NFL wants to have 16 international games, including in Asia

[fivetwos]

NFL on the Moon.
NFL at the bottom of the ocean.

Keep that close. Don’t go giving anyone any ideas.

 

[KingCorcoran]

Exactly. I don’t like it at all. Travel is hard on the players, if the players are tired there’s could be more injuries, more injuries damages the product on the field.

I think the NFL should keep the NFL teams in the states for all games and if they want to expand their global empire then create a farm league that is overseas. Take the UFL and put it overseas. I remember them trying it in the 90s and it failed but that was 30 years ago and maybe football would be accepted better now.

But I really dislike the idea of the NFL players playing overseas.

They tried to sell minor league football to Europeans. They didn’t buy it. For what players are paid having to travel overseas for a game is not much to ask. The international games and additional games don’t happen without the expressed consent of the players.

 

[BotchedLobotomy]

It's simple, this is the NFL realizing that they are getting really close to bleeding US NFL fans dry. They have squeezed every last dollar from us and it's time to inject more cash opportunities into the system.

 

[Creeper]

I wonder how they will do the games in Asia. Will they televise them here in the middle of the night, or will they play them in Asia in the early morning?

I think this crap is destroying football for the American fans. Leave it alone. The NFL wants to expand, but the fans just want some good football. Ignore your fans at your own risk.

 

[csirl]

They tried to sell minor league football to Europeans. They didn’t buy it. For what players are paid having to travel overseas for a game is not much to ask. The international games and additional games don’t happen without the expressed consent of the players.

WLAF was successful, but when it returned as NFL Europe it became an example of what happens when marketing people with no football knowledge try and run a football league. Comical stuff but completely ruined a good concept. And they also grated with grassroots football in Europe by having marketing people try to interfere with grassroots development programs. So you'd some guys who never played football, but had a marketing degrees, trying to dictate to experienced coaches how to run development programs.

 

[gtb1943]

WLAF was successful, but when it returned as NFL Europe it became an example of what happens when marketing people with no football knowledge try and run a football league. Comical stuff but completely ruined a good concept. And they also grated with grassroots football in Europe by having marketing people try to interfere with grassroots development programs. So you'd some guys who never played football, but had a marketing degrees, trying to dictate to experienced coaches how to run development programs.

lived in England for several years in the late 80 early 90's and have visited Europe a few times since. NFL football is a curiosity there and never will be any more.

 

[rags747]

They are running out of ridiculous money grabs.

Nope, still gotz the Middles East countries. Maybe we could do an exhibition game of the SB Champs vs the Houthis!

 

[KingCorcoran]

WLAF was successful, but when it returned as NFL Europe it became an example of what happens when marketing people with no football knowledge try and run a football league. Comical stuff but completely ruined a good concept. And they also grated with grassroots football in Europe by having marketing people try to interfere with grassroots development programs. So you'd some guys who never played football, but had a marketing degrees, trying to dictate to experienced coaches how to run development programs.

NFL teams have each been granted marketing rights in various parts of the world. The owners see it as a large market yet untapped. I was a season ticket holder of the Sacramento Surge. The games were a fun experience, great wine in the VIP Tent. But the product was what it was. People in London, Frankfurt, Barcelona attended the games in significant numbers. The NFL knew enough that the novelty would quickly wear off.

Properly done with the real deal will bring in real money. One thing that will never happen is NFL owners allowing another league to form they don’t control, anywhere.

 

[Cowboys93]

Exactly. I don’t like it at all. Travel is hard on the players, if the players are tired there’s could be more injuries, more injuries damages the product on the field.

I think the NFL should keep the NFL teams in the states for all games and if they want to expand their global empire then create a farm league that is overseas. Take the UFL and put it overseas. I remember them trying it in the 90s and it failed but that was 30 years ago and maybe football would be accepted better now.

But I really dislike the idea of the NFL players playing overseas.

in my opinion they would be better served to revive that previous league that existed in the 00s now that the popularity has grown in the EU. I would much rather the league invest in those leagues rather than subject players to crazy travel conditions or playing in areas that are completely foreign to them. They could stagger the season for a hypothetical league to be after the NFL season to allow visits from star players or something to that effect that will be less of a burden imo

 

[montgod]

I feel like the quality of play suffers with the game in Europe. I suspect that the players can’t/don’t adjust to the time difference.

Exactly. Better have a bye week following for both teams.

 

[jazzcat22]

You guys have no idea what loyal UK fans go through to follow NFL!

I fully expect Cowboys to give up a home game in 2026 to play in Mexico.

All teams rotate as to when they play one of these games. Cowboys should be coming up soon on that list.

I am sure Jerry will go for this.
However, would he give up a road game if it was anywhere else.

 

[Majic]

All teams rotate as to when they play one of these games. Cowboys should be coming up soon on that list.

I am sure Jerry will go for this.
However, would he give up a road game if it was anywhere else.

I think he would give up a road game. But I think he will find to play in Mexico he will have to give up a home game. (No team would want to be the home team in Mexico v Cowboys).

 

[fivetwos]

Nope, still gotz the Middles East countries. Maybe we could do an exhibition game of the SB Champs vs the Houthis!

I think they overrate the local interest in those games overseas. Maybe someone has numbers that say I’m wrong, but id still question that. IMO a lot of the Europe stuff is about Americans making a unique trip.

From what I hear, they by and large don’t care about the NFL over there, England especially….and never will, but Roger’s 50m per year gig is based nearly entirely on growing the pie annually.

Asia? Come on. Can’t ask teams to do that. Just absurd.

Bottom line is real fans always get squeezed because they know they have you. They are after the ones that don’t currently care.

 

[jazzcat22]

Have you made the flight from Dallas to China? I have, 16 hours and it sucks unless you are in first class....business is slightly tolerable but coach blows.

Then with the jet lag it screws you up going there then coming back.

My point is if these guys are going to preach player safety then crap like this is completely counter to it.

Made quite a few flights to and from South Korea from Dallas.
I did fly business 1st class on a 777 and a 747. Much better.
Longest flight I had in coach, was scheduled just under 6 hours to and from Montreal.
My company rule was anything over 6 hours, was business or 1st class.

So yes, agree, player safety is not a concern.

 

[fivetwos]

Made quite a few flights to and from South Korea from Dallas.
I did fly business 1st class on a 777 and a 747. Much better.
Longest flight I had in coach, was scheduled just under 6 hours to and from Montreal.
My company rule was anything over 6 hours, was business or 1st class.

So yes, agree, player safety is not a concern.

Probably Dallas to Seoul, yes? There’s a non stop?

You’d almost think the aircraft couldn’t hold enough fuel but never really thought much about it.

They will be going in full comfort of course, but I’d think it’s a serious disadvantage as far as throwing off routine. Even if the bye is after, which it would almost have to be, you still can’t get full advantage of what that’s supposed to be.

Really, it can’t be about much more than getting people semi interested and buying merchandise. How much is enough? These guys are paid well…but not necessarily everyone, especially assistant coaches and misc staff etc.

 

[jazzcat22]

Probably Dallas to Seoul, yes? There’s a non stop?

You’d almost think the aircraft couldn’t hold enough fuel but never really thought much about it.

They will be going in full comfort of course, but I’d think it’s a serious disadvantage as far as throwing off routine. Even if the bye is after, which it would almost have to be, you still can’t get full advantage of what that’s supposed to be.

Really, it can’t be about much more than getting people semi interested and buying merchandise. How much is enough? These guys are paid well…but not necessarily everyone, especially assistant coaches and misc staff etc.

Stopped in Tokyo, actually Narita Japan to switch aircraft. American Airlines, then Korean Airline to Seoul.
Korean Air I believe has a straight flight from Dallas to Seoul.
Not sure if AA has one now or not.

 

[rags747]

Made quite a few flights to and from South Korea from Dallas.
I did fly business 1st class on a 777 and a 747. Much better.
Longest flight I had in coach, was scheduled just under 6 hours to and from Montreal.
My company rule was anything over 6 hours, was business or 1st class.

So yes, agree, player safety is not a concern.

This was your own company or the company that you worked for rule.

 

[jazzcat22]

This was your own company or the company that you worked for rule.

Company I worked for.

 

[csirl]

I think they overrate the local interest in those games overseas. Maybe someone has numbers that say I’m wrong, but id still question that. IMO a lot of the Europe stuff is about Americans making a unique trip.

From what I hear, they by and large don’t care about the NFL over there, England especially….and never will, but Roger’s 50m per year gig is based nearly entirely on growing the pie annually.

Asia? Come on. Can’t ask teams to do that. Just absurd.

Bottom line is real fans always get squeezed because they know they have you. They are after the ones that don’t currently care.

I think your wrong. The NFL has consistently under estimated the demand in Europe. Americans are generally unaware of how extensive the fanbase is and how popular football is becoming. Games are not about Americans making unique trips. Tickets requests are multiples of the stadium capacity.

There are well developed national leagues in most countries. To give an example, Germany has 700 teams - 60,000 players/coaches. That's 3 x times as many participants as an average US State.

I live in Ireland. A small country in European terms. Has c20 teams, 4,000 players/coaches.

The sport has been played in Europe for more than 40 years. Yes, in the 80s and 90s it was very much a 'minority sport'. Nowdays, its more mainstream and is in the middle tier of sports in many countries.

 

[fivetwos]

I think your wrong. The NFL has consistently under estimated the demand in Europe. Americans are generally unaware of how extensive the fanbase is and how popular football is becoming. Games are not about Americans making unique trips. Tickets requests are multiples of the stadium capacity.

There are well developed national leagues in most countries. To give an example, Germany has 700 teams - 60,000 players/coaches. That's 3 x times as many participants as an average US State.

I live in Ireland. A small country in European terms. Has c20 teams, 4,000 players/coaches.

The sport has been played in Europe for more than 40 years. Yes, in the 80s and 90s it was very much a 'minority sport'. Nowdays, its more mainstream and is in the middle tier of sports in many countries.

That could be. You seem much more versed on it than I.

I’m basing my opinion largely on my ex who is from England. Maybe they will get a bit into it and buy merch, but not a lot more. It’s a very large world, and it doesn’t need to be international but Roger’s job is essentially to pull every last dollar out of foreign countries.

Europe? Ok fine. But Asia? Pushing it as far as distance.

One thing I was fully against was trying to put a team out of NAmerica permanently, and that seems dead. I wonder your thoughts on that…

Also it’s peculiar that the Jaguars are very often and over seas home team.