saturday as the city prepared for street protests, with a heavy police presence and boarded-up storefronts. The…
PARIS — The NFL closed NFL House Paris on Saturday as street protests prompted security concerns across the French capital, affecting fans attending events ahead of the New Orleans Saints-Pittsburgh Steelers game. Storefronts were boarded up and police maintained a heavy presence as the city braced for demonstrations.
The closure came a day after the league shut its pop-up NFL shop. Fans received the NFL House announcement through the OnePass app on Saturday morning, with the league citing “potential accessibility issues.” The Saints also postponed their Saints House event until Sunday.
NFL House Paris closes before game day
The closures have changed where fans can go in the lead-up to the league’s first regular-season game in France. The Saints are due to play the Steelers on Sunday at Stade de France, north of central Paris in Saint-Denis. Fans can still visit an alternative NFL shop set up at the stadium, the league said Friday.
Saturday’s NFL House schedule had included “French Athletes in Football” and “From the Field to the Community.” The postponement of Saints House shifts another fan-facing event to Sunday, the same day as the game.
The disruption extends beyond NFL activities. Major museums, including the Louvre and Orsay Museum, were closed Saturday, while tourists lined up to enter Notre Dame Cathedral. The contrast reflects how security preparations are affecting visitors across the city, not just people attending the game.
Authorities prepare for protests
The U.S. State Department issued a security alert this week for Americans traveling to Paris for the game. It urged them to “exercise caution and be aware of their surroundings” because of protests.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said preparations were made in consultation with U.S. and French authorities. He described street protests as “not unusual in France.”
French authorities are seeking to prevent a repeat of recent violent unrest, according to ESPN. Security concerns have also led to the cancellation of a Steelers fan event, which organizers called off Thursday.
On Friday, French President Emmanuel Macron met Goodell, Saints owner Gayle Benson and Steelers owner Art Rooney II at the Élysée Palace. They discussed Sunday’s game and the NFL’s long-term future in Paris, according to the league.
The NFL’s pop-up shop in the city center remains closed Saturday, but the alternative shop at Stade de France is available to fans. The Saints-Steelers game is scheduled for Sunday.
Source: espn.com
