Football-NFL-Fans and players savour London series opener in Tottenham as Vikings triumph

LONDON : Part of north London became north America on Sunday as British NFL fans and even soccer-mad players enjoyed the first of three mini Super Bowls in London with the Minnesota Vikings beating the New York Jets 23-17 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

In the 37th game in London and ninth at the home of Premier League soccer side Spurs, the Vikings extended their impressive start to the NFL season to five wins from five, while it was a second successive defeat for the Jets.

The London series has grown in significance over the past 17 years, especially since it now takes place at the only purpose built NFL stadium outside of the United States.

Tottenham's stadium, opened in 2019, has an NFL playing surface underneath its retractable soccer pitch as well as dedicated locker rooms for players and cheerleaders. But it was the soccer pedigree of the location, Spurs being formed in 1882, that impressed some of those treading the turf.

"It was crazier than I thought. I’ve never been here before... We love it... The support has been amazing. I can't say enough about everything about this place," Vikings linebacker Jonathan Greenard told reporters.

"I'm a big soccer fan, so playing in the stadium, I'm definitely honoured and I'm going to remember this for the rest of my life."

Although the game is a regular season fixture, the NFL this time brought a beefed up pre-game and halftime show along with enlarged activities around the stadium that fans were enjoying hours before kickoff on a cloudy day in north London.

All the classic elements of the American "razzmatazz" were on show, from in-game cheerleading displays at pitchside, to kisscams and free t-shirts being launched into the stands.

Activities and bar takeovers across the