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NFL House closes in Paris as protests disrupt Steelers-Saints game weekend
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- NFL House closes in Paris as protests disrupt Steelers-Saints game weekend
The NFL shut down its NFL House fan hub in Paris on Saturday as France braced for another day of mass protests, the latest disruption ahead of 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 through its OnePass app Saturday morning, citing "potential accessibility issues," a day after it shut its city-center pop-up shop for the same reason.
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Why did NFL House close?
A general overall view of the Stade de France, the site of the inaugural NFL Paris Game between the New Orleans Saints and the Pittsburgh Steelers. | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
The Saints also delayed their own fan gathering Saturday, announcing that "Saints House has been postponed until Sunday." The Steelers canceled their Steelers House event at a bar in the Bastille neighborhood on Thursday.
"Following recent events in the Bastille neighborhood, and after careful consideration, we felt it appropriate not to move forward with the planned Steelers House fan event in Paris," the team told fans.
That same day, Nicki Ewell, the NFL's vice president for global events, said no league fan events had been affected. Dani Watt, the wife of Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt, questioned the decision to play in Paris on her Instagram Story earlier in the week.
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Paris braces for weekend protests
French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said as many as 70,000 officers would be deployed nationwide Saturday. Paris police approved one march from Bastille to Nation and banned all other demonstrations in the city. Authorities closed 24 metro stations, the Louvre and the Orsay Museum.
The unrest began in mid-September with high school students protesting overcrowded classrooms, teacher shortages and outdated facilities, then spread as trade unions and the yellow vests movement joined over the rising cost of living. The Oct. 17 demonstrations drew more than 500,000 people nationwide, and authorities arrested more than 2,000 people in Paris.
The U.S. State Department issued a security alert this week urging "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 game?
Oct 23, 2026; Paris, France. New Orleans Saints coach Kellen Moore during press conference at Stade Montbauron. | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said Wednesday that he was comfortable with the teams playing safely in Paris. "We've made all the preparations," Goodell said. "Protests are not unusual in France, as you know, and that's something that we will be aware of and make sure that the appropriate arrangements are made."
Peter O'Reilly, the NFL's executive vice president for club business, 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 Palace 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 at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last week, while the Saints (2-4) snapped a three-game losing streak with a 34-27 win at the New York Giants.
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