I’ve had the extreme pleasure of covering a Green Bay Packers game in every NFL stadium (save M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore for some odd reason), but a true bucket list Sunday awaits as the Packers meet the New York Giants in their first ever international regular season contest at London’s Tottenham Stadium.
My journey across the Atlantic to follow the team is complete and this is my first post from the league’s media hotel headquarters for the weekend, the London Marriott Marble Arch, just a stone’s throw away from the west end of Hyde Park.
I departed from Austin Straubel International Airport yesterday afternoon, first stop, O’Hare in Chicago. There were at least of couple of familiar faces on the first leg, Green Bay Press Gazette beat reporters Pete Dougherty and Ryan Wood. They were able to make a quick connection out of the Windy City while I hung around for a nearly five hour layover.
A sprinkling of Packer fans were waiting too.
Don’t believe this was the MVP’s grandmother, but a fan nonetheless.
Just after 9 PM, I boarded my first international flight.
A most unexpected bonus awaited as I took my 45A window seat, no one occupied the middle seat with another gentleman on the aisle. A little extra leg room was welcome. Already tired from by 3:40 AM wake up call for my regular Thursday morning round of sportscasts, I still sought out a movie to get me settled in.
I chose “Belfast”, and outstanding film about a family caught in the middle of the “Troubles” as the Irish called it during the violent late 1960’s clashes between Protestants and Catholics. Judi Dench was the headline star as the grandmother, but the cast was outstanding, especially the young lad “Buddy” who had a hard time comprehending the whole situation. A great choice.
From there it was Z’s over the Atlantic until a hot, diced chicken, mashed potato meal was served by the British Airways crew. And it wasn’t long before the descent into London Town.
Navigating through the passport check station, purchasing a rail ticket and hopping aboard the Heathrow Express to Paddington Station was a snap.
That’s where I got a bit turned around. Perhaps a 20 minute walk to the hotel turned into a circular route where I finally came across Hyde Park and eventually (with some friendly directions from a couple of chaps), reached my home away from home for the weekend. Hotel manager Stephanie was quick to greet me upon check-in, a nice touch.
I checked in a bit too late to catch the league’s shuttle bus to the Packers practice and media availability, held a good hour northwest of downtown. Matt LaFleur and Aaron Rodgers both spoke to reporters and we’ll catch up on that in a bit.
Time for another quick nap, more exploring and I’m sure there will be Cheeseheads a plenty about town.
