NFL: We're going back to Mexico City in 2019
The Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Rams are playing arguably the most-anticipated game of the 2018 NFL season on Monday night in Los Angeles, a game that was originally scheduled to be played in Mexico City.
But the combination of a Shakira concert and troubling field conditions at Estadio Azteca forced the NFL to change venues.
The league announced today that this was a one-time thing.
NFL to return to Mexico City
In a statement sent to media outlets on Monday afternoon, the NFL said it will return to Mexico in 2019.
“The NFL and Mexico’s President-Elect Andrés Manuel López Obrador confirmed today that the third game of the existing agreement signed in 2016 will be played in 2019 at Estadio Azteca.
“The announcement follows meetings this morning between NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and the President-Elect and was confirmed with Televisa Chairman Emilio Azcárraga in Mexico City.
“The date and time of the game – which will help focus attention on the importance of participation in youth sports – will be determined in conjunction with the release of the NFL schedule next spring.”
The Oakland Raiders and New England Patriots played at Estadio Azteca last year with no problems.
Agreement runs through 2021
This year was to be third straight year a regular-season game was played in Mexico City, and earlier this year it was announced that the NFL and Mexico’s Ministry of Tourism had reached a new agreement, with annual games continuing through 2021.
After the city felt “colossal shame” for having this year’s game canceled, it seems likely the field will be absolutely pristine next year for whichever set of teams face off at Azteca.
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