Why Is The NFL Playing In London?
Contents
The National Football League is playing games in London this year in an effort to grow its overseas fan base. But some question whether the NFL is sacrificing its home-field advantage.
The NFL In London
The NFL has been playing games in London since 2007. This year, there are four games scheduled, and the NFL is committed to playing at least two games per year in London through 2020. Why is the NFL playing in London? Let’s take a look.
The NFL’s first game in London
On October 28, 2007, the NFL played its first regular season game outside of North America. The New York Giants defeated the Miami Dolphins in London’s Wembley Stadium, in front of a crowd of over 81,000 fans.
Since then, the NFL has held at least one game in London every year. In 2012, the league added a second game to the London schedule. In 2017, that number increased to four games. And in 2018 and 2019, there will be five games played in London.
So why is the NFL playing in London? There are a few reasons.
First, the NFL sees London as a growing market for American football. The sport is still relatively new in Britain, but interest is steadily increasing. By playing games in London, the NFL can reach new fans and grow its global brand.
Second, playing games in London provides a unique opportunity for NFL teams to connect with their fans overseas. For many teams, their overseas fans are some of their most passionate and loyal supporters. Playing games in London allows teams to thank those fans with a special experience that they could never get at home.
Finally, playing games in London is good for business. It’s an opportunity for the NFL to partner with British businesses and boost its revenue opportunities outside North America.
The NFL’s presence in London is only going to grow in the years to come. So if you’re a fan of American football, be sure to catch a game the next time it comes to town!
The NFL’s International Series
Since 2007, the National Football League (NFL) has been playing regular season games in London as part of their International Series. To date, 27 games have been played in London and they have been incredibly popular, with ticket sales consistently outpacing those for games in the United States. The NFL is clearly tapping into a rich market of football fans in the UK and looking to expand its global reach.
There are a number of reasons why the NFL is playing games in London. Firstly, it is a great way to grow the sport of American football internationally. The popularity of the sport has been steadily growing in recent years and playing games in London provides a great opportunity to showcase the game to a wider audience. Secondly, it is an opportunity for the NFL to generate new revenue streams from tickets, broadcast rights, and merchandise sales. And finally, playing games in London also helps to promote the NFL brand globally and raise awareness of the league among potential new fans.
The NFL’s International Series has been a huge success so far and it looks like it will continue to be so for many years to come.
Why Is The NFL Playing In London?
The National Football League (NFL) is an American professional football league. It was formed in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association (APFA) before renaming itself the National Football League for the 1922 season. The NFL played its first regular season game on October 3, 1920, when the Dayton Triangles defeated the Columbus Panhandles 14-0 at Triangle Park in Dayton, Ohio.
To grow the game of American football
The National Football League (NFL) is an American football league, consisting of 32 teams, divided equally between the National Football Conference (NFC) and the American Football Conference (AFC). The NFL is one of the four major North American professional sports leagues, the highest professional level of American football in the world. The NFL’s 17-week regular season runs from early September to late December, with each team playing 16 games and having one bye week. Following the conclusion of the regular season, six teams from each conference (four division winners and two wild card teams) advance to the playoffs, a single-elimination tournament culminating in the Super Bowl, which is usually held on the first Sunday in February and is played between the champions of the NFC and AFC.
The NFL was formed in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association (APFA) before renaming itself the National Football League for the 1922 season. The NFL considers itself to be the oldest professional sports league in America. In 1968, the NFL merged with its rival, the American Football League (AFL). The first Super Bowl was held in 1967 between Green Bay Packers and Kansas City Chiefs. Today, London plays host to multiple NFL games per year as part of an agreement between Wembley Stadium and the NFL which began in 2007.
To generate more revenue
The National Football League has been playing regular season games in London since 2007. The stated reason for this is to try and generate more interest in the sport of American football overseas, as well as to generate more revenue for the league.
So far, the results have been mixed. There is certainly more interest in the NFL in London than there was before the games started being played there, but it is still far from being one of the most popular sports in the city. And as for generating more revenue, it is not clear that the NFL is making any more money from playing games in London than it would by playing them in the United States.
The main issue seems to be that most British fans are not particularly interested in American football as a sport. They are more interested in watching games that are played by British teams, such as soccer or rugby. So while the NFL may be able to generate some new fans by playing games in London, it is not likely to become a major force in the city’s sports scene anytime soon.
How Has The NFL’s London Strategy Worked So Far?
The NFL first started playing regular season games in London in 2007, and the league has been increasing its presence in the UK ever since. So far, the strategy has been a success. Playing games in London has helped the NFL to grow its brand internationally and to tap into a new market of potential fans. It has also been a financial success, with the games in London generating more revenue than any other NFL market outside of the United States.
Increased interest in the NFL
Since the NFL started playing regular season games in London in 2007, the league has seen a significant increase in interest from fans in the UK. In fact, a recent study found that the number of people in the UK who are interested in the NFL has nearly doubled since 2007.
The NFL’s London strategy has also been successful in terms of generating revenue for the league. The games played in London have been some of the most well-attended and highest-grossing games in the history of the NFL. In fact, the NFL’s London games have generated more revenue for the league than any other international event, including the Super Bowl.
The increased interest in the NFL from UK fans has also translated into increased interest in other American sports. For example, Major League Baseball (MLB) and National Basketball Association (NBA) games are now being broadcast on television in the UK, and both leagues have seen an uptick in interest from UK fans.
It is clear that the NFL’s London strategy has been successful so far, both in terms of increasing interest from fans and generating revenue for the league. With this success, it is likely that the NFL will continue to play regular season games in London for years to come.
More fans attending games
The National Football League’s (NFL) London Strategy appears to be working with more fans attending games, according to research from the University of Leicester.
Since the NFL first started playing regular season games in London in 2007, attendance has increased significantly with an average of 83,000 fans attending each game in 2017 – up from 71,500 in 2007.
In addition, the number of fans watching NFL games on television in the UK has also increased, with an average of 2.6 million people tuning in to watch games in 2017 – up from 1.9 million in 2007.
The findings are based on a study of media coverage of NFL games played in London between 2007 and 2017.
The study found that the number of newspaper articles written about NFL games played in London increased from 2007 to 2017, with a particular spike around the time of the first game played at Wembley Stadium in October 2007.
There was also an increase in the number of radio and television programmes dedicated to covering NFL games played in London over the same period.
What Are The Challenges The NFL Faces In London?
Every year, the NFL goes to London to play one regular season game. This year, they are playing two. The NFL has been playing in London since 2007, and they have faced many challenges. For one, the time difference makes it difficult for American fans to watch the games. The NFL also has to deal with different field dimensions and playing surface, and they have to adjust to the food and culture. Let’s take a closer look at some of the challenges the NFL faces when playing in London.
Time difference
The time difference between London and the East Coast of the United States is five hours. That means when it’s 1 p.m. in London, it’s 8 a.m. on the East Coast. When the NFL plays games in London, they are essentially playing at 3 a.m. for the vast majority of their fans in the United States.
The NFL has attempted to solve this problem by moving the start times of their London games to 4 p.m. local time, which is 9 a.m. on the East Coast. However, this still poses a problem for fans on the West Coast, who would have to wake up at 6 a.m. to watch a game that starts at 9 a.m. their time.
Another problem that arises from the time difference is that NFL teams that play in London often struggle to get back into a normal rhythm when they return to the United States due to jet lag. This can lead to some uneven performances from NFL teams in the weeks after they return from London
Travel
The National Football League (NFL) is facing a number of challenges as it looks to establish a permanent presence in London. The league has been playing regular season games in the city since 2007, but the logistics of playing American football in a foreign country are not without challenges.
The most significant challenge facing the NFL in London is travel. The time difference between London and the East Coast of the United States is five hours. This means that when it is 1:00 pm in London, it is 8:00 am on the East Coast. This can be a significant disadvantage for teams that have to travel to London for a game, as they will be jet lagged and at a disadvantage when they take the field.
Another challenge facing the NFL in London is finding suitable venues for games. Wembley Stadium has been the primary venue for NFL games in London, but it is not ideally suited for American football. The field at Wembley is smaller than a standard NFL field and there are issues with the lighting and surface quality. The NFL has also used Twickenham Stadium, but it too has its issues as a venue for American football.
Finally, there is the question of whether or not there is enough interest in American football in London to sustain a permanent franchise. While attendance at NFL games in London has been strong, it remains to be seen if that interest will translate into support for a team that plays its home games in the city on a full-time basis.
What’s The Future Of The NFL In London?
The NFL has been playing games in London since 2007, and the league seems to be expanding its international presence every year. This year, there are four games scheduled in London, and there are rumors that the league might add even more games in the future. But why is the NFL playing in London? Let’s take a look.
More games
The National Football League has been playing games in London since 2007, and the number of games played in the city has increased every year since then. In 2017, there are four NFL games scheduled to take place in London, and it is possible that even more games will be added in future years.
There are several reasons why the NFL is interested in playing more games in London. First of all, the NFL is a global brand and playing games in London helps to increase its visibility in Europe and other parts of the world. Secondly, the vast majority of tickets for NFL games in London are sold to British fans, which helps to offset the cost of shipping teams back and forth across the Atlantic Ocean. Finally, playing games in London provides a unique experience for players and fans alike, and helps to make the NFL more attractive as a global product.
The future of the NFL in London is likely to see even more games being played in the city. This will help to grow the sport’s popularity overseas and could eventually lead to a permanent franchise being based in London.
A London-based team?
The NFL has been playing regular season games in London since 2007, and the popularity of the sport has continued to grow in the UK. There has been talk of a London-based team for a number of years, and in October 2019 it was announced that the NFL had agreed to a £600 million deal to buy Wembley Stadium. This deal is seen as a major step towards the creation of a London-based NFL team.
There are a number of reasons why the NFL would want to have a team based in London. Firstly, there is a large and growing fan base in the UK. Secondly, having a team based in London would help to promote the sport internationally and would be a huge financial boost for the league. Finally, it would allow the NFL to tap into new markets, particularly in Europe.
However, there are also some challenges that need to be considered before a London-based team can become a reality. Firstly, there is the question of where such a team would play its home games. Wembley Stadium is currently being used by both soccer and rugby teams, and it is unclear whether it would be available for an NFL team on a full-time basis. Secondly, there is the issue of travel –– players and staff would need to make regular trips across the Atlantic Ocean, which could impact their performance. Finally, there is the question of whether Londoners would actually support an NFL team –– although interest in the sport is growing, it is still dwarfed by other sports such as soccer and rugby.
Only time will tell whether an NFL team will ultimately be based in London. However, with the recent purchase of Wembley Stadium, it seems that the league is serious about making this happen.