THE NFL closed its NFL House fan center in Paris on Saturday as France prepared for another day of mass protests, the latest disruption before the league’s first regular season game in France. The Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints kick off Sunday at 9:30 a.m. ET in Saint-Denis.
The league notified fans of the closure via its OnePass app Saturday morning, citing “potential accessibility issues,” a day after closing its downtown pop-up store for the same reason.
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Why did NFL House close its doors?
General view of the Stade de France, site of the first NFL Paris match between the New Orleans Saints and the Pittsburgh Steelers. | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
The Saints also delayed their own fan gathering on Saturday, announcing that “Saints House has been postponed until Sunday.” The Steelers canceled their Steelers House event at a bar in the Bastille district on Thursday.
“Following recent events in the Bastille district, and after careful consideration, we have deemed it appropriate not to proceed with the planned fan event at Steelers House in Paris,” the team told fans.
The same day, Nicki Ewell, the NFL’s vice president for global events, said no fan events in the league had been affected. Dani Watt, the wife of Steelers linebacker TJ Watt, questioned the decision to play in Paris on her Instagram Story earlier in the week.
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Paris prepares for weekend protests
French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said up to 70,000 police officers would be deployed across the country on Saturday. Paris police approved a march from Bastille to Nation and banned all other demonstrations in the city. Authorities closed 24 metro stations, the Louvre and the Musée d’Orsay.
The unrest began in mid-September with high school students protesting overcrowded classrooms, teacher shortages and dilapidated facilities, then spread when unions and the yellow vest movement united to denounce the rising cost of living. The October 17 protests attracted more than 500,000 people nationwide, and authorities arrested more than 2,000 people in Paris.
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The US State Department issued a security alert this week calling on “Americans in Paris for the NFL game” to “exercise caution and be aware of their surroundings.”
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What’s next for Sunday’s match?
October 23, 2026; Paris, France. New Orleans Saints coach Kellen Moore during a press conference at Stade Montbauron. | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said Wednesday he was comfortable with teams playing safely in Paris. “We’ve made all the preparations,” Goodell said. “Protests are not uncommon in France, as you know, and this is something we will be aware of and ensure appropriate arrangements are made.”
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Peter O’Reilly, the NFL’s executive vice president for club affairs and international and league events, said there was never serious consideration of canceling or moving the game. French President Emmanuel Macron hosted Goodell, Saints owner Gayle Benson and Steelers president Art Rooney II at the Élysée on Friday to “discuss Sunday’s game and the long-term future of the NFL in Paris.”
The Steelers (4-2) won 26-19 in overtime against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last week, while the Saints (2-4) ended a three-game losing streak with a 34-27 victory against the New York Giants.
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