How NFL’s Tryst With Germany Brings Them Closer to Their Olympic Dream?

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers face the Seattle Seahawks in Munich on Monday. This is the first time the NFL is planting its foot in Germany. And this game is not just another international fixture, but a step towards the globalization of football.

The NFL is one of the most popular and profitable sporting ventures in the world. It has an annual revenue of around $20 billion. Over 17 million average viewers tune in for the regular season games. However, the football league wants more than just the American fanbase.

How will flag football change the landscape of the NFL?

The NFL has come a long way since its inception in 1920. Over the last few decades, football has taken over most American households. 75 of the 100 most watched television programs on cable networks are NFL games. The NFL’s revenue has gone up 300% over the last two decades and leaves behind other sporting leagues like the NBA, MLB, NHL, and MLS way behind in average franchise valuations. However, the NFL is eyeing the global market and the Olympic game are crucial for that.

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The only thing standing between the NFL and international expansion is the physicality and injuries related to tackle football. CTE and other brain degenerative injuries have plagued multiple athletes over the years. This has resulted in a 40% drop in participation from young athletes. And that’s where flag football comes in. The NFL has introduced flag football in All-Pro games already and is investing millions in this new variation of the sport.

Flag football doesn’t involve tackling and therefore majorly reduces the risk of injuries. The NFL is determined to have flag football as an official game in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic games. Tackle football violates many IOC rules and couldn’t find its place on the international stage, but flag football can do the trick.

Can we see the football stars at the 2028 LA Olympics?

The inclusion of flag football in the Olympic charter will have major consequences for the future of the game. This would mean that men will be widely involved with flag football in at least 75 countries and 4 continents and women in 40 countries and 3 continents, leading to massive global exposure.

Damani Leech, the Chief Operating Officer for NFL Internationals, said, “If flag football becomes an Olympic sport, more countries will invest in playing that sport.” The NFL wants to add 50 million international viewers and take their international revenue up by $1 billion and flag football seems to be leading the way for the expansion.

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On Monday, Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will face the Seattle Seahawks in the 42nd regular season international NFL fixture in the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany. Will fans see flag football from the next regular season with an increase in the number of international fixtures?