Why Are NFL Games in London?
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The National Football League (NFL) has been playing regular season games in London since 2007. Why are they doing this?
The NFL wants to grow its international appeal and reach new audiences. By playing games in London, the NFL can introduce its product to a new market. Additionally, playing games in London allows the NFL to tap into the city’s rich history and tradition of hosting major sporting events.
Reasons for the NFL’s Popularity in the UK
The NFL has been holding games in London since 2007, and they have become increasingly popular over the years. There are a number of reasons for the NFL’s popularity in the UK, including the fact that it is a very exciting and fast-paced sport, and that there is a growing number of British fans.
Economic Reasons
A recent study done in the United Kingdom showed that the National Football League (NFL) is the second most popular sport. Reasons for this can be seen in both the history of NFL’s international development and recent trends in NFL broadcast viewership.
The NFL first began developing an international following in 1983, when they staged its first regular season game outside of North America. The game was played in London’s Wembley Stadium, and though it was a matchup between two unremarkable teams (the Minnesota Vikings and the St. Louis Cardinals), it attracted a sellout crowd of more than 60,000 fans. The NFL recognized early on that there was a real market for American football outside of the United States.
In subsequent years, the NFL has continued to stage games in London as part of its International Series. To date, there have been a total of 28 games played in London, with several more slated for future years. The games have been very well-received, with many fans coming from all over Europe to see them. This has had a positive impact on the economic development of London as well as other areas of the UK.
There are several reasons why the NFL has been so successful in developing an international following. One is that the sport is relatively simple to understand, even for people who have never watched it before. Another is that the games are broadcast live on television at a time when most people in Europe are awake and able to watch them. Finally, the atmosphere at NFL games is electric, and many fans enjoy tailgating and other activities surrounding the game itself.
The popularity of the NFL in the UK is likely to continue growing in the future. This is due in part to recent trends in television viewership. According to Nielsen Media Research, there was a significant increase in NFL broadcast viewership among all age groups in 2019. This trend is expected to continue as more and more people become aware of and interested in American football.
The British Love of American Sports
Since the inception of the National Football League in 1920, American football has been one of the most popular sports in the United Kingdom. In recent years, however, the NFL has seen a surge in popularity, with games regularly selling out London’s Wembley Stadium.
There are a number of reasons for the NFL’s growing popularity in the UK. Firstly, it is a sport that is easy to understand and follow, even for those who are not familiar with American football. The rules are simple and there is less down time than in other sports such as basketball or baseball.
Secondly, the NFL provides a great spectacle, with each game featuring some of the biggest and most physically impressive athletes in the world. The games are fast-paced and packed with action, making them ideal for TV viewing.
Thirdly, the NFL has done a great job of marketing itself in the UK, with regular live games on TV and huge events such as the annual NFL London Games. This commitment to growing its fan base in Britain seems to be paying off, as more and more people are falling in love with American football.
The History of the NFL in London
The NFL has been playing games in London since 2007. The games are part of the NFL International Series, which was created to grow the sport of American football outside of the United States. The NFL has seen success in London, with sellout crowds and increased interest in the sport.
The First Game in London
The first NFL game in London was held in 2007, when the New York Giants played the Miami Dolphins at Wembley Stadium. The game was a sell-out, with more than 80,000 fans in attendance.
Since then, the NFL has held at least one game in London every year. In 2012, the league added a second game to the schedule, and in 2013 they added a third.
The NFL has been slowly expanding its presence in London, and there are plans to eventually have a team based permanently in the city. In the meantime, the games are a big hit with fans, and continue to draw sell-out crowds.
Recent Games in London
Since 2007, the National Football League (NFL) has been holding regular season games at Wembley Stadium in London. To date, 29 NFL games have taken place in London, with 26 of them taking place at Wembley and 3 taking place at Twickenham Stadium. In recent years, games have also been played at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The reason for these games is to try and grow the game of American football outside of the United States. The NFL has been playing regular season games in Mexico City since 2005 and has plans to play more games there in the future. Playing games in London is seen as a way to try and tap into a new market and expand the popularity of the sport.
The first NFL game played in London was between the New York Giants and the Miami Dolphins on October 28th, 2007. Since then, every year there have been at least two NFL games played in London. In 2019, four games were played in London for the first time ever.
The positive reception from both fans and players has led to more games being played in London in recent years. In 2020, there are plans for six NFL games to be played in London. This will be the most NFL games ever played in London in a single year.
The Future of the NFL in London
The NFL has been playing games in London since 2007, and they have become increasingly popular over the years. There are a number of reasons why the NFL has decided to play games in London. One of the main reasons is because they want to grow the game of football internationally.
Potential Problems for the NFL in London
The NFL has been playing games in London since 2007, and the league has been talking about putting a team in the city for years. But there are a number of potential problems that could prevent the NFL from ever making London its permanent home.
First, there is the issue of time zones. London is five hours ahead of New York, which means that games would have to start at 9:00 AM local time. That would be tough for fans in the United States to wake up early enough to watch, and it would also mean that players would have to adjust their body clocks to play at an unnatural hour.
Second, there is the issue of travel. Players and teams would have to make a long trip across the Atlantic Ocean several times a year, which could take a toll on their bodies and their minds.
Third, there is the issue of money. It costs a lot of money to fly teams and players back and forth between London and the United States, and it’s not clear that the NFL would be able to recoup those costs by charging higher ticket prices or selling more advertising.
Fourth, there is the issue of fans. It’s not clear that British fans would be willing to support an American football team over their local soccer clubs. And even if they did, it’s not clear that they would be willing to pay American prices for tickets and merchandise.
Finally, there is the issue of culture. The NFL is a very American league, and it’s not clear how well it would translate to a foreign country like Britain. There are concerns that the game itself would be too complex for British fans to understand, and that the violence would be off-putting.
These are all serious potential problems for the NFL in London, but they are not insurmountable. With careful planning and execution, the league could overcome them and find success in its new home city.
The NFL’s Plans for the Future
The NFL has been playing regular season games in London since 2007, and the league has been eyeing the city as a potential host for a future franchise. In 2017, the NFL announced that it would be playing four regular season games in London over the next two years, with plans to potentially expand that to six games per year in the future.
The NFL’s interest in London is driven by several factors. First, the city is a global hub for business and culture, and it has a large population of passionate football fans. Second, the NFL believes that there is a growing market for American football in Europe, and London is an ideal location to tap into that market. Finally, playing games in London exposes the NFL to a wider audience and helps to promote the league on a global level.
The NFL has not yet announced when or if it will place a franchise in London, but the league seems intent on eventually making the city its home base in Europe.