NFL International Series
Starting in the 2007 season, the National Football League (NFL) has hosted regular season American football games outside the United States every year. Collectively officially known through 2016 as the NFL International Series, since 2017 the series has two sub-series: the NFL London Games in London, which has been in place since 2007, and the NFL Mexico Game in Mexico City, which began in 2016 with a predecessor game in 2005.
Initially, all games in the International Series were held in London. Wembley Stadium was the exclusive home stadium for International Series games from 2007 to 2015 and will continue to host NFL games through at least 2020; beginning in 2016, the series began expanding to more stadiums, first to Twickenham Stadium, London (2016–2017) and to Estadio Azteca, Mexico City (2016–2021) and eventually to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium also in London (2019–2027), with possible future plans to expand the series to Germany and/or Canada.[1][2]
Background
Prior to 2005, the NFL's primary method of promoting its game abroad was through the American Bowl, a series of preseason games played around the world, and NFL Europe, a developmental league based in Europe. The American Bowls ended in 2005 (though a similar China Bowl was planned for 2007 before being canceled), while NFL Europa (as it was known for its final season) folded in 2007. On October 2, 2005, the Arizona Cardinals defeated the San Francisco 49ers by a score of 31–14 at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, Mexico under the name NFL Fútbol Americano. It was the first regular season NFL game held outside the United States.[3] The game drew the NFL's highest game attendance at the time with 103,467 spectators.[3][4]
Roger Goodell, the commissioner of the National Football League, has considered expanding the league's appeal overseas ever since the end of NFL Europa. Goodell has openly discussed the idea of holding a future Super Bowl game in London.[3] The NFL also investigated the possibility of adding a 17th regular season game to all teams, taking the place of the fourth pre-season game.[5] Waller notes that there will not be 16 different venues for the 17th games. More likely would be a "mini-season ticket" of perhaps four games in one city or country.[5] There was discussion that this "17th game" could take effect as early as the 2009 NFL season; however, 2010 would be the earliest this could be implemented because of concerns about playing on Labor Day or over the 2010 Winter Olympics, the league's rigid scheduling formula, and the league's collective bargaining agreement (CBA).[5] League officials were pondering moving a second existing game abroad for the 2010 season, but eventually abandoned it due to the ongoing CBA negotiations.[6] The league eventually abandoned its attempt to expand the NFL season via CBA negotiations, and the new CBA enacted in 2011 has kept the NFL schedule at 16 games as of 2017.
Games in the United Kingdom are broadcast by the BBC and Sky Sports either live on BBC2 or online via the BBC Sports website and interactive TV and on Sky Sports Action. On radio the games are broadcast by BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra, with Arlo White commentating.
The games have been popular, with tickets for the two games per season selling out in two days, nine months in advance. According to the NFL, only 3% of those attending the London games are Americans or American expatriates, while 22% are from London and 60% from elsewhere in Britain. Ticket prices are from £35 for end zone seats to £100 for lower sideline seats.[7] A team that plays a home game in London sells a cheaper season ticket package for its own stadium with seven regular season games rather than the usual eight. Each designated home team receives US$1 million for giving up the home game.[8]
On October 11, 2011, the NFL owners approved playing NFL games in Great Britain through the year 2016. This stated that a home team could visit every year for up to five years but visitors could only visit once every five years.[9] However, in 2015 the Detroit Lions returned to London as visitors in an apparent disregard for this rule. Subsequently, an agreement has been reached to play internationally through 2025.[10]
The Buffalo Bills received a unanimous vote of approval to play a series of regular and preseason games at Rogers Centre in Toronto from 2008 to 2017.[11][12] This was separate from the regular International Series as arrangements are made by the team as opposed to the league as with the International Series. The Bills' Toronto Series was mutually terminated after the 2013 contest.
Due to significant time zone differences, from 2007–2015 teams playing in London would have their bye week in the following week after their game in London. For 2016, the Indianapolis Colts volunteered to play a game the week after their London game, preferring to have their bye week later in the season. The Colts playing the week after London was also done by the NFL as a test to see team fatigue for evaluation of an eventual London franchise.[13] As Mexico City is within the Central Time Zone—eight NFL teams play home games in Central Time and the rest are within two hours of it—no bye week would be needed for those teams, though they may still by chance be scheduled their regular bye week anyway. For 2017, three teams playing in London (Baltimore, Jacksonville, and Miami), would have games immediately following their International Series game.[14] In all three cases, the teams playing after their International Series game are based on the East Coast of the United States and will either be home or (in the Jaguars case) playing in East Rutherford, New Jersey. In 2018 all teams once again received their bye immediately following their London Game.
Due to NFL rules, teams that are playing in temporary homes or that have recently been awarded the Super Bowl are required to play a home game internationally. The Los Angeles Rams, upon relocating from St. Louis, agreed to host an international game from 2016–2019, while their new stadium is being built. The Los Angeles Chargers, who will be sharing the stadium with the Rams once it is completed, will also host an international game in 2018 and 2019, only getting out of the 2017 game because the team had executed its out clause to move from San Diego after the 2017 International Series games had been announced.[15] The rule was not in effect when the Minnesota Vikings were playing at TCF Bank Stadium while U.S. Bank Stadium was being built, although the team did give up a home game while they were still playing in the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome. It is also likely that the Oakland Raiders will host another game in 2019 due to their pending move to Las Vegas, but it is unknown whether the "temporary stadium" rule applies in that case.
Early years (2007–2011)
The Miami Dolphins hosted the New York Giants at Wembley Stadium in London, England on October 28, 2007. The Giants defeated the Dolphins 13–10 in the first regular season NFL game held outside North America. The first 40,000 tickets sold out for the game in the first 90 minutes of sales.[3][16] The game was aired regionally on Fox.
A single game was held in London each year through 2011. Like the 2007 game, each was televised nationally in England, but only regionally in the United States.
Multi-year deals and multi-game years (2012–2015)
On January 20, 2012, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell confirmed that from 2012 to 2014, the St. Louis Rams would play one of their eight home games each year at Wembley Stadium.[17] However, on August 13, 2012, the team announced that they would not play the proposed games in London in 2013 and 2014, only the 2012 game against the New England Patriots that had already been scheduled.[18] Goodell had previously proposed the use of certain regular teams in the International Series in an effort to build a fan base for those teams, raising the prospect of a permanent NFL team on the British Isles.
An NFL bid to become anchor tenants of London's Olympic Stadium failed.[19]
The Jacksonville Jaguars took the Rams' place and agreed to play a home game in London for four seasons from 2013 through 2016. With this announcement also came news that the NFL were working to schedule a second UK game from 2013 onwards.[20] (The Jaguars later extended their agreement with Wembley Stadium through 2020 in an agreement announced in October 2015.)[2] In October 2012, it was announced that the Jaguars would host the San Francisco 49ers and the Minnesota Vikings would host the Pittsburgh Steelers, marking the first season with multiple games in London.
The NFL played three international games for the 2014 season, including one game with an earlier 9:30 am ET start, which allowed for an afternoon game, rather than an evening game, in London. This timeslot proved to be successful as all London games in 2015 and 2016 were also scheduled at 9:30 am ET. Three games were again scheduled in 2015 – including the series' first division game between the New York Jets and the Miami Dolphins.
Long-term deals and new stadiums (2016–present)
On July 8, 2015, the NFL and Tottenham Hotspur F.C. announced they had reached a 10-year deal to host at least two London Games a year at the new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium from its opening season in 2018.[21] Additionally, on October 7, 2015, the league announced that a resolution had been passed to schedule international games at additional locations to London until 2025.[10] Subsequently, on October 22, 2015 it was confirmed that at least two games per season would remain at Wembley through at least 2020 and that the Jacksonville Jaguars will continue to play a home game there annually throughout the agreement.[22] Another stadium deal was confirmed on November 3 2015, when the league announced they had reached an agreement with England's Rugby Football Union to host regular season games at Twickenham Stadium from 2016 onwards, with a minimum of three, and as many as five games to be held over the initial agreement period of three years.[23]
In 2016, the Oakland Raiders hosted the Houston Texans on November 21 at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, at the first International Series game played in Mexico. Previously, the Houston Texans and Pittsburgh Steelers had expressed interest in playing a game at Estadio Azteca (or possibly Estadio Olímpico Universitario) in Mexico City, although Houston was not prepared to give up a home date.[24][25] It was televised as part of ESPN's Monday Night Football, marking the first MNF game broadcast from outside the United States, and ESPN's second broadcast from Mexico City since the 2005 Fútbol Americano game (which was televised as part of ESPN's former incarnation of Sunday Night Football).[26][27]
The 2016 game between the Redskins and Bengals was the first International Series game to go into overtime, the first to end as a tie, and had at the time the highest attendance of all International Series games (later surpassed by the 2017 game between the Ravens and Jaguars, which drew an attendance of 84,592).
For 2017 the series underwent a partial rebrand with four games in London branded as NFL London Games[28] and one game in Mexico City branded as the NFL Mexico Game.[29]
In January 2018, it was announced that three London Games would take place. Two would be held at Wembley and the other was to be the first game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. However, it was later confirmed that the opening of the new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium would be delayed and therefore all three games would be held at Wembley.[30] Having already fulfilled the minimum three-game requirement for Twickenham Stadium in 2017, it will no longer host games.[31] The Mexico City date and opponents were not announced at that time, but we’re later confirmed as the Los Angeles Rams playing as designated home team against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Game history
Standings
| Team | Games | W–L–T | Pct | Most recent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New England Patriots | 3 | 3–0–0 | 1.000 | 2017 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 2 | 2–0–0 | 1.000 | 2017 |
| New Orleans Saints | 2 | 2–0–0 | 1.000 | 2017 |
| New York Giants | 2 | 2–0–0 | 1.000 | 2016 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 2 | 2–0–0 | 1.000 | 2013 |
| Chicago Bears | 1 | 1–0–0 | 1.000 | 2011 |
| Dallas Cowboys | 1 | 1–0–0 | 1.000 | 2014 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 1 | 1–0–0 | 1.000 | 2015 |
| New York Jets | 1 | 1–0–0 | 1.000 | 2015 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 1 | 1–0–0 | 1.000 | 2018 |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | 5 | 3–2–0 | .600 | 2017 |
| Detroit Lions | 2 | 1–1–0 | .500 | 2015 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 1 | 0–0–1 | .500 | 2016 |
| Washington Redskins | 1 | 0–0–1 | .500 | 2016 |
| St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams | 3 | 1–2–0 | .333 | 2017 |
| Miami Dolphins | 4 | 1–3–0 | .250 | 2017 |
| Oakland Raiders | 4 | 1–3–0 | .250 | 2018 |
| Arizona Cardinals | 1 | 0–1–0 | .000 | 2017 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 1 | 0–1–0 | .000 | 2014 |
| Baltimore Ravens | 1 | 0–1–0 | .000 | 2017 |
| Buffalo Bills | 1 | 0–1–0 | .000 | 2015 |
| Cleveland Browns | 1 | 0–1–0 | .000 | 2017 |
| Denver Broncos | 1 | 0–1–0 | .000 | 2010 |
| Houston Texans | 1 | 0–1–0 | .000 | 2016 |
| Indianapolis Colts | 1 | 0–1–0 | .000 | 2016 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 1 | 0–1–0 | .000 | 2013 |
| San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers | 1 | 0–1–0 | .000 | 2008 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 2 | 0–2–0 | .000 | 2011 |
As of 14 October 2018, the designated home team is 9–14–1 (.396), while the designated visiting team is 14–9–1 (.604).
Teams with no International Series appearances
Once the 2018 season is completed, only two of the 32 teams will have not played in the International Series: the Carolina Panthers and Green Bay Packers. The Philadelphia Eagles, Seattle Seahawks, and Tennessee Titans are scheduled to play their first games (all in London) in 2018. After the International Series game scheduled for November 2018, 29 teams will have played in London, of which four will have also played in Mexico City, while the Houston Texans will (still) be the sole team to have made their only appearance in Mexico City.
Future
Future markets
Within the United Kingdom, aside from London, potential candidates for hosting NFL games include Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales;[47] and Murrayfield in Edinburgh, Scotland.[48] Other prime locations to get games would be Croke Park in the Republic of Ireland (Ireland has already hosted the NCAA Emerald Isle Classic, a college football game similar to the International Series, and Steelers owner Dan Rooney was once an ambassador to the country), Germany (which hosted five teams in NFL Europa at the time of its dissolution in 2007 and whose national American Football team won both the 2010 and 2014 European Championship), China;[49] Brazil,[50][49] Australia[51] and Canada (Canada hosted the Bills Toronto Series from 2008 to 2013). In 2007, NFL senior Vice President Mark Waller doubted Asia or Australia would be targeted because of travel concerns, but did not dismiss the possibility.[5] The league had planned to host a game in China in 2018 with the Los Angeles Rams as the home team against the San Francisco 49ers.[52] However, the game in Germany was scrapped in favor of adding a 4th game in London in 2017. The potential game in China was postponed (the third time the league has postponed playing in China, following failed attempts in 2007 and 2009) to being aimed for the 2019 season to coincide with the league's 100th anniversary.[53][54] The league has indicated that a China game is still not certain because of the lack of a fan base in the country (NFL games are played in the middle of the night in China).[55]
In regard to future games outside London or Mexico, Mark Waller stated in 2017 that the only holdup with games in Germany was what he dubbed "an inventory management thing. How many games do we actually have?"[55]
Potential London team
The success of the International Series has led the NFL to focus its global expansion aims on the possibility of having a full franchise located in London. While no set timetable has been set, the league is working on a goal of establishing a franchise by around 2021, assuming they have all the necessary arrangements in place. It is believed this would be most likely achieved through relocation of an existing franchise, with the Jaguars most often linked due to their association with the International Series, even though their owner is said to be content with the current arrangement and other franchises have more reason to move (the most often cited being poor on-field performance, lack of fans and uncertainty over stadium leases). The NFL has used some of the specific arrangements for the International Series games as a test bed for predicting how a London franchise could be made effective from a logistical and competitiveness standpoint.[56][57]
See also
References
Explanatory notes
- ↑ The game was broadcast on CBS affiliates in Buffalo (WIVB-TV) and Jacksonville (WJAX-TV) and BBC Two in the United Kingdom. Everywhere else, the broadcast of the game was exclusively live-streamed globally on Yahoo!
- ↑ The game was broadcast on the CBS owned-and-operated stations in New York City (WCBS-TV) and Los Angeles (KCBS-TV). Outside those areas, the broadcast of the game aired in the United States on the NFL Network.
- ↑ The game was simulcast on KGO-TV in the San Francisco Bay Area and KIAH in Houston. Elsewhere, the game was aired on ESPN.
Citations
- ↑ Wilson, Ryan (July 8, 2015). "NFL, Tottenham Hotspur agree on 10-year partnership for NFL games". CBS Sports. Retrieved July 8, 2015.
- 1 2 "NFL extends deal to play games at Wembley through 2020". Associated Press. October 22, 2015. Retrieved October 22, 2015.
- 1 2 3 4 Associated Press. NFL commissioner says Super Bowl may someday be held in London ESPN.com, October 15, 2007.
- ↑ Associated Press. 3 AFC, 3 NFC teams named possible 'hosts' in Europe ESPN.com, January 8, 2007.
- 1 2 3 4 Associated Press. NFL looking closely at expanding to 17 games with international flavor ESPN.com, May 10, 2007.
- ↑ NFL opts not to hold second game in UK in 2010.
- ↑ Zimmerman, Brandon (August 28, 2013). "NFL Banking On 'Passion' Of U.K. Fans To Make London Expansion A Success". Sports Business Daily. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
- ↑ Kelly, Omar (November 6, 2014). Dolphins will host New York Jets in London in 2015. South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
- ↑ "NFL owners OK games in Britain through 2016". Espn.go.com. October 11, 2011. Retrieved August 13, 2012.
- 1 2 "NFL clubs expand commitment to playing international regular season games". NFL UK. National Football League. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
- ↑ Breer, Albert (May 22, 2012). "Five-year extension of Buffalo Bills' Toronto series approved". NFL.com. Retrieved August 27, 2012.
- ↑ Associated Press. Bills to play annual regular-season game in Toronto starting next season ESPN.com, February 1, 2008.
- ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on November 21, 2016. Retrieved November 21, 2016.
- ↑ "Fantasy Football 2017: NFL Bye Week Cheat Sheet". Athlonsports.com. Retrieved August 8, 2018.
- ↑ "Chargers, Rams both lose over stadium delay". Profootballtalk.nbcsports.com. May 19, 2017. Retrieved August 8, 2018.
- ↑ Associated Press. Despite poor weather and a sluggish game, the stadium remained packed and in good cheer for the entire match. Dolphins will play Giants in London on Oct. 28 ESPN.com, February 2, 2007.
- ↑ NFL UK. ST. LOUIS RAMS TO HOST REGULAR-SEASON GAME IN UNITED KINGDOM IN EACH OF NEXT THREE YEARS Archived January 23, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. NFLUK.com, January 20, 2012.
- ↑ "St. Louis Rams will not play in London 2013, 2014". NFL.com. Retrieved August 13, 2012.
- ↑ Ridge, Joe (November 14, 2012). "West Ham move into pole position for Olympic Stadium after NFL bid is thrown out". Daily Mail. London. Retrieved September 18, 2013.
- ↑ "Report: Jags to play games in London". espn.com. ESPN. Associated Press. August 21, 2012. Retrieved August 21, 2012.
- ↑ "Tottenham Hotspur will host NFL matches at new stadium". BBC Sport. 8 July 2015. Retrieved 8 July 2015.
- ↑ "NFL extends agreement to play regular-season games at Wembley Stadium for an additional five years". NFLUK. National Football League. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
- ↑ "NFL action at Twickenham". England Rugby. Rugby Football Union. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
- ↑ "Texans hoping to play international regular-season game in 2016". Foxsports.com. October 15, 2015. Retrieved August 8, 2018.
- ↑ "Exclusive: NFL considering the Steelers to play in Mexico in 2016 - English". As.com. Retrieved August 8, 2018.
- ↑ "Back to Mexico: Texans-Raiders to play Nov. 21 in Mexico City". NFL.com. Retrieved August 8, 2018.
- ↑ "History to be made in Mexico City". NFL.com. 2005-09-28. Archived from the original on 2006-06-25. Retrieved 2006-08-07.
- ↑ "2017 London Games:NFL announces which teams will be playing". National Football League. National Football League. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
- ↑ "Raiders to host Patriots in Mexico City next season". National Football League. National Football League. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
- ↑ "Urgent Stadium Update". Tottenham Hotspur. Tottenham Hotspur. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
- ↑ "NFL announces three enticing London 2018 matchups". National Football League. National Football League. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Goo Goo Dolls to perform at NFL Wembley game". NFL UK. October 12, 2011. Archived from the original on November 4, 2014. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
- ↑ "NLF London 2012 Pre Game Show "Train" Wembley Stadium". Luke Dudley. October 29, 2012. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
- ↑ "Tinie Tempah, Gene Simmons perform at NFL match". ITV News. September 29, 2013. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
- ↑ Garnier, Jesse (September 29, 2013). "NFL gameday splashes across the pond". SF Bay. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
- ↑ "DEF LEPPARD – NFL Pre-Game – Official Performance Video". DEF LEPPARD. October 8, 2014. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
- ↑ "Little Mix perform before the NFL football game between the Atlanta Falcons and the Detroit Lions at Wembley Stadium, London, Sunday, Oct. 26, 2014". Yahoo! News. October 26, 2014. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
- ↑ "Joss Stone to perform pre-game at Wembley". NFL UK. National Football League. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
- ↑ "Ohio State University Marching Band to perform at Bills v Jags Wembley game". NFL UK. National Football League. Retrieved July 3, 2015.
- ↑ Schwab, Frank (June 3, 2015). "Yahoo will broadcast first free global live stream of NFL game". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved July 24, 2015.
- ↑ "Music legends Madness to perform at Lions-Chiefs NFL game at Wembley". NFL UK. October 29, 2015. Retrieved November 1, 2015.
- ↑ "Kansas City Chiefs to host Detroit Lions in London, UK". kcchiefs.com. Kansas City Chiefs. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
- ↑ "No chilling this Sunday..." NFL UK. October 21, 2016. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
- ↑ "2018 NFL London schedule kicks off at new Tottenham stadium; three teams to make UK debuts". NFL Communications. January 11, 2018. Retrieved January 11, 2018.
- ↑ "Los Angeles Rams to host Kansas City Chiefs in Mexico City in 2018". NFL Communications. January 31, 2018. Retrieved January 31, 2018.
- ↑ "Jess Glynne to perform London Games Kickoff concert". NFL.com. Retrieved 2018-10-06.
- ↑ "NFL ponders second UK game option". BBC News. May 13, 2009.
- ↑ "Murrayfield is game for NFL". Edinburgh Evening News. April 3, 2008.
- 1 2 "NFL could play in Germany by 2017, China by 2018". Nfl.com. Retrieved August 8, 2018.
- ↑ Marvez, Alex (March 23, 2015). "NFL considering Brazil to host 2017 Pro Bowl". Fox Sports. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
- ↑ Soshnick, Scott (May 19, 2016). The NFL Pro Bowl Is Moving to Orlando. Bloomberg. Retrieved May 19, 2016.
- ↑ "Report: Los Angeles Rams' 2018 Home Game In China To Be Season Home Opener Against San Francisco 49ers". Turfshowtimes.com. Retrieved August 8, 2018.
- ↑ "NFL aiming to potentially play game in China in 2019". Nfl.com. Retrieved August 8, 2018.
- ↑ "NFL scraps plans to hold China game in 2018". Espn.com. Retrieved August 8, 2018.
- 1 2 Breer, Albert (September 21, 2017). Game Plan: NFL Believes London is Ready for Team; 2022 Target is Doable. SI.com. Retrieved October 1, 2017.
- ↑ La Canfora, Jason (October 28, 2012). "NFL's move to London could come soon; Jags a target". CBS Sports. Retrieved February 20, 2013.
- ↑ Campbell, Dave and John Krawczynski (May 7, 2012). Vikings in limbo and expansion not on NFL's radar. Associated Press. Retrieved May 7, 2012.
External links
- Official website
