The Chicago Bears faced off against the Jacksonville Jaguars in London on Sunday morning as part of the NFL’s ongoing push to expand its presence internationally. The league has steadily increased its footprint overseas, with regular-season games held in London, and on Sunday, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell hinted at an even bigger potential move: hosting a Super Bowl outside the United States.
Before the game kicked off at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Goodell addressed the media and floated the possibility of a future Super Bowl being held internationally. “We’ve always traditionally tried to play a Super Bowl in an NFL city — that was always sort of a reward for the cities that have NFL franchises,” Goodell explained. “But things change. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if that happens one day.”
While the idea of an international Super Bowl excited some fans, the focus quickly shifted to a less-than-stellar start to the day’s festivities: the national anthem performance. As Willow Avalon took the stage to sing “The Star-Spangled Banner,” viewers across the world tuned in, but the rendition quickly became a lightning rod for criticism.
NFL fans are known for being brutally honest, and many took to social media to express their displeasure with Avalon’s performance. One particularly vocal fan tweeted, “Idk who Willow Avalon is, but that was one of the worst renditions of the National Anthem ever… That sounded like every overweight Auntie from Alabama after Thanksgiving dinner.”
Others joined the chorus of criticism, with one fan humorously suggesting, “We need to go to war with England for this atrocious performance of the national anthem, what tf did I just listen to?” Another added, “This is the single worst national anthem I’ve ever heard. Willow Avalon, whoever that is. Dear lord.”
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Despite the harsh backlash, it’s worth noting that performing the national anthem in front of an international crowd can be an immense pressure-filled moment, especially with millions watching from home. Fans have come to expect pitch-perfect renditions of the anthem during these globally televised events, making any deviation from perfection subject to scrutiny.
As with all things in sports, opinions can be split. While some fans cringed at the performance, others may have been more forgiving, recognizing the difficulty of singing the anthem in such a high-pressure environment. The NFL continues to explore its global appeal, but if Sunday’s game is any indication, national anthem performances will remain a critical, and closely watched, part of the pregame ritual.
Fortunately for the Bears, the rocky start did not seem to affect their on-field performance. Chicago went on to defeat the Jacksonville Jaguars in a hard-fought game, securing a victory despite the rough start to the morning with the national anthem.
As the NFL continues to grow its international presence, there may be more performances that draw attention, both for the right and wrong reasons.
Whether or not fans agree on the quality of Sunday’s anthem rendition, one thing is clear: the passion surrounding every aspect of the NFL, from the gameplay to the pregame ceremonies, remains as fierce as ever.
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