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NFL to play four London games in 2017, equivalent to half a team's home schedule
Eric Edholm,Shutdown Corner
The NFL is expanding its reach in England. The league is planning on four games overseas in the 2017 season, which — if you think about it — is half of a typical team’s home schedule.
“We continue to be incredibly excited by the passion and love for the NFL shown by our millions of UK fans,” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement. “London is an amazing city. We have had tremendous support from our fans, from Mayor Khan and other government leaders and business partners, and we are looking forward to taking the next step in the UK by playing four games in London next season.”
Since 2014, the London series has been a three-game slate each season and every game has sold out. By that measure, it has been a success, and the NFL is expected to hit new TV benchmarks this season in terms of unique viewers. That’s one way to help offset some uneven TV ratings stateside.
And we had a few good games this season in London. Sure, there was an unsatisfying tie between the Cincinnati Bengals and Washington Commanders, but the action was good. And the other two games were decided by one score and including a Play of the Year candidate with Landon Collins’ sidewinding interception against the Los Angeles Rams.
Is it good for the players? Some enjoy the trip, and some admit that it can be a tough thing. It’s clear the NFL at least is gearing up the London slate to possibly introduce a team there one day — five years, 10, who knows when? But by ramping up the game in England and building a market slowly, we at least should be ready for the idea that a team one day could be located there.
The league will announce the teams playing in the games and which venues will host them next Tuesday at 8 a.m. ET, via Facebook. We know that the Jacksonville Jaguars and Rams will be among those teams, and the New Orleans Saints and Miami Dolphins are expected to face off there, all of which had been previously determined.
https://www.yahoo.com/sports/news/n...-to-half-a-teams-home-schedule-151315059.html
Eric Edholm,Shutdown Corner
The NFL is expanding its reach in England. The league is planning on four games overseas in the 2017 season, which — if you think about it — is half of a typical team’s home schedule.
“We continue to be incredibly excited by the passion and love for the NFL shown by our millions of UK fans,” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement. “London is an amazing city. We have had tremendous support from our fans, from Mayor Khan and other government leaders and business partners, and we are looking forward to taking the next step in the UK by playing four games in London next season.”
Since 2014, the London series has been a three-game slate each season and every game has sold out. By that measure, it has been a success, and the NFL is expected to hit new TV benchmarks this season in terms of unique viewers. That’s one way to help offset some uneven TV ratings stateside.
And we had a few good games this season in London. Sure, there was an unsatisfying tie between the Cincinnati Bengals and Washington Commanders, but the action was good. And the other two games were decided by one score and including a Play of the Year candidate with Landon Collins’ sidewinding interception against the Los Angeles Rams.
Is it good for the players? Some enjoy the trip, and some admit that it can be a tough thing. It’s clear the NFL at least is gearing up the London slate to possibly introduce a team there one day — five years, 10, who knows when? But by ramping up the game in England and building a market slowly, we at least should be ready for the idea that a team one day could be located there.
The league will announce the teams playing in the games and which venues will host them next Tuesday at 8 a.m. ET, via Facebook. We know that the Jacksonville Jaguars and Rams will be among those teams, and the New Orleans Saints and Miami Dolphins are expected to face off there, all of which had been previously determined.
https://www.yahoo.com/sports/news/n...-to-half-a-teams-home-schedule-151315059.html
