International NFL

[100YARDS]

Am I the only one that just don't get why playing games in England or anywhere outside the lower 48 is a good idea?

These are novelty games and rob the fans of experiencing their hometeam.

Expanding the NFL to time zones on a different date?  Really?

 

We can barely schedule the season now, muchless bring in European teams who don't have a fan base or care to.

 

[berad]

A full-fledged franchise seems unlikely but I know why they like to play games over there.

 

$$$

[display name]

I don't mind the occasional game in London but I am opposed to the idea of taking a whole franchise over to Europe. Besides somebody would have to change "NFL" to "INFL."

[Guest Mr. Nobody]

jags have really caught the local attention here in UK, no long till they move over for good lol

[The Oakland Cathedral]

I don't mind the occasional game in London but I am opposed to the idea of taking a whole franchise over to Europe. Besides somebody would have to change "NFL" to "INFL."

Not if you assume the Nation N stands for is the Nation of football fans rather than the U.S.

[display name]

Not if you assume the Nation N stands for is the Nation of football fans rather than the U.S.

Well it doesn't.

[100YARDS]

A full-fledged franchise seems unlikely but I know why they like to play games over there.

 

$$$

 

Well, Yeah - but the Euro Community isn't gonna be ravenous (no pun intended) over it and T.V. will really have to commit a lot more revenue to compensate the fanbase - I really can't see it work.

[The Oakland Cathedral]

Well it doesn't.

But it could if they expand to another continent.

[berad]

Well, Yeah - but the Euro Community isn't gonna be ravenous (no pun intended) over it and T.V. will really have to commit a lot more revenue to compensate the fanbase - I really can't see it work.

 

I agree. For now, a few games throughout the year makes the most business sense. That's why the NFL only commits to that much. But if you're a European billionaire seeing the money the NFL is raking in, you're more than willing to jump in if they give you a shot. 

[arnie_uk]

Its not possible. I laid out an idea of just having a game every week of diff teams

[Purple_ICE 81]

it could be a big move...but I feel like LA will have a new team before any where else.

[RLewis52]

it could be a big move...but I feel like LA will have a new team before any where else.

    Yeah probably the Rams or Jags in near future

[Willbacker]

Its not possible. I laid out an idea of just having a game every week of diff teams

That would cost 16 teams a home game which hurts businesses in that area.

 

I understand you're from the UK and its great there are so many fans developing in Europe in general but the time zones and fatigue factors it causes just isn't fair.

 

A lot of fans in Europe imo already have favorite teams. Would a London team actually garner enough fan base to support a team especially if they start slow out of the gate and then how do you work a home and away schedule.

[The Oakland Cathedral]

Yeah probably the Rams or Jags in near future

I'd be shocked if the jags moved in the next few years.

[arnie_uk]

That would cost 16 teams a home game which hurts businesses in that area.

I understand you're from the UK and its great there are so many fans developing in Europe in general but the time zones and fatigue factors it causes just isn't fair.

A lot of fans in Europe imo already have favorite teams. Would a London team actually garner enough fan base to support a team especially if they start slow out of the gate and then how do you work a home and away schedule.

a team just wont work. If you slip in an extra bye week for every team you can get a game every week. That way london will see every team every year. Have the afc losing a home game for a year then the nfc the next year and so on. Make sure its a game against a team from a diff conference so that it doesn't have an outcome on the top tiebreakers

[Inqui]

Even if the demand's there, my question is one of logistics.

 

As an NZ sports fan, we have three notable teams in Australian leagues: one each for basketball, football (soccer) and rugby league.

 

You have to factor in time zones (maximising primetime spots: the owner of the London franchise would be rather unhappy if they had their home schedule designed for maximising an American TV audience. You have to try and cash in on every market or you'll look like you're neglecting a team), immigration issues (they seem pretty smooth in the NHL and in the Australian leagues, but I suspect they'd be more complicated with with a  US-UK league), but most importantly you have how it would skew the travel schedules.

 

Yeah they're professional athletes, but one look at how the Kiwi teams do in Australian leagues should tell you how tough that really makes things over a season. The home advantage is nice and all, but the perks of having every team come over once (ie, the disadvantages for that team once a season) are far outweighed by the problems of having to fly to a different country every other week (imagine when they face the NFC West!).

 

I feel like with all the hoops you have to jump through to make a potential London team work, it wouldn't be worth the benefits you get from expanding the market.

 

The one game a week thing, I think it's best to have a maximum of eight games in [London/Europe/Canada] to prove it's no novelty. Work to 16 from there.

[100YARDS]

Even if the demand's there, my question is one of logistics.

 

 

 

You have to factor in time zones 

 

I feel like with all the hoops you have to jump through to make a potential London team work, it wouldn't be worth the benefits you get from expanding the market.

 

 

 Very well said!

It's a money grab.

It just doesnt seem the NFL is acting in the fans best interest by pushing this idea.

[Pats]

Even if the demand's there, my question is one of logistics.

 

As an NZ sports fan, we have three notable teams in Australian leagues: one each for basketball, football (soccer) and rugby league.

 

You have to factor in time zones (maximising primetime spots: the owner of the London franchise would be rather unhappy if they had their home schedule designed for maximising an American TV audience. You have to try and cash in on every market or you'll look like you're neglecting a team), immigration issues (they seem pretty smooth in the NHL and in the Australian leagues, but I suspect they'd be more complicated with with a  US-UK league), but most importantly you have how it would skew the travel schedules.

 

Yeah they're professional athletes, but one look at how the Kiwi teams do in Australian leagues should tell you how tough that really makes things over a season. The home advantage is nice and all, but the perks of having every team come over once (ie, the disadvantages for that team once a season) are far outweighed by the problems of having to fly to a different country every other week (imagine when they face the NFC West!).

 

I feel like with all the hoops you have to jump through to make a potential London team work, it wouldn't be worth the benefits you get from expanding the market.

 

The one game a week thing, I think it's best to have a maximum of eight games in [London/Europe/Canada] to prove it's no novelty. Work to 16 from there.

Those super rugby trips from australia/new zealand  to south africa all the time are [profanity deleted]ing brutal

[Inqui]

Those super rugby trips from australia/new zealand  to south africa all the time are [profanity deleted] brutal

It only occurred to me a couple of years ago just how much work they put into those schedules.

 

They have every NZ team's two SA games played in subsequent weeks (including having to make sure said SA teams are home for those games and not on their own tours), and do the same for the SA teams in NZ. They then try to get Perth at home as a pit stop for teams where feasible before or after those big trips. I haven't paid attention to the Australian teams, but I'd say it's similar. Imagine how brutal that must be to manage the schedule for 15 teams with that much detail and ensuring there're absolutely no overlaps.

 

And to think they want to add an Argentine team.......

Edited March 8, 2014 by Inqui

[Pats]

It only occurred to me a couple of years ago just how much work they put into those schedules.

 

They have every NZ team's two SA games played in subsequent weeks (including having to make sure said SA teams are home for those games and not on their own tours), and do the same for the SA teams in NZ. They then try to get Perth at home as a pit stop for teams where feasible before or after those big trips. I haven't paid attention to the Australian teams, but I'd say it's similar. Imagine how brutal that must be to manage the schedule for 15 teams with that much detail and ensuring there're absolutely no overlaps.

 

And to think they want to add an Argentine team.......

Yep apparently argentina and another team are coming in a few years my god the schedule, i'd like them to add an american team like they said they might.

[JO_75]

Didn't know where to put this, but the NFL announced the three teams that will have a "home" game in London in 2016. First the Jaguars again give up a home game and play division rival Colts on October 2nd.Then the Rams will play whichever NFC East team finishes in the same place as them in the final standings on Oct 23rd. Lastly, the Bengals will give up a home game to London as they will host the Redskins in London on Oct 30th.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/11/25/jaguars-rams-bengals-to-play-london-home-games/

[Willbacker]

Didn't know where to put this, but the NFL announced the three teams that will have a "home" game in London in 2016. First the Jaguars again give up a home game and play division rival Colts on October 2nd.Then the Rams will play whichever NFC East team finishes in the same place as them in the final standings on Oct 23rd. Lastly, the Bengals will give up a home game to London as they will host the Redskins in London on Oct 30th.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/11/25/jaguars-rams-bengals-to-play-london-home-games/

The Redskins have a chance to play 2 weeks in a row in England.

[darklight1216]

Keep America's game in America.

I never liked these int games from a fan standpoint: you expect everyone to pay for season tickets when you you're taking games away? They would dare to even consider a Sb in London?

But I also think about the industry around each game. American hot dog stands, tshirt sellers, hotels etc are probably losing revenue because of games being sent overseas. I've taken NFL games into consideration when making travel choices.

Very well said!

It's a money grab.

It just doesnt seem the NFL is acting in the fans best interest by pushing this idea.

I wonder if they are even acting in their own best interest. Right now it's all fun and games, but later on when teams are playing in London, Germany, Mexico they may find that they have stretched themselves too thin. The NFL cannot overtake soccer in these other countries, and I suspect that if they put too much effort into trying to get the bird in the bush they might turn around and discover that the next generation of American fans aren't interested.

[JO_75]

More expanding outside the US. This time, the Texans-Raiders game will be played in Mexico City.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2016/02/04/report-texans-raiders-expected-to-be-in-mexico-city-next-season/

[AsianRice]

it's like bringing a cricket game in US and showing it on CBS channel....

[Willbacker]

Just taking away from the homteam fans and the businesses that look forward to the spurt in business let alone losing your "homefield adavantage". I mean in London how many fans were there with several different team jerseys. What if the Ravens gave up a home game? 

[Steve0x]

I agree i don't think we should spread to europe. If the Canadians wont allow CFL back in the states. Nor the Canadians would allow the NFL on their land. Like why not a game in Montreal or in Calgary?   

[52520Andrew]

2 hours ago, Steve0x said:

I agree i don't think we should spread to europe. If the Canadians wont allow CFL back in the states. Nor the Canadians would allow the NFL on their land. Like why not a game in Montreal or in Calgary?   

Believe the Bills play a game in Toronto

[Steve0x]

Yeah but they only play in Toronto and no where else in Canada. They should play in other cities than just Toronto

[JEEPercreepermd]

On 2/4/2016 at 5:20 PM, Steve0x said:

Yeah but they only play in Toronto and no where else in Canada. They should play in other cities than just Toronto

I think it might have something to do with the fact that Toronto is close to two NFL cities in Buffalo and Detroit, plus Toronto is generally an English speaking City, where others like Quebec or Montreal are mostly French Canadians who probably have less interest in Football. 

Now, I'm sure if they played a Seahawks game in Vancouver it could go over well. 

They should play the PRO Bowl in Calgary in January on a frozen pond. Then I'd watch it.