2022 GSL International Games

As discussed last season, the GSL is planning for 5 international games in 2022.

There will be games in the following cities (weeks and matchups yet to be determined)

London, England (2:30PM Eastern Game)
Mexico City, Mexico (Week 8    Thursday April 7, 2022 8:15PM    Vancouver Bears @ San Antonio Texans)
Berlin, Germany (10:00AM Eastern Game)
Rome, Italy (Week 11    Sunday May 1, 2022 Time TBD   Los Angeles Express @ Oakland Icons)

The 5th city and country has not yet been decided. Last year I threw out Brazil, but there were some other opinions, that I don't remember, but I'm open to.


The game selection process hasn't been decided yet either, but, all international games will occur between weeks 6 and 13, with only a single international game per week.
Home teams for international games from last season are NOT eligible for hosting an international game this coming season.

I'm open to listening to teams that would like to host.

Austin Snelick wrote:As discussed last season, the GSL is planning for 5 international games in 2022.

There will be games in the following cities (weeks and matchups yet to be determined)

London, England (2:30PM Eastern Game)
Mexico City, Mexico (Week 8    Thursday April 7, 2022 8:15PM    Vancouver Bears @ San Antonio Texans)
Berlin, Germany (10:00AM Eastern Game)
Rome, Italy (Week 11    Sunday May 1, 2022 Time TBD   Los Angeles Express @ Oakland Icons)

The 5th city and country has not yet been decided. Last year I threw out Brazil, but there were some other opinions, that I don't remember, but I'm open to.


The game selection process hasn't been decided yet either, but, all international games will occur between weeks 6 and 13, with only a single international game per week.
Home teams for international games from last season are NOT eligible for hosting an international game this coming season.

I'm open to listening to teams that would like to host.

Could we switch our Italy game to week 13, as I had planned our Week 11 game to be a California rivalry game.

92Mafia wrote:

Austin Snelick wrote:As discussed last season, the GSL is planning for 5 international games in 2022.

There will be games in the following cities (weeks and matchups yet to be determined)

London, England (2:30PM Eastern Game)
Mexico City, Mexico (Week 8    Thursday April 7, 2022 8:15PM    Vancouver Bears @ San Antonio Texans)
Berlin, Germany (10:00AM Eastern Game)
Rome, Italy (Week 11    Sunday May 1, 2022 Time TBD   Los Angeles Express @ Oakland Icons)

The 5th city and country has not yet been decided. Last year I threw out Brazil, but there were some other opinions, that I don't remember, but I'm open to.


The game selection process hasn't been decided yet either, but, all international games will occur between weeks 6 and 13, with only a single international game per week.
Home teams for international games from last season are NOT eligible for hosting an international game this coming season.

I'm open to listening to teams that would like to host.

Could we switch our Italy game to week 13, as I had planned our Week 11 game to be a California rivalry game.

Yeah, but this effects the Mexico game, since Vancouver would then be playing a second international game, and I'd like to keep it to one team per international game per year.
San Antonio will still be hosting an international game in Mexico though, so I'll change that up.

Since the Mexico City game was slated for Prime time, I'm setting week 14, Atlanta @ San Antonio on Monday night to be the Mexico City game.


That leaves 3 international games left to be scheduled, sometime between weeks 6 and 12.
Teams that already have an international game scheduled are out, and teams that hosted an international game last season, cannot be the home team in an international game again this season.

A Portland Samurais game in Japan would be awesome!

There are several stadiums available in Japan for this happen

Yokohama Internacional Stadium
Tokyo National Stadium
Tokyo Dome
Ajinomoto stadium

If you need any help with stadiums just give me a call, I've been a "Stadium Geek" since my childhood

I'll leave some lists of international stadiums that could host GSL matches:

Brazil:
Maracanã Stadium (Rio)
Brasília National Stadium (Brasília)
Morumbi Stadium (São Paulo)
Arena da Baixada (Curitiba, Dome/Artificial Turf)

South América
El Momental (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
Lá Bombonera (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
Chile National Stadium (Santiago, Chile)
El Momental U (Lima, Peru)

Spain:
Wanda Metropolitano (Madrid)
Camp Nou (Barcelona)

France:
Stade de france (Saint Dennis, Paris area)
parc des princes (Paris)
stade vélodrome (marseille)

Rest of europe:
aviva stadium (Dublin, Ireland)
Estádio da Luz (Lisbon, Portugal)
johan cruijff arena (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
luzhniki stadium (Moscow, Russia)
Krestovsky Stadium (St. Petersburg, Russia)

Rafael Menoncin wrote:A Portland Samurais game in Japan would be awesome!

There are several stadiums available in Japan for this happen

Yokohama Internacional Stadium
Tokyo National Stadium
Tokyo Dome
Ajinomoto stadium

I agree, a Tokyo game would be really cool.

I do like the idea of the Samurais in Tokyo.
Two west coast teams would be good, so we'll do the Samurais week 9 game vs Seattle, at the Tokyo Dome.

Austin Snelick wrote:I do like the idea of the Samurais in Tokyo.
Two west coast teams would be good, so we'll do the Samurais week 9 game vs Seattle, at the Tokyo Dome.

Great, If everything work well we can make the Samurais game in Japan a annual event!

If not taken yet, I would like for the Miami SOL to participate In Berlin, Germany. I was stationed for almost 5 years in Germany, with the US Army. And I really liked the country!

John

sfcom1 wrote:If not taken yet, I would like for the Miami SOL to participate In Berlin, Germany. I was stationed for almost 5 years in Germany, with the US Army. And I really liked the country!

John

Which game would you like to play in Germany?
Week 6 vs Louisiana
or
Week 8 vs New York
?

Week 8 non divisional game vs New York is good.

John

Wisconsin can host the London game in week 12, if that's a possibility

Rafael Menoncin wrote:

Austin Snelick wrote:I do like the idea of the Samurais in Tokyo.
Two west coast teams would be good, so we'll do the Samurais week 9 game vs Seattle, at the Tokyo Dome.

Great, If everything work well we can make the Samurais game in Japan a annual event!

Some cities won't be the same every year. Next year London and Mexico City will stay, there will be a new city in Germany, and then two new countries (not Italy or Japan) next year, so there won't be a Tokyo game next year, but it will eventually come back into rotation.

Patrick Davis wrote:Wisconsin can host the London game in week 12, if that's a possibility

Sure, that works.
That'll be the 5th and final international series game for 2022 then.

It is too early to start thinking about the internacional series turf?

is there any pattern or rule for them?

I saw some photos and videos of Football being played at Tokyo Dome, Turf is very interesting, reminds of the old astroturfs used in the 80s/90s

Here's a picture of an NFL game at Tokyo Dome (early 2000s)


For those who are curious to see the stadium currently, I will leave a link to the 2020 Rice Bowl, traditional football game in Japan

https://youtu.be/So_ASxmN_Ww


a photo of the turf during the 2020 Rice Bowl


I personally think it's really cool, it reminds me of the old Minnesota Metrodome

Rafael Menoncin wrote:It is too early to start thinking about the international series turf?

is there any pattern or rule for them?

I saw some photos and videos of Football being played at Tokyo Dome, Turf is very interesting, reminds of the old AstroTurfs used in the 80s/90s

Great reference photos (and video for sure).
Field designs are a ways off yet. John will be in charge of two fields I think (haven't told you this yet John, but if you want them, their yours), since he's contributed a good portion of the GUD fields, and all the USFL fields for the website. I've got other design ideas in mind, but at some point I might ask the "home" team owners for some input. John, I was thinking you can do the Mexico field again, and since Miami is playing in Germany, you can do that one too if you want to.

Sounds Good! John really understands a lot about fields too!

Just for fun I looked for some games that NFL held at Tokyo Dome during the late 80s/early 90s, for those who are curious to see what atmosphere is like in Japan games here are some video tapes that I found on YouTube!

My beloved Rams wearing my all time favorite jersey  against Joe Montana and the San Francisco 49ers, 1989
https://youtu.be/v2ShZIIbkhE

Dan Marino and Dolphins taking on the LA Raiders, 1991
https://youtu.be/vpqC8PuO3Y8

John Elway and the Broncos vs Steve Young and the Niners, 1995
https://youtu.be/7qLdj3R8P_c

Houston Oliers vs Dallas Cowboys, 1992
https://youtu.be/Qm0IrZC2lVY

Austin Snelick wrote:

Rafael Menoncin wrote:It is too early to start thinking about the international series turf?

is there any pattern or rule for them?

I saw some photos and videos of Football being played at Tokyo Dome, Turf is very interesting, reminds of the old AstroTurfs used in the 80s/90s

Great reference photos (and video for sure).
Field designs are a ways off yet. John will be in charge of two fields I think (haven't told you this yet John, but if you want them, their yours), since he's contributed a good portion of the GUD fields, and all the USFL fields for the website. I've got other design ideas in mind, but at some point I might ask the "home" team owners for some input. John, I was thinking you can do the Mexico field again, and since Miami is playing in Germany, you can do that one too if you want to.

I allready was working on Germany, I also have the profile for Mexico as well. So that will be no problem. :-)

John

Here is my 1st pass at the Berlin Game between the New York CityHawks and the Miami Sol!
I am not sure if it can be done, but this games screams color on color!
Field



John

Good stuff.

I will have to say though, there won't be any new uniforms, or jersey patches for the international games. Like last season, teams are going to have to choose from their existing uniform sets.
The reason behind this is I'm trying to keep the amount of work reasonable for myself, and avoid me getting burned out with all the GSL work there is to do already, not to mention other GUD work, in addition to work and home life.

No problem. Like I lie I said. 1st pass. Still can do a color on color

1st pass at the Mexico City field


John

sfcom1 wrote:1st pass at the Mexico City field


John

Really nice!

Where'd you get that grass texture? It looks really good? Looks better than my current natural grass texture I use for the Super Bowl fields.

I have been twerking it a bit. As well was working on a real great field turf profile as well. I got my photoshop elements working again. Lol

sfcom1 wrote:I have been twerking it a bit. As well was working on a real great field turf profile as well. I got my photoshop elements working again. Lol

If you're happy with your grass template, could you send it to me? I'll use it to update all the grass Super Bowl fields. I've been thinking about upgrading my grass template for a while, just couldn't get it right. It'll be a good time to update all those fields too, since I've gone back and updated all the directional arrows, just haven't added the grass texture back yet.

Sure. Do you want just the grass. Of the field diagram as well?

sfcom1 wrote:Sure. Do you want just the grass. Of the field diagram as well?

Both please. For consistencies sake, I might convert the Mexico City field to a flat texture, to match the other regular season fields for weekly display, but for the single game matchup page I might keep the textured field.

Ok. It will be tomorrow as I am on work at the moment. Then I got to go grocery shopping fir Thanksgiving. Yay me lol

Here are the finalized fields for Mexico City and Berlin for this years International series. (Unless the teams wanted to chage up the endzone colors a bit) I also have a proof for the Toyko Dome as well if needed.

Here is Estadio Azteca in Mexico City


and Olympia Stadion in Berlin, Germany


Toyko Dome Toyko, Japan


John

Awesome!

Based on the last American Football game played in the Tokyo Dome, I put the following field template together a while back.



I also planned on one change to the fields this year; putting the away team in the left endzone, and home team in the right endzone. So I'll be taking what you've got here Jon, and swapping endzones.

Austin Snelick wrote:Awesome!

Based on the last American Football game played in the Tokyo Dome, I put the following field template together a while back.



I also planned on one change to the fields this year; putting the away team in the left endzone, and home team in the right endzone. So I'll be taking what you've got here Jon, and swapping endzones.

Perfect, Same the as turf used in Tokyo Dome!

By the way, The 2022  Japan Rice Bowl happened a few days ago, the template is identical to the turf used in the game, great job!

 I'll leave the link for anyone interested in watching the game. 

Rice Bowl 75: Fujitsu Frontiers vs Panasonic Impulse, 01/03/2022, Tokyo Dome
https://youtu.be/AihsYDoKDUg

Update



John

Looking at out schedule, I noticed the field for the international game is up.
If there will be a red endzone, The Stags will go with red jerseys.


I think for good contrast, this would be a good color vs color game, if the Trappers went with their green.


If color vs color wont work, then the Stags will go white over red.

I'm fine with it. I'll wait to put any uniforms in until we get Andrew's input. He may want to go with the copper uniform, in which case, would you want to go with the red jerseys then too?

Updated Mexico City field to match the style of the other fields (Just not the grass texture)

sfcom1 wrote:Updated Mexico City field to match the style of the other fields (Just not the grass texture)

Thanks!
I've been trying to find some consistency between all of the grass fields, and I liked the way you had the GSL logo at midifield, with the flag below. For TV, I moved the flag up above the numbers. Also put the away team in the left endzone, and home team in the right.
For the Texans, since they changed their primary color to red, I might give them a red endzone, but in the same style you'd laid out (logo on the left, GSL logo on the right, wordmark in the center).

And one with a red endzone for the Texans!