NFL wants to have 16 international games, including in Asia

[Setackin]

Yikes!

They really need to add a 2nd bye week.

 

[Setackin]

clearly they have player safety in mind with this announcment

Need a 2nd bye week

 

[csirl]

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.

I live in Europe and have been involved in the sport at grassroots level since the late 80s.

The NFL seems to have pivoted from having a franchise in Europe. I believe this is because the logistics needed at least 2 x teams in Europe to make it work. They werent prepared to go to 2 x franchises. So the alternative was the 17th game with every team playing overseas every year.

I think the permanent franchise idea would have worked from a European perspective, but it would need to be a new franchise with its own European identity rather than moving the Jags and/or Chargers to London and/or Germany.

The one criticism of their current policy of more games overseas is their team territory designation. I think this is limiting. For example, they assume everyone in Ireland is a Steelers fan or wants to be one. Most Irish NFL fans dont follow the Steelers. I know fans of all 32 teams. I think they would be better rotating all teams in all markets rather than the designated team status. I'd be quite certain the UK posters in this site would say the same about the Jags and London.

 

[Coogiguy03]

They really need to add a 2nd bye week.

very true!!!

 

[Pompey-Cowboy]

So if the ultimate goal is to sell TV rights and replica jerseys in other countries and not to establish an overseas nfl franchise or two, surely 16 overseas games is excessive and unnecessary. Better surely to play an overseas game or two in different countries each season.

 

[Wildcat711]

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 can only speak for Australia as I have lived here for a long time now.

Back in the day.. I didn't have to worry about hearing scores before watching games that I had recorded.. didn't even hear SB scores.

Now its everywhere.. maybe it's because of the advent of the net.. I would never see people walking around with team gear.. now I see it all the time (and a hellova lot wear Pats stuff.. lol)

Also.. the professional athletes here all seem to be huge NFL fans.. they talk about it all the time.. which in turn seems to get people into it as well.. I still have never heard one say they are a Cowboys fan tho.. bit disappointing.

I was at an AFL match once and saw Terrance Newman.. I couldn't believe it.. wasn't too many who knew who he was tho.. lol.. but my son got his auto.

I think you would be surprised how big the NFL is becoming all over the world.. we are supposed to be getting a game here soon.. but I agree its a long way to come.. I have terrible jet-lag when I go home on the 14 hour flight... then connecting flights etc.

 

[CowboyoWales]

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

I think some of that is out of choice as the Jags owner also owns Fulham FC in the PL, so is trying to create a 'sporting crossover brand'.

It fails, as @csirl points out, because most British fans have been with the game from the halcyon days in the1990's and already have their teams.

 

[csirl]

Most of the travel distances are within the normal range that is expected in top level sport, including those where teams make multiple long trips in a season. Just think about the following:

European soccer team, both clubs and national teams, playing in "European" competitions which include central Asian countries.

South African clubs playing in European club rugby leagues.

New York playing Gaelic football in the All-Ireland Championship.

 

[CowboyoWales]

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.

Id say most/alot of British sports fans have a NFL team. Goodell and the Owners see a potential market expansion and what they're probably attempting to do, is increase awareness in an attempt to increase value for the TV/Advertising Rights.
The (English) Premier League is proposing/working out the opposite and planting interest in America.

I thought the 'strategy' was to create a 17th game and for that 'ODD' game was going to be used as an International Development game, played around the world.......for the betterment of selling the product and increasing the CAP (OH AND OF COURSE THE OWNERS).

Having a 9-8 Home/Away split is unfair (if playing at home gives an advantage). Its strange/unfair how the Cowboys havent played an International game in 10 years.....Jerry's never 'given up' a home game.

Giving every team an 8-8 split with one International game (with an extra Bye week - week before for European games).