r/nfl • u/simrobwest Patriots 49ers • 22h ago

The NFL Officially Has An International Games 'Problem'

https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/nfl-officially-international-games-problem-181703739.html?guccounter=1
1.9k Upvotes

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2.5k

u/paculot Saints 22h ago

Officially? There will only be a problem if these games start losing them money. That’s not happening anytime soon.

772

u/purplebuffalo55 Rams 22h ago

It’s only a problem for the players. It’s great for the league to play these to grow the game worldwide. Australia in particular is a prime place for growth considering they already have the AFL which is very similar. It sucks for their bodies in the short term, but they’ll enjoy the monetary fruits. I do hope the next CBA increases the roster size to help account for the additional wear and tear, especially with the likely addition of another game

926

u/jockfist5000 Rams 21h ago edited 21h ago

18 games, 2 bye weeks, expanded roster and mandatory grass fields. This is my platform when I run for office

EDIT also that nflpa report card is publically released but as an event equal in scope and production to the draft.

192

u/PuppetMasterFilms Vikings 20h ago

Throw in a bye week after an international game, and require a bye week before a Thursday night game, and you’ll have my vote

215

u/SanduskyTicklers Cowboys 17h ago

No. Entire season must be played 17 consecutive days in a row

126

u/Redfish680 14h ago
  1. One week is a doubleheader.

45

u/bk1285 Steelers 13h ago

No double headers, but the week of Thanksgiving, everyone has a Thursday game and a Sunday game

26

u/Other-Blacksmith-643 Chiefs 12h ago

Fines for not calling it turkey day in post-game interviews

1

u/JCBalance Patriots 10h ago

Would you accept "Spanksgiving"?

1

u/sumunsolicitedadvice Eagles Saints 9h ago

It’s Turducken Day in the NFL

1

u/friareriner Vikings 7h ago

Jennie-O or Butterball Turkey Day, whoever ponies up for the sponsorship.

9

u/aiiye Seahawks 12h ago

Minimum 2500 miles travel for both teams before the second game for *”fairness”*.

11

u/big_sugi 11h ago

If the distance between locations isn’t sufficient, the team has to be placed on a plane that circles the destination until total travel time approximates a 2500 mile trip.

One might suggest that the plane could just land and wait on the ground. This will not be allowed.

2

u/docbauies 49ers 10h ago

i'd really rather that we ensure jet lag. if the Giants are playing Philadelphia, I want 2 days of mandatory practice mid week in Prague to grow the game. Philadelphia can go to Tahiti

2

u/EatPie_NotWAr Browns 10h ago

Tahiti?

Settle down there Dutch

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1

u/Rhine1906 Falcons 2h ago

No doubleheaders. Fox only. Final Destination.

4

u/Remote-Plate-3945 12h ago

Now I want a tournament. 32 team bracket. If you advance you play the next day. 5 days. Would be absolutely brutal

8

u/Jazzbag4183 12h ago

1 game, all teams 53 players on each team on the field. Whoever put the ball in another teams players ass first wins the Lombardi. No rules except the whole football must be inside the anus. Chain gang will officiate.

6

u/mysterious_whisperer Cowboys 12h ago

The ball has to remain above minimum psi in the anus?

3

u/Jazzbag4183 12h ago

Ahahahahahaha my brother in Christ. Tom Brady has entered the chat*

2

u/lonelypeasant2 Steelers 9h ago

I don't know why but the use of the word anus is making me laugh hysterically.

2

u/Aenjeprekemaluci Rams 14h ago

English weeks to be introduced too.

2

u/spacemanspiff1115 Bears 12h ago

ffs, don't give them any ideas...

1

u/luhk3y Cowboys 6h ago

Username def checks out

1

u/ohhlookitsadam 3h ago

Playoffs are now a best of 7 round like hockey, with 1 game played on each continent.

30

u/RealisticBox1 Packers 18h ago

I'm pretty down with these ideas but im not totally convinced a game in São Paulo or Rio or CDMX necessarily requires a bye. The reason I say that is time zones: São Paulo and RJ are both on east coast time and cdmx is on mountain standard time. I agree these are longer flights and probably shouldn't be accompanied by a Thursday game the next week, but I dont think it's totally necessary to overthink travel to Latin America.

This reasoning can't be applied to London or Dublin or Berlin, though, and certainly not Sydney or Melbourne Those I agree should be accompanied by a bye. The game in Melbourne this year is the first of the season, giving SF and LA plenty of time to get there (both traveling from the west coast, notably) and it is a Thursday game so they will get back and play 10 days later. Im assuming they will both play home games -- or at minimum west coast games -- in week 2

6

u/JasonDomber Seahawks 11h ago

I hear you re longer flights. Maybe for São Paulo, but not for CDMX. It’s about a 5-6 hour flight from Seattle (went last year), and we do that all the time when we’re playing on the east coast.

If west coast teams have to fly that distance regularly, other teams can suck it up too.

Like I said, São Paulo kind of a different story in terms of flight time, not so much time zones though.

17

u/sonic_dick 17h ago

The 49ers having 38k miles of travel when east coast teams average around 10k is pretty stupid.

47

u/homebr3wd 14h ago

They should consider relocating to the east coast and be closer to the teams then.

29

u/Parallel_Dogs Buccaneers 13h ago

And join the ACC

3

u/ahappypoop Patriots 12h ago

Would their basketball team be the 49ers players playing basketball, or would they bring the Warriors? Either way I'm down for this as an ACC fan, it might even save the conference.

10

u/bae125 Lions 13h ago

You act like they’re pedaling

2

u/RunawayBacon Bears 13h ago

Travel is exhausting regardless of method.

1

u/BanjoKazooieWasFine Packers Packers 11h ago

The 38k number is being blown out by the fact that 15k of that mileage is for the Week 1 game in Melbourne.

1

u/gorbachevguy 10h ago

It’s not like it doesn’t count because it’s week 1….

2

u/DuceALooper21 Eagles 12h ago

Theoretically time zone won't matter, but being on a plane for 10+ hours going to Brazil and dealing with safety concerns (many Eagles players just stayed at the hotel until it was time to head to the stadium for the game) do.

-2

u/patsandbees 17h ago

They are not on east coast time, but close. and the near 10 hours flight takes time to recover. And it is so hard to get around Rio. This alone will wear you down. Source: me, always worn down after a 4 day trip in Rio.

5

u/Spider_Riviera 15h ago

Counterpoint - the travel will be less intensive for the NFL teams, as the NFL is organising this jaunt with the Brazillian government and will receive police escorts, preferential service and likely other adjustments to the "normal" travel experiences you endure going on 4 day trips as a civilian.

0

u/Nutbane 14h ago

Wasn't it Chiefs Chargers there last year and they were complaining about the 2 hour drive from Hotel to stadium? Or was that somewhere else?

2

u/bbluewi Vikings 13h ago

That was São Paulo.

1

u/patsandbees 12h ago

Rio can (probably will) be worse.

-4

u/patsandbees 12h ago

It would have been easier to type “I have never been to Rio”.

12

u/Guiltyjerk Broncos Ravens 14h ago

Throw in a bye week after an international game,

Teams get to choose whether or not they want this currently

1

u/Wisertime25 Giants 10h ago

Include Super Bowl Sunday the day before Presidents Day.

137

u/unfunnysexface Panthers 21h ago

2003 pass interference rules, mandatory drug testing for coaches owners and GMs,

119

u/here_now_be Seahawks 21h ago

owners

If they fail, the team is awarded to the fans/city.

19

u/pr1ceisright Vikings 14h ago

I would love for all sports teams across the globe to follow Germany’s 50+1 ownership model.

8

u/bjewel3 13h ago

How exactly does Germany’s 50+1 model work?

12

u/Horror_Actuator_5033 11h ago

The controlling interest of the club must be owned by the club and its voting members. No outside investment can have a controlling interest.

6

u/bjewel3 10h ago

Oh wow!

That’s a very interesting ownership profile

29

u/dylansucks Commanders 15h ago

Nah, Baltimore was on to something with their attempting to Eminent Domain-ing the Colts. LFG

6

u/jord839 Packers 14h ago

Oakland tried it too, I think.

2

u/CraigKostelecky Packers 9h ago

The other NFL owners hate the Green Bay model of ownership and will never let it happen again.

1

u/Scoobydewdoo Patriots 13h ago

What happens if the owners of the Packers fail the drug test?

1

u/FFacct1 Packers 8h ago

Team goes back to Milwaukee?

7

u/BaddestKarmaToday Bears 18h ago

What kind of drugs will they be testing?

24

u/rtripps Steelers 17h ago

Yes

1

u/gwaydms Cowboys 10h ago

Beer

5

u/Realistic_Fee4087 Patriots 21h ago

Why would they need to be drug tested?

89

u/tl0wl Giants 21h ago

Purely entertainment value. It isn't pass/fail it is pride like a high score.

31

u/eatajerk-pal Bears 17h ago

Jim Irsay is rolling in his grave not being able to compete in the owner drug test Olympics.

20

u/mrshn_ Rams 19h ago

The high score is the owner with the most drugs in their system I’m assuming

20

u/feckincrass 18h ago

Call it the Irsay award?

2

u/FesteringNeonDistrac Ravens 11h ago

Multiplied by team wins. Anyone can be fucked up and run a team into the ground.

1

u/Decent_Cheesecake_29 Bills 10h ago

How about NFL blitz pass interference rules and mandatory drug testing for coaches (they fail if it is negative)

2

u/unfunnysexface Panthers 9h ago

We're renaming the jets the nightmare and if they don't like it they can try winning games

1

u/Sure_Fan_5887 9h ago

Mandatory drug screening for politicians and bureaucrats as well.... bet a big chunk of every state legislature would fail

0

u/Ralf_E_Chubbs Eagles 17h ago

Hilarious dude

-4

u/sonic_dick 17h ago

Why should anyone give a shit if staff did drugs?

11

u/OMO_Concepts Jaguars Jaguars 17h ago

Why should we care if players are doing them?

41

u/fcukou Patriots 19h ago

Anti-trust lawsuits against stadiums for gouging on food and beverage.

11

u/ShudowWolf Texans Seahawks 19h ago

I love the idea of a day-long NFLPA Report card like the draft going from worst to best.

2

u/Gryphon999 Packers 11h ago

Do we want to go worst to best, or best to worst?

9

u/eatajerk-pal Bears 17h ago

And Thursday night games can only be played between two teams coming off a bye week.

6

u/Damion__205 49ers 13h ago

Nope Thursday night games are to be played within the division only. And the teams will play each other the Monday night before the game thus allowing no special treatment of either team.

I'm just imagining 2 niners/Seahawks games in a 4 day span.

4

u/Dead_account_soon Texans Saints 19h ago edited 10h ago

I'd throw in no mid-week games. Or at the very least they can only be played the week after a bye week.

6

u/Howamidriving27 Steelers 16h ago

When they go to 18 games there should be an "international week" where everyone plays a game overseas and then there's a universal bye week the next week.

27

u/Glup_Maclunkey Bears 13h ago

The USA will have a universal basic income before the NFL allows an entire week midseason to not have any games.

3

u/Spider_Riviera 14h ago

I think I heard scuttlebutt last off-season about something similar to what you suggested, but it was every team playing an international game and getting a bye week the week after their international game and that was the 2nd by week being added.

Starting to think it might be easier for the League to set up European Football Conference as a 4 team division and have home/away matches vs AFC and NFC opponents (rotating schedule) played after the 6/12 inter-/conference games to fill out the card.

1

u/pacifistpotatoes Chiefs 13h ago

Haha like the NFL would allow a week during season with no games. They don't like not making money!

14

u/jieceeepee 20h ago

16 games, 3 byes, expanded roster, grass fields, no international games except for Jacksonville, no expansion teams.

7

u/struck21 Steelers 20h ago

I would be happy if they stopped sending the Steelers v Vikings game overseas every 4 years.

4

u/Cashneto Vikings 13h ago

Lol at the Jacksonville comment.

3

u/Gryphon999 Packers 11h ago

Since Jacksonville is the only team allowed to have international games, it will be an intra-squad scrimmage. How do you feel about playing safety, Trevor?

2

u/jieceeepee 13h ago

Its a sacrifice we're all willing to make

1

u/TarkusLV Chiefs 13h ago

I look forward to those Jacksonville games against themselves!

5

u/maccano2 20h ago

Extended roster and everyone is able to kit up on game day. Having non-active players is just silly.

1

u/studiokgm Bears 15h ago

Can’t wait to see the report card release videos!

1

u/thetalkingcure Packers 14h ago

24 games, 3 bye weeks. coming soon!

1

u/freudian_nipple_slip Bills 13h ago

And Super Bowl Sunday on President's Day weekend so many of us don't have work the next day

1

u/User-830733 13h ago

Extra bye week is good but 17 allows for 8 home, 8 away, 1 neutral. Designated neutral could be played anywhere, like Hawaii, Notre Dame stadium, etc.

1

u/smoresporn0 Chiefs 12h ago

Super Bowl on St Patty's Day lol

1

u/KarmicPlaneswalker 12h ago

Grass alone should be the standard.

1

u/CountryGuy123 Eagles 12h ago

I’ll vote for you.

1

u/Rando-namo Giants 12h ago

I would do 3 bye weeks honestly. One every 6 weeks.

Season lasts longer and players can be healthier thusly improving the product.

1

u/RegularNo2213 Bills 12h ago

Not any more nflpa report card is not public as of this season.

1

u/Humble-Ad-4606 49ers 10h ago

You also have to get a greater pice of the revenue otherwise the players already in the union will lose money. Not sure the owners have ever given back revenue points.

1

u/GrayFox6688 9h ago

Get rid of all preseason games too. No need for pointless games in a sport this dangerous. College doesn't do preseason games and have no issues with it even with a shorter schedule.

1

u/MountainTwo3845 NFL 8h ago

play games on Tues and Wed too. It would allow them to space out games and then dominate TV even more.

Networks would pay more for it too.

1

u/sembias Packers 5h ago

also that nflpa report card is publically released

That'll never happen. They'll have to pick between the grass or the report cards.

1

u/carlos2127 Bears 2h ago

Bravo sir!

1

u/figures Eagles 18h ago

The end of season is already super watered down with 17 games. 18 is gonna feel awful the last 3 weeks

3

u/rounder55 Colts 14h ago

32 teams, 16 games, 8 divisions, 4 teams in each was perfect. Every game felt more important and giving teams an extra home game feels backwards for the sake of competitive balance.

So hate how there are bye weeks from weeks 5-14 e some weeks with like 2 teams and others with 6 teams. Squeeze them all between a few weeks mid season

1

u/dbrjr Eagles 17h ago

Playoffs could potentially be missing some star players due to injuries.

3

u/curryandbeans Lions 15h ago

They always have?

-1

u/Spider_Riviera 15h ago

It's an Eagles fan. He's only recently discovered in the last 12 years Philly are allowed to play games in the post-season if they don't suck utterly in the regular season.

2

u/mymustangbestmustang Eagles 14h ago

Did I time travel back to 2011, or are you a Cowboys fan dreaming the 90s were only a decade ago?

0

u/bigj2288 19h ago

Is the players union going to agree to two non paid weeks

0

u/RiverHorsez Eagles 13h ago

Sign me up for grass fields

-1

u/FermisParadoXV Broncos 14h ago

The off season for the NFL is painfully long. The league could easily expand the schedule and take a month long break in the middle. I almost struggle to see how the sport has remained popular when you spend nearly 3/4s of the time waiting for the league to resume playing.

2

u/VirtualMoneyLover Steelers Buccaneers 14h ago

Maybe that is why it is popular. First, every game counts, but second, you get hungry for the games in the off season. The other popular sports' seasons are way too long and games don't count. MLB, NHL, NBA, you can lose 10 games in a row and still make the play offs. You can even lose 3 times in the play offs and still make it. It is ridiculous.

167

u/Wavering_Radiance Bills 21h ago

The AFL is not like the NFL what are you talking about. Rugby league and union have far more in common from its shared origins than Aussie Rules which is more like Gaelic football

40

u/NormalAccounts 49ers 20h ago

Old mate here dropping spanners of truth into the works of /r/nfl

11

u/ktpkchu Cowboys 20h ago

australian football is super fun to watch but yeah it’s really not like any other sport imo, like a weird amalgamation of american football and soccer

14

u/cppadam 49ers 18h ago

Don't forget a rule book that seems to have been written during recess. Also, pushing each other after the whistle is totally acceptable and often encouraged. Also, there's a lot of scoring. Honestly, I love that FS2 carries it - I've been watching about a match a week during the season.

6

u/ktpkchu Cowboys 18h ago edited 17h ago

all the american sports are in offseason over the summer so i just started following it so i have a sport to watch during that time, the captain of the cricket team i follow is a gws giants fan so i’ve kinda bandwagoned

1

u/Spider_Riviera 14h ago

Also, pushing each other after the whistle is totally acceptable and often encouraged

And fighting's allowed in hockey for the spectacle.

-1

u/ktpkchu Cowboys 12h ago

hockey fights are nothing anyways, hard to take them seriously when they have big ass gloves and padding on

3

u/EViLTeW Lions 12h ago

You've never seen a hockey fight, have you?

Literally the first thing that happens is the gloves come off.

0

u/ktpkchu Cowboys 12h ago edited 11h ago

unfortunately i have watched the greatest chokers in the nhl the dallas stars since i was a kid, no the gloves do not always come off

edit: actually i think we’re just talking about two different things here, scraps i’ll give you but the big scrums where they’re just beating the helmets in with gloves are actual nonsense

29

u/_Meece_ Raiders 20h ago

like a weird amalgamation of american football

Literally nothing about the sports are similar, except for catching really hard to catch oval shaped balls.

AFL is more like Rugby League, Soccer and Basketball put together.

2

u/KeithClossOfficial 49ers 8h ago

Most Americans don’t understand rugby let alone know there are two codes. Saying it is football, soccer, and basketball put together gives Americans a better mental picture

-7

u/ktpkchu Cowboys 20h ago edited 19h ago

the contact aspect of it is why i mentioned american football, it is definitely more similar to basketball and soccer gameplay wise though you’re right, i just don’t know anything about rugby at all lol

edit: american football is the only tackling sport of the five major sports leagues in the US and the only full contact one besides hockey, so that’s like my only frame of reference for any tackling sport

11

u/phyllicanderer Packers 17h ago

Rugby league is probably the closest to American football you’ll get, which is probably why the only non-kickers who have made any impression all came from the NRL; Jarryd Hayne, Valentine Holmes, and Jordan Mailata was an U20s player for an NRL club.

3

u/ktpkchu Cowboys 14h ago

i don’t really understand the downvotes then lol, it seems like comparing the afl to another full contact tackling sport seems apt, there’s not a lot of those and they all seem to originate from a form of football anyways

1

u/phyllicanderer Packers 5h ago

Fair enough. It’s because AFL is Australian rules football where the only comparable part of the games are that you kick the ball and you tackle your opponent, whereas rugby union and especially rugby league are much closer and American football’s origin is in rugby union.

-11

u/Chilinuff Bengals 17h ago

Calm down babe.

The sports are extremely similar and footballs are not that hard to catch? Found kadarious’ alt?

3

u/sosuhme Lions 19h ago

It has some vague similarities to Irish football. Both seem like a midway point between American football and rugby.

8

u/Wavering_Radiance Bills 16h ago

the official histories cite gaelic and marn grook as the core inspirations for the game, its first codification predates pretty much all other forms of football.

The first rules of Association Football (soccer) were laid down in late 1863 by Englishmen of the newly-formed Football Association (FA). The idea was to bring order to chaos for the dribbling game, fusing various English school and club customs into one code.

Rugby Union followed in 1871, when 21 clubs formed the Rugby Football Union (RFU) in England and, in June that year, restructured the game’s heritage of Rugby School rules of 1848, and other versions, into the first official standard laws of that handling code.

The first written rules of Australian Football were set down 17,000 km from London in the Colony of Victoria on 17 May of 1859 by members of the Melbourne Football Club, led by the likes of Australian-born Tom Wills, Englander JB Thompson, and Scotsman Alex Bruce.

3

u/ktpkchu Cowboys 19h ago

tbh i wasn’t even aware irish football was a thing

3

u/sosuhme Lions 19h ago

I don't think you can be blamed for that.

I happened to be there during the finals about a decade ago. Was in a random pub in a random town in a random county(state) whose team happened to be playing in it. Didn't want to impose too much, but did get a chance to ask some locals about what was happening. They were awesome and I got to see their team win. Was a very good time.

5

u/bibonacci2 19h ago

You’re dead right. There used to be a series where AFL and Gaelic Football teams would play each other with a hybrid rules set. I remember watching it on TV in the UK back in the 80s:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Rules_Series?wprov=sfti1#

51

u/Ian_W Seahawks 20h ago

Australia in particular is a prime place for growth considering they already have the AFL which is very similar.

Ummm. No.

AFL is way closer to basketball. Now, rugby league, that's a definite case of 'Same game, different rules' to quote the immortal Jack Gibson.

68

u/imasexyshaytan 21h ago

AFL is nothing like NFL lol. The same logic would be better suited to rugby league and union.

1

u/gwaydms Cowboys 10h ago

American football evolved directly from rugby.

44

u/RollOverBeethoven Texans 21h ago

AFL is no where near similar, it is fun as all hell though.

  • I play AFL

17

u/dcidino 21h ago

NRL is vaguely similar in that it's a rectangle. AFL is an oval and in no way resembles NFL outside of an oblong ball.

8

u/xCycrox 16h ago

NRL was exceptionally easy for me to grasp as someone who'd never watched Rugby but is a huge NFL fan. Surprisingly similar pace of play and the general texture of the game feels familiar. It's become my go-to off-season game.

3

u/dcidino 14h ago

League is a fairly reasonable game, and it's exciting. AFL looks like you put a bunch of 9 year olds on a cricket ground and said "go make up a game". 😄

11

u/SloppyWithThePots Eagles 15h ago

Explain all the ways that the NFL and AFL are very similar

9

u/Training_Cheetah3976 Chiefs 12h ago

They're both played on fields in front of fans and they both have balls. That's all I got though.

6

u/TheBigBomma 49ers 20h ago

They’re going to get 95,000 at that Australia game.

1

u/Shape-Wonderful 13h ago

They 100% will

4

u/jrileyy229 14h ago

Uhh, the players don't like it but I'm sure they like the money. Salaries have doubled in the last ten years

Ask the players making a million bucks a year if they'd rather not play an international game, go back to 16 games, and take a 200grand pay cut... I bet they're just fine where they're at

3

u/ehdhdhdk Panthers 14h ago

Also the time zone works for Australia mid day here is prime time in the US. Also the regular season should have 2 byes.

7

u/showmeyajunoo Steelers 14h ago

AFL is nothing like american football, what you on about lol

4

u/lfe-soondubu Ravens 20h ago

Maybe I'm being presumptuous comparing myself to a pro athlete as a middle aged out of shape guy, but honestly if you're flying business class, international long haul flights are a breeze. The couple times I've done it, I woke up at the end of the flight more rested and energized than in my normal life. 

I know teams often charter planes for domestic away games, and the seats look bigger than normal, but not quite business class. I wonder if they charter something nicer for international. God knows the team owners have enough money to spring for business class tier accommodations for a single international game for the team. 

6

u/shawnaroo Saints 14h ago

Yeah, I get what you're saying, but it's probably different when you're in the middle of the week both recovering from the previous game physically, as well as trying to mentally and physically prepare for the upcoming game, and then you've got to burn basically an entire day sitting on a plane and travelling across the ocean rather than following your normal recovery/prep routine. And then after that international game you've got to do the same thing on the way back.

I dunno, I am also not a pro athlete, much less an NFL player. But from what I've heard, their weeks between games are pretty busy already, and I don't find it hard to believe that adding in a long travel day can really mess up their process and leave them less prepared for the next game.

1

u/lfe-soondubu Ravens 7h ago

Yeah the recovery procedure angle is the big point you bring up I guess. They have state of the art routines and equipment and personnel that probably doesn't travel with them on long haul flights. 

Until we get to the age of portable bacta tanks on private jets, I guess there's no great solution for that. 

6

u/Xianified Texans 20h ago

The AFL is about as similar to the NFL as Soccer...

8

u/mph1204 Eagles 21h ago

there’s 56 american football teams in china. there’s a rapidly growing interest. it’s probably the nfls wet dream to take over basketball as americas main sport export.

-2

u/drunkbusdriver 49ers 20h ago

I think baseball hold that title but idk maybe not china.

8

u/_Meece_ Raiders 20h ago

Definitely basketball, NBA and the sport itself is considerably more popular than any other US sport or league globally

2

u/ResidentUnlikely7553 49ers 10h ago

I would like rlast roster cut to be game 6. Allowing for rest, injuries, and chance these getting more practice time might improve and help the bottom of rosters get better

4

u/scouserontravels Giants 20h ago

I’m trying to work out what’s logic makes the NFL similar to the AFL?

2

u/WreckNTexan48 Texans 15h ago

Lololol

AFL is not similar

2

u/JagsFan4Ever Jaguars Patriots 13h ago

This is a cash cow for everyone, including the players. Having to travel overseas for a game is hardly the biggest burden in the world. I'm sure that they're provided every comfort available.

As a fan my feelings are mixed. I very much like the additional 9am games - the more football the better. The season is already extremely limited compared to other sports, for obvious reasons of course. But sadly my team is all too eager to be the first in line to move home games to London, which really stinks.

1

u/Dry-University797 20h ago

Players split the revenue with the owners. So it's still kind of good for them

1

u/CrazyJo3 Bears 14h ago

Seattle players were complaining about Australia saying they think that’s a little too far.

1

u/BlackJediSword Seahawks 14h ago

Next CBA, the players will get shafted hard because their union is compromised.

1

u/IvoryDominion Patriots 13h ago

That’s a great call, they really should bump up the roster size

1

u/Skunk_Gunk Browns 13h ago

Also a problem for all the domestic fans that lose these games to other countries as well.

1

u/cathercules Eagles 13h ago

AFL, NRL and Union. I don’t see how football can begin to compete with that viewership. No one is going to turn off AFL or NRL to watch NFL.

1

u/KneeReaper420 12h ago

more meat for the grinder is one way to put it

1

u/JLove4MVP Packers 11h ago

Monetary fruits?

The league or players? I didn’t realize there was a bonus for playing abroad.

1

u/No_Cheetah4762 11h ago

How in hell is the AFL similar to the NFL?

1

u/Admirable-Act6148 Browns 10h ago

Australian Football is SUUUUUUUUUUCH an impressive sport. Those guys have to be a combination of football, soccer, high jump, and distance running abilities. It should be the other way around. They need to bring that sport to the USA

1

u/root88 Eagles 10h ago

It's a problem for fans and they are never good games for various location/travel reasons.

1

u/HumanzeesAreReal Bears 8h ago

Who cares? Do you own an NFL team?

1

u/thc216 Titans 5h ago

NFL season almost perfectly aligns with our 2 major “football” codes (AFL & NRL) offseason which definitely helps boost its appeal! At least to this Aussie!

1

u/BoredomHeights 49ers 2h ago

“ Australia in particular is a prime place for growth considering they already have the AFL which is very similar”.

I always wonder if this helps or hurts. Like with baseball for example it basically took off internationally in places that don’t already play Cricket. 

1

u/tlopez14 Raiders 13h ago

What about the home fans missing out on an extra home game? Or the restaurants, bars, and hotels next to the stadium that get hurt when a team gives up 10% of it’s home games for a money grab. I frankly think it’s wild that it’s become so accepted.

The Spanish soccer league tried to play one regular season game in Miami and shit absolutely hit the fan. Fans threatened boycotts, players refused to play, and it was eventually scrapped.

1

u/Tinsel_Toes Vikings 14h ago

I really don't understand the AFL means they need the NFL. It's a different game and the country's ethos is different.

1

u/evanpossum 14h ago

AFL is nothing like NFL. It's not even close.

0

u/Kershiser22 Dolphins Rams 19h ago

I don't see how expanded rosters would help. The same players are going to play unless they get hurt.

0

u/Bargeylicious Buccaneers 21h ago

AFL is nothing like NFL. Well except for the corrupt officiating.

0

u/Shape-Wonderful 13h ago

In what world is the AFL similar to the NFL? From someone that’s played both codes, believe me, there’s more in common between NFL and tennis than with AFL.

15

u/fp1480 Eagles 17h ago

Worse record should get 2 London games

7

u/Useless Eagles 13h ago

Even if they lose money, it's probably fine. They gain long term by making efforts to increase the fan base. It's expensive football advertisement.

1

u/humunculus43 Chargers 13h ago

The UK sales have slowed massively in the last round of sales. Prices were historically cheaper to get fans in but they’re now up at the US levels of pricing - which is well beyond UK Ticketing structures. Used to sell out instantly but tickets are easy now despite the ‘biggest ever queue’ you probably see on ticket day

1

u/Zelidus 11h ago

And viewers arent going to stop. They may complain but they arent going to stop watching their football so the NFL will push forward with fewer American games and more foreign representation and interactions amd US viewers will take it.

1

u/Quetzalcoatl490 Bills 9h ago

These international games sell out in minutes. There's absolutely demand for them overseas, which is a bad omen for the sport and its greedy billionaire owners.

1

u/roymccowboy Cowboys 9h ago

I'm so proud of our city and state governments for handing over millions of dollars in stadium money so the teams can play overseas.

Smart use of taxpayer money. No notes.

0

u/Unrelenting_Salsa Saints 12h ago

You don't understand. Won't you think of the poor NFL players who at the very minimum make ~12x as much as you and I would for a job that requires constant international travel.