Pursuing Roger Goodell’s Vision of Turning Football Into a Truly ‘International Sport’, NFL Owners Now Vote to Extend Global Markets Program

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is trying to change the face of the league, its popularity, and its rules in many ways. Last December, Goodell used his annual pre-Super Bowl speech to highlight his aim of making football a global sport. Recent reports suggest he is making progress towards this goal.

Each NFL team has fans in its associated country. But now these teams are solidifying plans to gain more fans abroad. Here’s how Goodell plans to achieve it!

Roger Goodell is revolutionizing the NFL on a worldwide stage!

The NFL is broadening its international marketing program, allowing more teams to reach fans around the world. At their annual meeting in Orlando, the league announced that their four additional teams and five new markets will join the initiative. With this expansion, a total of 25 NFL clubs will now have the opportunity to engage fans in 19 different countries. And “just seven of the league’s 32 teams are not yet participating.” This program, known as the Global Markets Program, was established in 2022 to give teams the chance to promote their brand and attract fans beyond the United States.

By participating in fan engagement activities, events, and commercial opportunities, teams aim to increase their global presence and support. This move reflects the NFL’s commitment to expanding its reach and becoming a truly global sport, aligning with Commissioner Roger Goodell’s vision for the league’s future. As last December Goodell mentioned, “For our first game, and having been somebody who was involved with American football in Germany through the NFL since 1989, to me, it was really rewarding to see how our fan base has expanded, and we want to make NFL football a global sport.”

Before 2022, the NFL teams were restricted from marketing overseas, except for the Jaguars in the U.K. Initially, the program involved 18 teams in eight countries. However, this year, the program is expanding. The Giants will now have rights in Germany, the Lions will expand to Austria, Canada, Switzerland, and Germany, the Colts will gain rights in Austria and Germany, and the Browns will enter the Nigerian market, which is new for the NFL.

Read more: “Roger Goodell Killing an Ant With a Sledgehammer” – Peter King Discusses Deflategate Scandal Involving Tom Brady

Other than these, there are six other teams that added existing markets to their possessions.

Building an international presence!

Several NFL teams have expanded their global presence by adding new markets to their portfolio. For instance, the Rams have included South Korea and Japan in their existing markets in Australia, China, Mexico, and New Zealand. The Dolphins have expanded from Brazil, Spain, and the U.K. to include Argentina, Columbia, and Mexico.

Similarly, the Patriots have added Brazil to their existing markets in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. The Jets have extended their rights from the U.K. to Ireland, while the Steelers have expanded from Mexico and Ireland to include Germany. The Seahawks, who previously had rights in Canada, are now expanding to Austria, Germany, and Switzerland.

However, playing overseas does not guarantee that teams will compete in their designated global market territories. The NFL’s executive vice president of international events, Peter O’Reilly, mentioned that the league will try to schedule games for teams in their global market areas. From the next year onwards, the NFL plans to host up to eight games per year outside the U.S.

Despite the expansion, seven NFL teams are not part of the global program. These include teams the Bengals, Bills, Chargers, Commanders, Packers, Ravens, and Titans.