Wembley welcomes 'rabid' college football fans

Wembley Stadium welcomed a crowd of 46,523 for the college football showcase, falling short of the anticipated 60,000 attendance. Organizers moved some ticket holders to the lower tier to keep the upper level open. Although the game featured several notable plays, it did not reach the entertainment level many had expected. Arizona State University secured a 24‑17 victory over the University of Kansas, a result that flattered the Jayhawks. Music performances filled the stadium, and a light‑hearted amusement act took place during the third quarter. The event gave British spectators a taste of American college football, though it lacked the pageantry and tradition seen in regular‑season games stateside. Attendance and support staff were below usual levels. The crowd was smaller than Arizona State’s typical home games, which averaged 54,000 fans last season, and there were fewer band members and cheerleaders than normal. Each squad traveled with 105 players—or student‑athletes—of whom 90 % had never held a passport before this trip. Many fans and relatives of the coaching staff experienced London for the first time. Arizona State head coach Kenny Dillingham described the visit as “an acquisition they volition retrieve for the remainder of their lives.” Kansas head coach Lance Leipold praised the hospitality, calling the hotel and facility arrangements “a win.” Both programs belong to the Big 12 Conference. Commissioner Brett Yormark remarked, “It exceeded my expectations, from the assemblage to the logistics to however the section assemblage has embraced us. It's been fantastic, truthful we privation more.” The UJC organizers have signed an exclusive multi‑year agreement with Wembley, and Yormark noted that other Big 12 institutions are interested in staging future games in London. Over the past 13 months, Big 12 teams have also played two games in Dublin, suggesting the league could expand into additional international markets. Yormark added, “There's not a two‑week play wherever I don't get a telephone to accidental 'take immoderate of your merchandise to this state oregon that country', truthful we're exploring that close now.” He said an announcement regarding next year’s London contest will come “within the adjacent period oregon two,” giving UK fans ample time to learn about the two teams that will soon make their presence known across the pond.