NFL players face host of issues ahead of Mexico
City game
City game
When the Oakland Raiders and Houston Texans face off Monday
night in Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca, the teams will have to battle more than
just their opponents come kick-off.
night in Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca, the teams will have to battle more than
just their opponents come kick-off.
In the first NFL game in the country in more than 11 years,
players and fans alike will have to contend with rampant street crime,
simmering anger by many Mexicans over the election of Donald Trump, suffocating
levels of smog and the bewildering effects of the stadium’s high altitude.
players and fans alike will have to contend with rampant street crime,
simmering anger by many Mexicans over the election of Donald Trump, suffocating
levels of smog and the bewildering effects of the stadium’s high altitude.
While the crime rate in Mexico City is a far cry from that in
the northern part of the country, where drug cartels hold sway, the capital
city has recently seen an uptick in homicides and other violent crimes.
the northern part of the country, where drug cartels hold sway, the capital
city has recently seen an uptick in homicides and other violent crimes.
Homicides in the city shot up by more than 20 percent last year to levels
not seen since 1998 -- and in spite of more than $1 billion spent on
public security in 2015, recent studies show that a third of Mexico City’s
population was a victim of crime and two-thirds said they do not trust the
local police.
not seen since 1998 -- and in spite of more than $1 billion spent on
public security in 2015, recent studies show that a third of Mexico City’s
population was a victim of crime and two-thirds said they do not trust the
local police.
The threat of violent crime caused Texans’ management to warn
players not to leave the hotel during their trip south of the border.
players not to leave the hotel during their trip south of the border.
According to The Associated Press, a section of a memo sent to
Texans’ players under the heading "safety" had a bullet point with:
"DO NOT leave the hotel." It was followed by a line advising players
to leave all "expensive jewelry at home," not to bring large sums of
money and not to use ATMs.
Texans’ players under the heading "safety" had a bullet point with:
"DO NOT leave the hotel." It was followed by a line advising players
to leave all "expensive jewelry at home," not to bring large sums of
money and not to use ATMs.
Raiders’ players did not receive any type of memo or written
warning.
warning.
Experts on Latin American security say that, despite the
warning and statistics, so long as players and fans use common sense they
should have very few problems in regards to their personal safety.
warning and statistics, so long as players and fans use common sense they
should have very few problems in regards to their personal safety.
“Fans and players need to be aware and careful if they’re in
Mexico City, but just as careful as they would be in any large city in the
U.S,” Chris Wilson, the deputy director of the Mexico Institute at the Woodrow
Wilson Center, told FoxNews.com. “The murder rate in the city is lower than
Washington D.C.’s, so I don’t think it’s as big an issue as many people are
making it out to be.”
Mexico City, but just as careful as they would be in any large city in the
U.S,” Chris Wilson, the deputy director of the Mexico Institute at the Woodrow
Wilson Center, told FoxNews.com. “The murder rate in the city is lower than
Washington D.C.’s, so I don’t think it’s as big an issue as many people are
making it out to be.”
Given the large presence of media from the United States
covering the game, there is speculation that there could be demonstrations
against the election of Donald Trump. During the president-elect’s trip to
Mexico to meet with President Enrique Peña Nieto during his campaign, the city
saw widespread protests and there is some concern of a repeat during the Monday
Night Football game.
covering the game, there is speculation that there could be demonstrations
against the election of Donald Trump. During the president-elect’s trip to
Mexico to meet with President Enrique Peña Nieto during his campaign, the city
saw widespread protests and there is some concern of a repeat during the Monday
Night Football game.
Jay Rothman, ESPN's vice president of production and the
"Monday Night Football" producer, said that the channel is not
planning to focus any anti-Trump protests, but if they occur they will cover
them.
"Monday Night Football" producer, said that the channel is not
planning to focus any anti-Trump protests, but if they occur they will cover
them.
"We wear our news hats, too, and we will get together and
discuss that," Rothman said. "If there are things outside and inside
the stadium to cover, we would be criticized for ignoring them and we need to
do the right thing.”
discuss that," Rothman said. "If there are things outside and inside
the stadium to cover, we would be criticized for ignoring them and we need to
do the right thing.”
The biggest concern so far has not been crime or unrest, but
the air in Mexico City – both in terms of its quality and how much of it the
players will be breathing on the field.
the air in Mexico City – both in terms of its quality and how much of it the
players will be breathing on the field.
Mexico City is notorious for the thick layer of smog that
hangs over the town and can range from a minor nuisance to a nauseating
presence depending on the weather, time of year and traffic on the street.
While the city has seen improvements to its smog problems over the last decade
thanks to catalytic converters being installed on cars and bans on driving
during certain days, it can still pose a risk, especially to athletes hoping to
perform at the top of their game.
hangs over the town and can range from a minor nuisance to a nauseating
presence depending on the weather, time of year and traffic on the street.
While the city has seen improvements to its smog problems over the last decade
thanks to catalytic converters being installed on cars and bans on driving
during certain days, it can still pose a risk, especially to athletes hoping to
perform at the top of their game.
“The smog in Mexico City is not as bad as some of the cities
in China,” said Wilson, who returned last week from a trip to the city. “It’s
more like Los Angeles on a bad day.”
in China,” said Wilson, who returned last week from a trip to the city. “It’s
more like Los Angeles on a bad day.”
Mexico City’s government keeps hourly tabs on the air
quality and as of early afternoon the section of the city where Estadio Azteca
is located was deemed to be in good condition.
quality and as of early afternoon the section of the city where Estadio Azteca
is located was deemed to be in good condition.
Besides the pollution, however, there is the lack of air that
players will have to deal with during their time on the Mexican gridiron.
players will have to deal with during their time on the Mexican gridiron.
Sitting at an altitude of 7,380 feet, Estadio Azteca is
2,100-feet higher than Sports Authority Field at Mile High in Denver and both
the Raiders and Texans play their home games at stadiums less than 50 feet
above sea level.
2,100-feet higher than Sports Authority Field at Mile High in Denver and both
the Raiders and Texans play their home games at stadiums less than 50 feet
above sea level.
“The altitude is a real concern for these players,” Jason
Marczak, director of the Latin America Economic Growth Initiative at the
Atlantic Council's Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center, told FoxNews.com. “For
running backs, wide receivers, and other players that have to run a lot, it’s
going to be a tough game.”
Marczak, director of the Latin America Economic Growth Initiative at the
Atlantic Council's Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center, told FoxNews.com. “For
running backs, wide receivers, and other players that have to run a lot, it’s
going to be a tough game.”
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