The National Football League (NFL) is the professional sports league that showcases American football. The NFL has a global presence and has held games overseas. However, the number of NFL games overseas varies from year to year, depending on the schedule and other factors. In this article, we will explore how many NFL games are overseas and what factors affect their occurrence.
Factors affecting NFL games overseas
There are several factors that can influence the occurrence of NFL games overseas. These include:
- Schedule: The NFL has a busy schedule, with 32 teams playing 16 games each during the regular season. With such a packed calendar, scheduling games overseas is challenging. However, the league tries to ensure that there are at least one or two international games every season.
- Market demand: The NFL wants to expand its global reach and attract new fans. Therefore, it chooses locations where there is significant interest in American football. For example, London has been a popular destination for NFL games due to the large number of British football fans who also support American teams.
- Availability of stadiums: The league needs to find suitable stadiums where games can be played safely and efficiently. It is not always easy to find such facilities in unfamiliar locations, especially in countries with different sports cultures and infrastructure.
Number of NFL games overseas
Over the years, the number of NFL games overseas has increased steadily. In 2014, the league held its first regular-season game outside North America when the Oakland Raiders faced the Miami Dolphins in London’s Wembley Stadium. Since then, the league has added more international games to its schedule, with a total of eight games played overseas in the 2019 season.
In the 2020 season, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the NFL held its first game in Germany when the Jacksonville Jaguars faced the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Munich’s Allianz Arena. The league is also planning to hold games in Mexico and Canada in future seasons.
Conclusion
The number of NFL games overseas may vary from year to year, but the league has been committed to expanding its global reach and attracting new fans. By scheduling games in locations where there is significant interest in American football, the NFL aims to grow its fan base and create new revenue streams.
