NFL’s Global Expansion Plans on the Horizon

The NFL has begun broadcasting on paid platforms, and it seems like upcoming game expansions could leave some fans struggling to catch their favorite teams.

Before the Thursday night match-up between the Buffalo Bills and the Detroit Lions on Amazon Prime, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell hinted at the possibility of the league extending its reach into time zones that American fans might not welcome.

“We’re looking at how we continue to grow our media exposure globally,” Goodell remarked.

So, could this be the revival of NFL Europe? Not quite, but Goodell pointed out that Europe stands out as a prime candidate for any potential league expansion.

“If we continue to grow and receive the kind of engagement we’re seeing, I think we’ll eventually have an international franchise,” Goodell said.

“Europe is the most likely spot, for several reasons. First, we’ve been active there for a long time. Plus, scheduling tends to be easier.”

The NFL actually had a European league from 1991 to 2007, featuring teams across countries like Germany and Spain. These days, the league is hosting around 10 games on foreign turf this season, including a recent match in Melbourne, Australia. Yet, Goodell noted that Australia poses its own set of challenges.

“Australia might complicate things for us,” he admitted.

Additionally, introducing just one more team into the current lineup of 32 could disrupt league dynamics—most leagues prefer having even numbers for playoff structures and scheduling. Goodell expressed optimism that more than one expansion team might be feasible.

“I also believe we could add more than one team, and I think there’s the support for two additional teams,” he said.

Player Reception

During the discussion, Goodell was asked if players enjoy participating in international games. He suggested that they take pride in representing the league and acting as ambassadors for football.

“They’re part of broadening the game worldwide,” Goodell stated, also noting that players are enhancing their own brand in the process. “They recognize the opportunities available.”

Former NFL coach Jon Gruden, a Super Bowl champion, recently pushed back on the expansion idea. He urged that the game ought to be promoted in the U.S. first.

Gruden passionately reacted to a fan who favored international games, saying, “If you want to grow the game, promote it in the United States! There are plenty of kids here not playing football. We should focus on that.”

In a rather humorous response, Gruden challenged the notion that it was more challenging to travel for games within the U.S. in the past than it is today to play internationally. “I never saw Red Grange play in Australia, and Ray Nitschke wasn’t in London!” he quipped.

As for when this expansion might take place, Goodell’s contract extends to 2030, so it’s reasonable to think he would want to see progress in global expansion by then. He shared with CNBC that having an international team is “very possible” someday, but he refrained from giving a specific timeframe.

“We’re examining how to increase the number of games and further our global media presence,” he remarked.