NFL Closes Paris Fan Events Due to Security Concerns and Street Protests

The NFL shuttered its NFL House in Paris on Saturday morning as the city prepared for street protests with boarded storefronts and heavy police presence.

The NFL closed its "NFL House" in Paris on Saturday morning, citing potential accessibility issues as the city braced for street protests. This closure, announced via the league's OnePass app, follows the Friday shutdown of a pop-up NFL shop in the city center. While the central shop is closed, fans have been directed to an alternative retail location at Stade de France in Saint-Denis.

The New Orleans Saints and Pittsburgh Steelers are scheduled to play the league's first regular-season game in France on Sunday at Stade de France. Security concerns have impacted several pre-game festivities; the Saints postponed their "Saints House" event until Sunday, and a planned weekend gathering for Steelers fans was canceled on Thursday. Canceled Saturday programming at NFL House included sessions titled "French Athletes in Football" and "From the Field to the Community."

French authorities have deployed a heavy police presence and storefronts have been boarded up to prevent violent unrest. The U.S. State Department issued a security alert this week advising Americans attending the game to exercise caution. Despite these measures, French President Emmanuel Macron met Friday at the Élysée Palace with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, Saints owner Gayle Benson, and Steelers owners Art Rooney II to discuss the game and the league's long-term future in the city. While major museums like the Louvre are closed Saturday, Notre Dame Cathedral remained open to tourists.