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 league announced the closure to fans via its One Pass app, citing "potential accessibility issues," a day after closing its pop-up NFL shop. Security concerns have overshadowed the league's debut in France, where the New Orleans Saints will face the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday at Stade de France in the first regular-season game in the country.
Also Saturday, the Saints announced that "Saints House has been postponed until Sunday." Events planned for NFL House, including "French Athletes in Football" and "From the Field to the Community," were affected. Major museums like the Louvre and Orsay Museum were closed, though tourists visited Notre Dame Cathedral. French authorities aimed to prevent a repeat of recent violent unrest.
The U.S. State Department issued a security alert warning Americans in Paris for the NFL game to "exercise caution and be aware of their surroundings" due to protests. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said preparations were made in consultation with U.S. and French authorities, noting that street protests "are not unusual in France." On Friday, French President Emmanuel Macron met with Goodell, Saints owner Gayle Benson, and Steelers owners Art Rooney II at the Élysée Palace to discuss Sunday's game and the long-term future of the NFL in Paris. The NFL's pop-up shop in the city center was closed Saturday, but fans could use an alternative shop at Stade de France in Saint-Denis.
A weekend event for Steelers fans was canceled Thursday due to security concerns.
Source: ESPN NFL · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing