NFL announces two regular season games per year to be played outside U.S.

Seymour93 · Oct 24, 2006

...according to SportsCenter.

LINK: http://www.nfl.com/news/story/9752443

Oct. 24, 2006) -- The NFL will stage up to two international regular-season games per season beginning in 2007, further demonstrating the league's commitment to competing in a global sports marketplace and to developing a greater presence beyond the borders of the United States.

[...]

"This step comes in response to the tremendous and growing interest in the NFL around the world," said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. "The owners believe that hosting regular-season games outside the United States on a regular basis is in the best interests of the league and will help to increase the fan base, build awareness of the NFL and grow the sport worldwide."

nhpatsfan · Oct 24, 2006

I get the reasoning. Big business, international markets, all that. But I'll dread the years our boys play internationally - too much to ask in an already demanding season.

Seymour93 · Oct 24, 2006

nhpatsfan said:
I get the reasoning. Big business, international markets, all that. But I'll dread the years our boys play internationally - too much to ask in an already demanding season.

According to a study done last year, as I'm sure many of you know, the Pats are the most popular team in the United Kingdom. I wouldn't be surprised to see if we were one of the first teams to play overseas, likely at the new Wembley Stadium.

Brady#12 · Oct 24, 2006

Man that would make me a very happy chappy

edzo44 · Oct 24, 2006

Aren't we supposed to be playing in China next year anyway?
They wouldn't force us to go overseas twice in one year would they?

Seymour93 · Oct 24, 2006

edzo44 said:
Aren't we supposed to be playing in China next year anyway?
They wouldn't force us to go overseas twice in one year would they?

Yeah, but the China Bowl is just for preseason. It's also going to be the first competitive game of the NFL season in early August, and we'll still have four more regularly scheduled preseason games after it.

TomBrady'sGoat · Oct 24, 2006

Wow, what an awful idea. In a league with only 16 games, for 4 teams to have the penalty of playing a game internationally each year is silly. Also, 2 teams each year will only have 7 home games.

It won't be so bad if all games are played in the Americas, but you know that won't happen. There will be games in Europe, Asia, and Australia. In that case the they will have to schedule byes before or after the games, and maybe move the games so that they're a Thursday after a bye or a Tuesday before one. The opening season Thursday night game seems an obvious one.

Also, you can't try to expand the game by scheduling it with the US in mind. Something tells me the networks won't be happy with a game on at 10am in the US. I can just see a game starting at an awful time wherever it is being played while the NFL tries to figure out why the locals aren't embracing it the way they had hoped.

*edit* I wouldn't be surprised to see the Patriots game in China either moved to the regular season, or replaced with a different game with different teams. I see little chance the Pats aren't one of the 4 teams to play in a regular season game next year, and there is no way the Pats travel for a preseason and regular season game.

Murphys95 · Oct 24, 2006

TomBrady'sGoat said:
Wow, what an awful idea. In a league with only 16 games, for 4 teams to have the penalty of playing a game internationally each year is silly. Also, 2 teams each year will only have 7 home games.

It won't be so bad if all games are played in the Americas, but you know that won't happen. There will be games in Europe, Asia, and Australia. In that case the they will have to schedule byes before or after the games, and maybe move the games so that they're a Thursday after a bye or a Tuesday before one. The opening season Thursday night game seems an obvious one.

Also, you can't try to expand the game by scheduling it with the US in mind. Something tells me the networks won't be happy with a game on at 10am in the US. I can just see a game starting at an awful time wherever it is being played while the NFL tries to figure out why the locals aren't embracing it the way they had hoped.

*edit* I wouldn't be surprised to see the Patriots game in China either moved to the regular season, or replaced with a different game with different teams. I see little chance the Pats aren't one of the 4 teams to play in a regular season game next year, and there is no way the Pats travel for a preseason and regular season game.

Agreed. I think it's a bad/dumb idea to host regular season games overseas.

As for China, scheduling probably already plays a factor in this one. We don't see the 2007 regular season schedule until April. Preseason games are much easier to plan and change the date (happens often). My assumption is that any overseas game would be early in the season too (before flex-scheduling kicks in).

The game in China will most likely be aired at around 4:30 am, then rebroadcast later that night (yeah, like we want to tune in for a preseason game that we already know the score of).

RayClay · Oct 24, 2006

As has been stated, this is a spectacularly dumb idea.

Compromise, in case some of the NFL geniuses are viewing, play the stupid pro bowl in a different country every year.

Beavis · Oct 24, 2006

Screw that bullsh*t...its total nonsense. I heard on ESPN radio that all the owners asked thought it was a bad idea.

HAMMERMILL · Oct 24, 2006

The worst 4 teams(record wise)from the year before should get the honor.
That way it won't penalize teams that actually have a chance.

It will be funny watching the chinese media trying to get answer's to their questions from Belichick.

RayClay · Oct 24, 2006

HAMMERMILL said:
The worst 4 teams(record wise)from the year before should get the honor.
That way it won't penalize teams that actually have a chance.

It will be funny watching the chinese media trying to get answer's to their questions from Belichick.

Actually, they'll probably have the same success as everybody else.

alamo · Oct 24, 2006

Pure speculation, but what do you want to bet that to help a team make up the lost revenue, they give the team losing a home game an extra home preseason game? So perhaps one year soon season ticket holders will have to pay for 10 games like they do now, but only 7 regular season.

But there's no way the Patriots play overseas next year in the regular season, it would be too big a snub of the Krafts and China to change the preseason game. But the year after, bet on it.

tailgater · Oct 24, 2006

Isn't it likely Kraft knew this was coming? Kraft had to be a major player in getting this passed. I'd bet he wanted the China Bowl much more than any other potential location. The virgin NFL market, never mind the potential for expanding his personal businesses and contacts at the same time makes this a priceless opportunity for him and his family.

A game in London, Toronto, or Berlin won't have nearly the impact, even a regular season game. Why would it?

The articles I've seen said they will hold the games in cities that are within 6 or 7 hour flights, or no more painless than coast to coast flights, so, at least for 2007, no trips to Asia or Austrailia, not in the regular season at least. It's more likely they'd hold a Super Bowl that far away. Even a bye week won't make up for that much travel.

Battaglia · Oct 24, 2006

Dont like this at all to be honest. I just hate the idea of a team flying to China to play football, too much of a distraction.

MooseKnuckles · Oct 24, 2006

The owners won;t like it because it couple limit the amount of home games a team may have per season. Could make us season ticket hoilders buy 3 pre-season games instead of 2 to compensate.

THAT .. would suck !

If they played in Amsterdam .. well then , Road trip !

Aqua4Ever04 · Oct 24, 2006

I hate this idea. Why take home games away from teams? Complete blasphemy if you ask me.

NFL announces two regular season games per year to be played outside U.S.

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