With protests in their third week in Paris and an NFL game scheduled to take place in the city in just 11 days, growing concerns over fan and player safety have left some wondering if the league will change any of its plans. But the NFL said Wednesday that the game will go ahead as scheduled, with the Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints meeting on Oct. 25 at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, located just north of Paris.
“We are excited for the first regular season game in Paris, and preparations are proceeding as scheduled for NFL events and the game at Stade de France on October 25,” the NFL said in a statement, via ESPN. “As we do for every NFL game, including our international games, we are working closely with local authorities and partners on all operational and security matters. We look forward to welcoming fans to Paris later this month.”
Social unrest stems from demands for the government to change many aspects of the education system. Protesters are demanding the government address under-resourced schools, poor conditions and teacher shortages. Students say schools are falling apart and rats are in the buildings.
The protests turned violent, with authorities using tear gas, stun grenades and other means to try to stop the crowd. Protesters reportedly set fires and caused damage. Police detained more than 5,000 people in connection with the protests, according to CBS News.
Local officials said they were investigating both the protests and the police response.
The French government is currently in a “political deadlock” as they approach presidential elections in the spring. They did not respond to the protesters with any plans or solutions for their complaints and demands.
If the situation in Paris escalates, the NFL may reconsider its stance, but for now, it’s sticking with its original plan. The NFL has changed game locations in the past due to extreme weather or field conditions.
The Saints are considered the home team for the game, and their only listed event for the day in New Orleans is a private event where youth and amateur sports teams have the opportunity to play inside the stadium. It is scheduled for 8:30 am local time, so if necessary, the game could be played at Caesar’s Superdome. But it seems unlikely to happen now.
If the game goes ahead as planned, it will mark the first NFL game played in France.
This will be the second straight year the Steelers will play outside the United States, having played in Dublin last season against the Minnesota Vikings. The Saints last played an international game in 2022, visiting London to face the Vikings.