After the COVID-19 pandemic nixed all overseas games in 2020, the NFL’s International Series is set to return this season. Two England games on the 2021 slate. Although no Mexico City game is on this year’s schedule, the league plans to return there. The NFL also has intentions of expanding to continental Europe.
The league is high on a game taking place in Germany as early as 2022, Peter King of NBC Sports notes. NFL reps have begun considering locations for the Germany game, according to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero. Allianz Stadium, which hosts soccer power Bayern Munich, will likely be the venue for the NFL’s foray into Germany, King adds, but other cities — such as Berlin and Frankfurt — could come into play.
Although the NFL has been playing regular-season games in England since 2007, no game that counts has taken place in continental Europe. The league is eyeing an annual Germany game to go along with four United Kingdom contests and one in Mexico. Germany has a notable American football following, having played host to NFL Europe games in the 1990s and 2000s. Five German teams played in that league for most of its run.
Another takeaway here: the NFL appears far less bullish on moving a team to London or placing an expansion outfit there. Myriad logistical issues have caused owners to cool on the once-frequently mentioned prospect of a London team, King adds. The Jaguars were the franchise most mentioned as the London guinea pig, and although owner Shad Khan agreed to have his team play two games in England each season, the pandemic has delayed that effort. It is unclear when the Jags will begin making two England trips per year, but the notion of them relocating overseas appears off the radar. The Jags will face the Dolphins in London this season.
oktoberfest, here we come.
Stop trying to expand to Europe, NFL…
Why? Huge potential market to bring in more fans. Football is fairly popular in Germany.
Because I’d rather see a team in San Antonio, San Diego, and St. Louis again. Maybe have a fourth in OKC. The US is the best market for gridiron football. Keep it here.
You cannot have a team in Europe because of the travel situation. Imagine the Seattle Seahawks flying to London in Week 6. It’s a scheduling nightmare. The NFL in Europe will never happen barring a technological breakthrough in air travel.
You mean like the Boom Supersonic’s Overture (XB-1 testing in 2021) or NASA’s X-59 (in 2022)? People are working on it, so still crazy, but maybe not as crazy as you think.
There was a third company too, but they recently shut down due to COVID-19 I think.
I, personally, think it sucks. It’s never gonna be a world wide sport like soccer is. Not that I like soccer over football but like them both. I just have no interest in seeing my team have to travel overseas to win a game. It’s a money grab, at the players expense, unless they up their pay for such games. The other reason soccer is popular, other than being an older sport, is that it’s cheap. Anyone around the world can make a ball to kick around and play. Football shape is a bit harder to come by. Though it is cheap if you have a football and play in the outfield of a baseball field, it’s expensive if you want to play organized ball…
It would be fun to have the NFL create a D league style league to Europe. Send practice players there to get extra reps and have some Europe local natives try out for the teams. Could help expand the league in a big way.
They did that once. Look up NFL Europe.
Just put a team in London and be done with it. These international games are ridiculous.
Wouldn’t that mean more International games that you are saying are “ridiculous”?
Forcing teams to cross the Atlantic to play at a neutral site is lame. If you put a team there then you can at least build an identity for the fans there. Unless you want to force them to be Jags fans.
Do you understand how far away London is from the continental US? What division is this hypothetical London team in? West coast teams would be flying 11 hours to London. Every away game played by a London team would be a stupid amount of flying. Asinine suggestion.
You’re kidding yourself if you think the NFL isn’t going to put a team in London eventually.
Teams already complain about the advantage a 3 hour time change gives the home team….A London team will just not work.