Wembley Stadium welcomed back a record-breaking number of American Football fans last week for the first National Football League (NFL) International fixtures in three years.
A crowd of 86,215 saw the Denver Broncos defeat the Jacksonville Jaguars 21-17, beating the previous record of 85,870 which was set in October 2018 at Wembley.
Wembley held the first NFL International game in London on October 28, 2007 and welcomed a crowd of 81,176 to watch the New York Giants defeat the Miami Dolphins.
The stadium has hosted a further 23 NFL London fixtures, with 28 different teams appearing in the UK. It was 10th appearance in London for the Jaguars and the ninth time the team has played at Wembley since first coming to the UK in 2013. It was the first appearance since 2010 for the Broncos and the side’s second at Wembley.
Last week’s NFL fixture was the first at Wembley since 2019, with planned games in 2020 and 2021 postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was the third NFL fixture to take place in London this year, with the other two matches taking place Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Wembley stadium director Liam Boylan said: “It was great to have American Football back here at Wembley once again. Fans’ appetite for NFL is as strong as ever and I am delighted that we were able to extend the record attendance for an NFL game here in the UK. We look forward to working with the Jags team again on future fixtures.”
Chad Johnson, chief operating officer, Jacksonville Jaguars, added: “When the Jaguars signed a three-year term with Wembley Stadium, one of our ambitions was to break the attendance record set in 2018. I am delighted that we not only achieved, but surpassed even our own expectations, and that is in no small part to the support we received from Wembley.
“We know that 2023 will bring new opportunities, and with a record-breaking game behind us, we will be ready.”