Conceding that there is a big difference between an event and a league, the NFL games in London sell out both stadiums, 60k plus in the Spurs stadium and 80k plus at Wembley.
Theres something there
I believe the NFL is interested in eyeballs on their product; international fan interest. The more they grow viewership, the more money flows in to the league from TV and merch. I don't think it's viable to actually have teams that are located overseas. Just my opinion.
I believe the NFL is interested in eyeballs on their product; international fan interest. The more they grow viewership, the more money flows in to the league from TV and merch. I don't think it's viable to actually have teams that are located overseas. Just my opinion.
agree with much of that.
I think the viability thing is pretty interesting. One option that might work, logistically speaking, is a London-based division. Only six-ish hour s in the air from NYC, so not that much different than a west coast trip. Easier maybe because its overnight. From London, all of west Europe is sub 2 hour travel. The London games are filled with Europeans who traveled over by planes, trains and automobiles.
Anyway, I am sure that is part of the reason for this season having a team on a 2 game swing, Ireland and London. I thought most years teams are playing 3 or 4 away games against non-division opponents? Not sure. Havent given it much thought.
To your points though, probably too much money for the NFL to pass
I don't hate it. I just know how games suck when the QBs suck. If you look at the QBs of the USFL they are guys who couldn't even make third string in the NFL. Alex McGough, Clayton Thorson. Do you want to watch a game with Paxton Lynch as the starting QB? If you want 36 teams then you better have 36 guys who can sling the ball.
Right now how many QBs can be trusted? 26 or 27. Once you get past Drake Maye, JJ McCarthy and Bryce Young its pretty bare. These legit QBs don't grow on trees and that's why they get paid the big bucks. If you want 36 teams you have to come up with another eight to ten QBs who can do the job or you are going to be putting out a boring product.
I hate it
is that because its tough to watch out west? or just hate it for some other reason?
A bunch of reasons.
1.) seems like bad teams get saddled with it and it throws off their season..notice how we haven't gone over since we started winning?
2.) having a "home game" in Europe is massive disadvantage for one team and a massive advantage for another.
3.) West Coast watching it at 4am is brutal
4.) the games usually are with bad teams or at least one bad team so waking up to watch the Panthers Bears isn't super enticing.
I hate it
is that because its tough to watch out west? or just hate it for some other reason?
A bunch of reasons.
1.) seems like bad teams get saddled with it and it throws off their season..notice how we haven't gone over since we started winning?
2.) having a "home game" in Europe is massive disadvantage for one team and a massive advantage for another.
3.) West Coast watching it at 4am is brutal
4.) the games usually are with bad teams or at least one bad team so waking up to watch the Panthers Bears isn't super enticing.
This is definitely and end of offseason kind of discussion lol, sort of filling a low news gap, so appreciate the comments. Interesting topic to me, but maybe not for most.
This is definitely and end of offseason kind of discussion lol, sort of filling a low news gap, so appreciate the comments. Interesting topic to me, but maybe not for most.
Because you're over there for work or something?
I just think the games suck and it's too early...
From a competition standpoint if one team loses a home game and another team loses a road game the flip on that is killer.
Remember Winston's last season when we had like 8 weeks or something like that without a true home game? It's because we're stuck in Europe playing a "home game".
They need to nullify it and make every team play their 9th home gane in Europe. Why are some teams getting 9 home games and others getting 7?
Massive swing
This is definitely and end of offseason kind of discussion lol, sort of filling a low news gap, so appreciate the comments. Interesting topic to me, but maybe not for most.
Because you're over there for work or something?
Mostly because of the stakes. Any substantial change to a business model brings the potential of great reward, but only at great risk. The NFL is pretty awesome now, so would global expansion make it even better or would it be the greed-driven step over a cliff?
I am probably more open to the potential of global expansion than most, but I certainly get the angst expressed here. Human nature as a foundation (change is not easy), but also just love of the sport as it exists today, especially the competitive balance (one point you are making).
They need to nullify it and make every team play their 9th home gane in Europe
I was trying to work through it.
If there was a division in Europe, maybe London, Manchester, Dublin and Berlin, for example, the division games would be completely sold out and the pay television on Sky etc would sell like crazy too. I know that is ONE easy pot of gold the NFL sees. Add in merchandise and sponsorships and its huge. The Spurs stadium was built with the NFL in mind so its already happening.
But, how to integrate that division in Europe with existing structure? The eastern conferences are relatively easy, even easier if there are 2 game swings. This season the Bucs play the Rams and Seahawks away, not that much shorter than jumping across the Atlantic. I'd suggest the overnight transatlantic flight is easier than the 6 hour slog to Seattle. Throw in two games and even easier.
But it is a bit more complex than that for west cost, but probably not insurmountable. A 6:00pm London kickoff is an 10:00 am game in the west, 1:00 here, just like the others. So, television-wise you can see how it would work
More to it than that though. I get it.
One thing NOT talked about much is the impact on gambling. NFL's television partners loves and I mean love gambling, so does SKY etc. Lots of external pressure on the NFL to make it happen. Legal gambling is opening up here but its been in the UK forever and its a way of life. BIG TIME. People betting on everything, every day, via app or walking into the local shop.
It’s the stupidest shit I’ve ever heard. The NFL needs to chill with all this nonsense just for the sake of change. There’s nothing wrong with the way things are now, we don’t need to continue changing the rules; the replays; the global presence etc
I give zero fucks about the economics. The NFL makes a killing as it is. From a fan standpoint these games are dumb. Why stop with Europe? Let's have a China team... That's a big market
OK fine, but the Bucs do care. They applied for Home Market Area initiatives that give them marketing rights in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. There are 21 countries so far in this HMA initiative which includes Ghana, Greece, UAE, Columbia to name a few.... and China (Rams). "This allows them to engage in activities typically restricted to their domestic Home Market Area such as hosting in-person events, selling sponsorships and merchandise, as well as having a high priority to be assigned to play in the International Series games scheduled for their International HMAs.I give zero fucks about the economics. Let's have a China team.
So my point is the Bucs are not being forced by the NFL into doing stuff. It's not being pushed on them. They are willing partners in this thing. They're applying (and I presume money is involved) to get priority to have overseas games.
In 2026 there will be a game in Australia, so obviously time zones are not seen as a barrier. Don't be shocked if an NFL game is coming soon to China as well. And we'll go from there. Use your imagination.
The time in Melbourne actually is pretty convenient, because when its 8 PM on Saturday night in the Eastern time zone it's 10 AM on Sunday in Melbourne. So either we'll be watching a game on Saturday night that's happening in the future, or we'll be watching a game live on Sunday morning that already happened last night. Simple if you think about it.