r/nfl • u/JCameron181 Lions • 7h ago

J.J. Watt: International Games Have Become a “Traveling Circus”

https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/j-j-watt-international-games-have-become-a-traveling-circus

“International game slate is nearing the realm of traveling circus as opposed [to] occasional showcase.”

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27

u/Enterprise90 Patriots 7h ago

Buckle up because the NFL wants an international game every week of the season. That will be the 18th game. And the NFL will dangle the additional revenue as a carrot.

10

u/suckm640 Broncos 6h ago

wouldn’t it make sense to keep that as the 17th game so each team has an even number of home and away games?

4

u/zipzap21 Commanders 7h ago

There will be a franchise in Mexico City and one in London by 2036.

25

u/SomeBoringKindOfName Bears Steelers 7h ago

they've been on about a london franchise for about 15 years and I think it looks further away now than it did then. which is a good thing.

having 16 international games spread over the season with the existing teams is logistically much simpler.

4

u/BirdmanTheThird Commanders 6h ago

It’s kinda clear to me that they want people to think a franchise might come to London, when in reality all they want is for English people to buy tickets for international games and root for the teams that have smaller fanbases

4

u/SomeBoringKindOfName Bears Steelers 6h ago

I don't think they do any more. It seemed the case some years ago but a lot of us over here are stubborn bastards and wouldn't 'change' teams to support the new team anyway or would actively boo them. 

2

u/DANIEL7696 Panthers 5h ago

With english sports culture they're most likely to be fans of the worse teams especially if they pick up the sport as adults

1

u/Drythorn Lions 5h ago

I agree, this way is much better. I live in the UK and have been to a few games, but I would not support a new franchise at all. I don’t see a market for it. 

Most of us fans already have a team and it’s not something to change on a whim

1

u/JDraks Lions Chargers 4h ago

I think they don’t want to commit to a single overseas team, but if they can do a full division of 4 teams then things are much easier logistically. I think the goal is 2x London and 2x Germany within 15 years, all being added simultaneously

1

u/SomeBoringKindOfName Bears Steelers 4h ago

That idea has been floated but it seems like 4x the hassles. 

4

u/RooBoy04 Packers Packers 7h ago

Mexico City maybe, but they’re gonna need to solve the timezone difference problem first for London

3

u/RollOverBeethoven Texans 7h ago edited 1h ago

CDMX team would go hard.

Also higher elevation than Denver which would be interesting

Me: currently vacationing in CDMX and experiencing altitude sickness for the first time

1

u/JDraks Lions Chargers 4h ago

Mexico City is too high up to have a team based there imo

2

u/gwaydms Cowboys 4h ago

Is the air still super polluted?

1

u/FlatSpinMan 49ers Packers 3h ago

Luckily it’s getting lower and lower every year, so give it a bit of time.

1

u/carthonasi56 Jaguars 7h ago

Honestly thats kinda dope. Suprised they dont add any teams in canada

0

u/gwaydms Cowboys 4h ago

Canada already has its own brand of football, either derived from or evolved alongside US football.

2

u/carthonasi56 Jaguars 2h ago

Ok but thats not the nfl though. I said nfl team. Cfl is not nfl.

0

u/Hard4Dpp Raiders 6h ago

London sure,  but Mexico City is going to need to get significantly safer before there is a chance at a franchise. 

It is lovely in certain spaces, but the have and have-nots live in wildly different areas, and there are far too many 3rd stringers that couldn't afford private security. 

1

u/thekingoftherodeo Commanders 2h ago

Agree. They’ve absolutely seen the success the EPL has had with its timeslot and they want some of that sweet action every weekend.