NFL wants more international games
The NFL is looking to add more international games in the coming years.
Move over, soccer. If the NFL has any say, American football will be the world’s sport.
The NFL has been experimenting with international competition for awhile now. This year, the league is hosting three games in London. Commissioner Roger Goodell previously mentioned that the NFL hopes to add more international regular-season games in the coming years. It seems as though Germany, Mexico and Brazil are in the NFL’s sights.
Goodell wasn’t kidding. The NFL is looking closely at every country or city that they deem has potential, according the Mark Waller, executive vice president for international.
"“From a London perspective, we continue to be very pleased with the demand of the three games for this year. We already are in great shape and sold out. …All of that continues to go very well from a demand standpoint, commercial standpoint. From a UK perspective, we are very committed to the games and that agenda.”“As for where we go next? We started the work that really looks at Germany, Mexico, potentially Brazil. Those are probably the three markets where we are most likely to play an international series game next, outside of the UK.”“That doesn’t mean we are not looking at what more could we do to grow other aspects of what we do regardless of whether we play games in a market. For an example, in Germany, can we get better free-to-air media coverage for our season? What are some alternative ways to get more content to our avid fans?”"
It seems as though London has opened up the floodgates for international games.
More from NFL
- Joe Burrow owes Justin Herbert a thank you note after new contract
- Chiefs gamble at wide receiver could already be biting them back
- Chargers loosen grip on checkbook to pay Justin Herbert: Best memes and tweets
- Patriots backup plan for DeAndre Hopkins is a shot in the dark
- Raiders: Saquon Barkley’s new contract may have screwed over Josh Jacobs
Sure, international expansion is a lucrative endeavor for the league. And, if you’re talking about expansion, Mexico seems like the natural next step (although Germany and Brazil, not as much), but what is the end game here? Are we going to have a team in London and another in Mexico City? Will there be an NFL Europe? Logistically, how can that actually work?
Meanwhile, while the NFL is tinkering with trying to find their next international move, NFL teams in the states are losing their home games. And they will continue to lose their home games at a larger clip assuming expansion moves forward.
Unfortunately for most NFL fans, Goodell is like a Chicago politician: if he wants something done, it will get done no matter what. As fans, we just have to sit back and hope that it won’t affect our teams.
More from NFL
- Joe Burrow owes Justin Herbert a thank you note after new contract
- Chiefs gamble at wide receiver could already be biting them back
- Chargers loosen grip on checkbook to pay Justin Herbert: Best memes and tweets
- Patriots backup plan for DeAndre Hopkins is a shot in the dark
- Raiders: Saquon Barkley’s new contract may have screwed over Josh Jacobs