International Play

[RustyBourneHorse]

One thing that I don't understand about the International Play that the NFL does is why they insist on playing in countries like Brazil or Spain where there isn't a huge amount of interest in the sport.

I would think they'd want to expand interest where there is actual interest and legitimate leagues. I think Britain, Germany, and Mexico make sense. But Brazil and Spain don't make a whole lot of sense. Plus, if they start playing in the Middle East, that will make even less sense.

Better ideas for countries would be countries like Japan. I've mentioned before that Japan has the X League. From what I've read, those that actually follow the sport in Japan have a high fan rate of the Cowboys and Rams. It's interesting that they last played in Tokyo in 2000 in the preseason, but they haven't returned since. I think that would make a lot more sense than Brazil and Spain.

 

[Reality]

Brazil and Spain have huge soccer (non-american football) fan bases so the NFL is likely trying to tap into those markets.

Soccer is by far the most popular sport in the world so it makes sense for the NFL to try to grab some of its market share.

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

Because Brazil and Spain have huge soccer (non-american football) fan bases so the NFL is likely trying to tap into those markets.

Soccer is by far the most popular sport in the world so it makes sense for the NFL to try to grab some of its market share.

I agree with that, being someone that follows that football as well. But Japan also is a massive sports country between American football, football (soccer), and especially baseball.

 

[Reality]

I agree with that, being someone that follows that football as well. But Japan also is a massive sports country between American football, football (soccer), and especially baseball.

Yeah, but Japan is like the US in that respect .. they have several sports that fight for their attention as well a lot of non-traditional sports and entertainment.

The American sport that many in Japan love is MLB and that is driven by their own popular professional baseball league (NPB) and the fact that several star Japanese players moved to over to MLB and had/have successful careers.

Teams like the Dodgers and Mariners have large Japanese fan bases.

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

Yeah, but Japan is like the US in that respect .. they have several sports that fight for their attention as well a lot of non-traditional sports and entertainment.

The American sport that many in Japan love is MLB and that is driven by their own popular professional baseball league (NPB) and the fact that several star Japanese players moved to over to MLB and had/have successful careers.

Teams like the Dodgers and Mariners have large Japanese fan bases.

Well, and wouldn't it make sense, especially since they do have American Football, to potentially play there to see if maybe the NFL can get players to come over from the X-League?

 

[RonWashington]

How have the Cowboys been able to avoid the international game is surprising . I would think Goodfella would love to send Dallas to these games as often as possible given his relationship with Jerry

 

[RonWashington]

And on the topic of schedules . Dallas should play Houston on a yearly basis switching off home cities . Jets Giants Steelers Eagles heck Rams Chargers …natural rivalries yet hardly play each other .

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

And on the topic of schedules . Dallas should play Houston on a yearly basis switching off home cities . Jets Giants Steelers Eagles heck Rams Chargers …natural rivalries yet hardly play each other .

That'd probably require a complete redoing of divisions and conferences.

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

How have the Cowboys been able to avoid the international game is surprising . I would think Goodfella would love to send Dallas to these games as often as possible given his relationship with Jerry

Same here. Especially with countries like Brazil and England. Sounds like we ARE going to play in Mexico in 2026, but, if they do play a game in Tokyo, I think the Cowboys vs. Rams would make the most sense for that game, given that those are apparently the two big teams in Japan as far as the NFL goes.

 

[csirl]

Brazil has a pro league - sport has boomed there over the past decade.Huge populatilon too.

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

Brazil has a pro league - sport has boomed there over the past decade.Huge populatilon too.

Oh? I didn't know that. Honestly, a world cup would be fun to watch.

 

[csirl]

Oh? I didn't know that. Honestly, a world cup would be fun to watch.

There is one! USA, Canada, Mexico, Japan Germany & France are usually the strongest countries. USA usually wins, but Japan has won in the past and we had that upset in the World Games about 10 years ago when Germany beat USA in the semi-final and lost to France in the final.

USA team is usually players from semi-pro and minor leagues.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

They're just trying to make the game more global, like the NBA. Anything to find new revenue sources. Making sense has nothing to do with their thinking.

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

There is one! USA, Canada, Mexico, Japan Germany & France are usually the strongest countries. USA usually wins, but Japan has won in the past and we had that upset in the World Games about 10 years ago when Germany beat USA in the semi-final and lost to France in the final.

USA team is usually players from semi-pro and minor leagues.

Oh yeah, and Japan beat the US at it a few years ago 41-20. Quite funny to see haha

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

They're just trying to make the game more global, like the NBA. Anything to find new revenue sources. Making sense has nothing to do with their thinking.

True, but Japan would be a huge money maker for them.

 

[Tabascocat]

I would like to see a game in Antartica with a penguin halftime show